I am working on my doctorate, working full-time as a nurse educator, and during summers and breaks I return to the ICU, my first love :) I was working in the ICU last weekend when a coworker asked me if I missed working as a "real" nurse. I found this surprising, although I probably shouldn't. Over time, including on this board, I've heard over and over the same misconception that if you're not a bedside hospital nurse, you're not a "real" nurse.
There are a thousand permutations on the theme: LTC nurses aren't real nurses, people who work outside of "unit x" aren't real nurses, people who are LPNs aren't "real" nurses, ad nauseum. I am so tired of this. A favored theme seems to be "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach." I feel that despite working my butt off to stay current in my practice and bring relevant education to students, these contributions must have no value in my peers' eyes.
To me, a nurse comes in so many forms; different but equal, all with an important role. Why does nursing only respect the value of ONE type of nursing? It's like Pinocchio, worried about being a "real" boy. I wish more time was spent recognizing our peers unique skills and less spent trying to tear each other down. That's all, just a vent and a wish things would change.
We must all remember, that without those "unreal" nurses in education, we would have never become "real" nurses. Nurse educators are the foundation of nursing. They lay the groundwork for all of us bedside nurses who will one day orient a new grad.
Specializes in family practice and school nursing.
As a school nurse I get the same thing. "Don't you want to work in a hospital and be a real nurse?" I got the same thing working in family practice. Funny, I sure felt like a "real nurse" for the last 27 yrs since graduating! Silly me.
Not everyone wants to work in a hospital. Different people like different things. That's the great aspect of nursing. So many options. We are all "real" nurses.
I find the posts that state (or imply) that educators are not "real" nurses are comical. So, let me get this straight, these "fake" nurses are the ones responsible for creating the "real" nurses. Hmmm, ooohkay. Lol.
I'm another school nurse and I get the real nurse thing too. Nevermind that I do 4 caths per day, 2 or more insulin injections, administer nebs and inhalers, handle fractures, concussions, take vitals, and independantly decide the severity of every single injury and illness on campus. Plus locating and obtaining resources for the underserved and poverty stricken population that I serve. If that ain't real nursing, you can shred my license right now!
There are many options to choose from in the nursing field. The key word is options. Since we are all nurses we should remember from nursing 101, that sometimes all the answers are right it's just a matter of priorities.
If any of you work in a teaching hospital you may get my drift when I say this but do we call MD's who teach or are in administration (Medical director, CEO, etc,) fake doctors? Do we dare say to the docs that they are not real doctors? Don't think so.
VERY GOOD POINT! I think that nurses are just snooty at times, the majority of us are female and that says it all. Just sayin.
I work in a state psych hospital and many of the nurses there state that they do not feel like "real nurses" since they don't work in a "real hospital." I worked in a "real hospital," aka MEDICAL hospital before working here. I tell them to quit saying "real hospital" and say medical hospital instead. Psych nursing is very important and it requires nursing education to be able to administer meds and assess patient's psychological state.
all these responses to the phrase "real nurse", remind me of the very first book i ever read "the velveteen rabbit."
anyone familiar with the story knows that the old horse told rabbit that one was not real until one had been truly loved by a child and all the new was worn off, sometimes missing parts and showing many signs of wear. for the skin horse made the velveteen rabbit aware that "...but once you are real you can't become unreal again. it lasts for always."
perhaps that is when we become "real nurses" not when we obtain lpn or rn or msn or np or the new phd. in nursing. but when the new is worn off, and show signs of wear, having learned much about love and nursing by the very doing. i don't think you are not a real nurse no matter your job description, i think it is in your heart and head. so the next time you hear the phrase real nurse:remember: but once you are real you can't become unreal again. it lasts for always!
Maybe this comment is tad bit off subject but i find it amusing. I have a son inlaw who decided since I am an RN and he thinks a nitwit, that he wuld go into nursing. Afterall he knows I earn a half way decent living ( which in 10 years I have known him he has been unemployed) and secondly if his "mother inlaw" can be a nurse hell anyone can. To make long story short..that personaility and attitude didn't prove to be a winner for him and he discovered nursing requires more brain activity than he assumed. As they say he who laughs last..
In regard to the question of 'real' doctors... what would one tend to think of an MD who never did any residency and went right to work in, say, pharmaceutical sales or medical writing or lab work, for the next thirty years, never returning to any form of traditional 'doctoring'?
We can also ask about 'real' teachers... It's not usual to expect a HS algebra teacher to be able to quickly transition to teaching first grade. Is either one more 'real' than the other? Is a Sunday school teacher a 'real' teacher or not? A one-on-tutor? What if an instructor has prior experience in a 'real' classroom? What if they don't? Do teachers tend to consider their principals as fellow teachers or as having 'gone to the other side'?
Wow I am surpised that people could be so disrespectful and unappreciative of the eduacators who helped them become a nurse! Anyone with an LPN or RN license is a "real" nurse, period!
I agree 100%. When I was in "Nursing School" we were told never to hold our heads down because we were "just" LPN's.. We are NURSES. I have worked with some experienced LPN's who could run rings around an RN. It's what you make of yourself, keep learning and never lose compassion for your patients.
I work in a state psych hospital and many of the nurses there state that they do not feel like "real nurses" since they don't work in a "real hospital." .
Oh honey, I don't think there is anything more real than psych nursing!!!!
McGyverRN
81 Posts
We must all remember, that without those "unreal" nurses in education, we would have never become "real" nurses. Nurse educators are the foundation of nursing. They lay the groundwork for all of us bedside nurses who will one day orient a new grad.