Did ya catch the article in July AJN called "I'm No Angel" written by Margaret C. Belchers MSN, RN, CCRN ? Alot of follow-up opinions in this October issue as well. If you read it....what's your opinion?
She sure gets bashed for the article in follow-ups. I agree with her totally. I smile and cringe when I get called an angel. Sorry folks. I'd take solid, reality-based praise like "You are so competent" or "You are so smart" or "I trust my family member in your hands because you are so knowledgeable" over being an "angel" any day of the week. It is such an outdated notion. So Florence Nightengale-ish. We've come along way baby. It takes away from what we really are doing as nurses and what we are capable of, and how much responsibility we carry. Nice yes, caring yes, compassionate yes....but here on earth as a fellow HUMAN BEINGS....not magical angels. YUCK. EEK. SAPPY. This to me is not bad to feel this way. It is not a gruff, old, burnt-out nurse attitude. To me it is enriching thought and a foundation for a more pleasing and rewarding career platform for the future. We all need to work towards eliminating the Doctor=God and Nurse=Angel mentality built in to this profession. It is a dysfunctional illness that only serves to make us loosen our grasp on reality and to minimize our true worth. It makes for poor doc/nurse relationships. Our patients see us as pillow-fluffing angels of the past...as if the docs are in the hall 24/7 handling every ticking moment. And we, as nurses are OK with that? Feel good and valued about that? Public education....long overdue. But to get the right message out, we have to LIVE the part. EDUCATED NURSE. NOT ANGEL. I am a good nurse and that is what is necessary to do a good job. (Besides, wings and halos tend to get all tangled up in privacy curtains) Tell me i'm thoughtful, sweet, caring...just don't put me on the Angel pedestal.
Thanks for this hour of your life. I will step off of my soapbox now.
hmmmmm you don't have to keep replying if you agree to disagree. Isn't an Angel of mercy one that kills the Pt I don't think that was the actual issue. I think that many of us felt that being called an Angel was/is not an insult and do not see an Angel sterotype perpetuating a decline or injury to nursing as a Profession. I think the original article says that a calling is not a valid reason to be a nurse which was the main point in which I take offense.
Hmmmmm....if you look back in the posts...you will find that it was you who first stated you would agree to disagree, and then continued on. LOL
Hmmmmm....if you look back in the posts...you will find that it was you who first stated you would agree to disagree, and then continued on. LOL
Not a big concept at all that is the exact place from which I work. I do see some that seem to work solely for money and appear to be uncaring, I guess I am very fortunate indeed because, I really have not been exposed to any of the Over carer type that seem to make a production of caring. I will politely agree to disagree about Angels perpetuating a sterotype and leave it at that.
You are correct...bet you never thought I would say that LOL
I was the first to conced to agree to disagree about Angels perpetuating a sterotype.
However after that I was mentioned by name and replied to that post and then posts following that were covering ground that I had covered and I felt summoned (alomost like called LOL) to respond.
You may notice that I too was the only person that ever apologized for any post that may have offeneded.
So I guess, the simple answer is once it is in your subscribed posts it is difficult to not recheck and respond.
To Smiling I apologize for the crude or offhand dismissal at stating you need not keep replying.
see trauma I try to get along... How hmmmmm "Angelic" of me just having fun Guys don't crucify me.
you may note that I also posted that I enjoyed debating the topic and thanked you for posting it, I just love to debate, and you made it interesting and enjoyable, Thanks to all!
You are correct...bet you never thought I would say that LOL
I was the first to conced to agree to disagree about Angels perpetuating a sterotype.
However after that I was mentioned by name and replied to that post and then posts following that were covering ground that I had covered and I felt summoned (alomost like called LOL) to respond.
You may notice that I too was the only person that ever apologized for any post that may have offeneded.
So I guess, the simple answer is once it is in your subscribed posts it is difficult to not recheck and respond.
To Smiling I apologize for the crude or offhand dismissal at stating you need not keep replying.
see trauma I try to get along... How hmmmmm "Angelic" of me just having fun Guys don't crucify me.
you may note that I also posted that I enjoyed debating the topic and thanked you for posting it, I just love to debate, and you made it interesting and enjoyable, Thanks to all!
Just from a fresh viewpoint, I thik there are many sterotypes that fall on nurses and of them all I guess being seen as an Angel would seem to be the least offensive.
I do know more nurses that are barflys than saints, I also know several that are downright beetches that no one would ever take for an Angel. Nurses eat their young, Media nurse, Betty Boop, Ditzy Doctor Hunters(looking for husband) and there are probably more.
Wow. Took me all day off and on here at work but I read the whole thread!
I am weighing in agreeing with CCU NRS about his impression regarding the original article (and a few others - Mermaid, etc.) I think everything has been well-stated by all sides and I've enjoyed reading the posts.
And I'd like to say that this is why I think a one size fits all answer to the problems facing nursing is impossible.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
wooooooooooohooo tom is back. Where you been?