America's view of the nursing profession

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi everyone! I have noticed that different people in society all have very different views of nursing. Some think that nursing is a "dirty job", meaning that it involves many unpleasant tasks. Other think nurses are "overworked and underpaid." What can we do as members of the nursing profession to change these views?

Now see, this I actually do agree with, and it was stated without name-calling and other decidedly unprofessional posting. I know not everyone agrees with this idea, but it does have merit.

I agree with this also and with Lindarn. I am from a Blue Collar Background but I have a different perspective then most others here. I have also worked at two other careers prior to entering Nursing when I was 44 yrs. old. A big Problem in Nursing are many of the Nurses themselves, irregardless of the Degree. In many hospitals, Nurses, young and Old, simply will not stand up for their Rights. They have a Bad Case of "I don't want to rock the boatitis" and for that reason, Nurses "Do not get any respect" as departed Rodney Dangerfield coined. Truth be told, its true in many cases. Nurses as a whole do not stick together, they bail on each other in time of need.. In numbers there is strength! Many times in the breakroom, there is a lot of grousing about Vacation, staffing ratios ect but this Energy never seems to leave the break room where it could be translated into effective action and change. And management continues with the same old, same old. Its a vicious cycle that needs to be broken, like someone breaking out of an abusive Domestic Violence situation. Not easy to do but necessary! I think Nursing Education, IMHO, needs a drastic and radical Overhaul. WHy is there such a shortage of Nurse Educators? Sure money is one reason but other dynamics are at play. Study the Curriculm as some areas remain unchanged for the last 100 years and simply do not work any more. As evidence I cite all the time frittered away on those Care Plans. This is time that could be better spent on other areas. Sure not to say one doesn't know how to formulate one, but not all the time currently allotted for this area of nursing. The idea IMHO is to Teach, Study and Work smarter, not Harder.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Or drive others away.

Seriously, if people think we should unify, then they should try talking to their colleuges like they're people, instead of using insults to us and other professions. A little hard to unify, when someone's busy alienating.

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Regarding the Educational variances contributing to the lack of respect for nurses and the other issue raised regarding the very large discrepancy between therapists salaries and nurses salaries. Re Educational entry points; not sure I agree as PT assistants , a 2 year degree and licensure also earn more than registered nurses. RPTs earn far more as posted by Lindarn. Ive posted this before, but it may bear repeating. Therapists are revenue producing in their settings. There is not a similar correlation in nursing. In an outpatient setting, for example a physical therapy ASSISTANT( associates degree) can produce 8-10 thousand a month in revenue. Therefore, its easy to see why its not painful to pay them 50k or more a year. It's extremely profitable. If nursings functions were broken down by billable codes with a revenue amount attached, believe me, the salaries would skyrocket and hospitals would happily overstaff to drive revenue! Unfortunately, nurses are overhead, not revenue producing. When and if this changes, the entire salary issue will no longer be a problem.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
People may resent my "in your face NYer opinions, but this is the point that I have been trying to make with all my threads. The public may think that we are wonderful, but ask them if we are as educated and skilled as other health care professionals, and should earn the high pay that they do. Here in Spokane, Pt's earn an averge of $77, 000 a year. The average pay for a nurse is about $43, 000. Can someone tell my what a PT does to earn that kind of salary? This salary is for a hospital PT, not even one who as their own PT business. I have a mnor in physical education, and had many pre- PT students in my classes. As far as I ma concerned, and seeing them in action in the hospital, and in provate practice, they are nothing more than glorified exercise techs.

First, what does "in your face NYer opinions" mean? I have met incredibly polite people in NY and rude ones in other places. This has nothing to do with being from NY, Spokane, California, Florida or any other region and everything to do with respectful and professional communication.

If nurses wish to be seen as professionals, and their opinions to be shown respect, it would be best to stop stereotyping others. That speaks more loudly, than any string of initials on one's nametag.

Second, one does not earn the support of other professionals by insulting their profession. There are some people that look at nurses and see us as waitresses with pills, believing it easy to do. I am sure that there are a few Biology teachers that look at us and the money that we make, and how we were in Bio class and poo poo our abilities and skills. Virtually all professions can look easy on the surface. Please do not put down another profession, in a vain attempt to elevate your own.

My extended family shows me the utmost respect for what I do...and virtually none of them have any idea what kind of degrees that health professionals require. That is not important to them. What is important is that they get good care in a timely manner, by an unhurried professional, with good communication skills.

And none of them want to be treated as "blue collar trailer trash", even if they fit the definition.

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Specializes in Case Mgmt; Mat/Child, Critical Care.
Regarding the Educational variances contributing to the lack of respect for nurses and the other issue raised regarding the very large discrepancy between therapists salaries and nurses salaries. Re Educational entry points; not sure I agree as PT assistants , a 2 year degree and licensure also earn more than registered nurses. RPTs earn far more as posted by Lindarn. Ive posted this before, but it may bear repeating. Therapists are revenue producing in their settings. There is not a similar correlation in nursing. In an outpatient setting, for example a physical therapy ASSISTANT( associates degree) can produce 8-10 thousand a month in revenue. Therefore, its easy to see why its not painful to pay them 50k or more a year. It's extremely profitable. If nursings functions were broken down by billable codes with a revenue amount attached, believe me, the salaries would skyrocket and hospitals would happily overstaff to drive revenue! Unfortunately, nurses are overhead, not revenue producing. When and if this changes, the entire salary issue will no longer be a problem.

You have a good point here.... Nurses are looked at as an expense...a "necessary evil", if you will by hospital admins. I have said this before and will say it again....

Patients are in the hospital because they need nursing care. Think about it. Why else are they there? They can receive any other treatment as an outpatient and go home. But they are admitted because they need nursing care.

If nurses were recognized as professionals by hospital administration and if nurse billed for their services as MD's do.....if the public were aware (made aware) of this fact...things would change and change fast. Of course administration doesn't want to tout this, they'll get you tied up in the "team" mentality. The patient is here for a "multidisciplinary approach" :rolleyes: . Yeah, right. Again, any other service can be provided outpt, but if you're in the hospital, you need nurses!

Unfortunately, nurses can not, will not unite, even amongst ourselves, something that has been fostered by administration for decades. Until our own mentality changes, we certainly won't be changing anyone else's!

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Specializes in acute care and geriatric.

I think Nursing is like any profession if you want to be respected you have to act respectful to yourself and others. I have seen nurses wearing tight , revealing, or low cut outfits flirting with patients. It doesn't make me angry or upset but that same nurse can't complain if she isnt taken seriously. I have always tried to treat both patients and staff (and that means everybody) respectfully and I have been taken seriously and treated well my whole career. When a Hospital Administrator told me that he prefered the color of my co-workers (dyed blond) hair over my auburn tresses, and that is why he decided to give her a bonus worth a few thousand dollars, I protested and resigned. Nurses should not accept such treatment. I was later rewarded and now hold a higher, better paying and better hours position!!

SO my advice is not to spend money campaigning, we are each ambassadors of our profession. If we want respect we have to earn it by being respectful, professional, knowledgeable and consistant. Trust me the higher salaries will then follow!

Good Luck

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I think tust and respect go hand in hand. Who does not respect a person whom they trust, esp. in a professional relationship? I think there are some bad apples out there who are just plain obnoxious and give us a hard time, but they probably dog others too. I find most patients are respectful. Most physicians are too, though again there are a number who act out so much they give the whole bunch a bad name. I think trust is a building block upon which respect is built. One problem I see today in our society is that we are often just plain rude. Patients may seem disrespectful when they want things now and don't say please and thank you, but this is how they deal w/ everybody. I think people have trouble expressing respect. We also have to demand it in a polite, but firm way. I have told physicians and other nurses that I do not like the way they speak to me and that I can not carry on a conversation w/ them when they are disrespectful. I have also reminded rude patients that I respect them and would appreciate that they recipricate. Usually they say something like I didn't know I was acting like that. If you want something, you must ask for it. I also think and have pt's. tell me all of the time, "I didn't know nurses could do that" People have very little idea of what we do. Also the notion that all of these receptionists and MA's in physician's offices are referred to really burns me up. I don't refer to a PA or NP as a doctor even though they do many of the same things physicians do. I'd really appreciate it if doctors wouldn't refer to their clerical and unlicensed staff as nurses just because they perform some of the things we do. Our scope of practice and knowledge base, not to mention liability is much more far reaching.

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This is sorta an off topic remark to the trailer trash thing..but hey here in so cal you can buy yourself a double wide for a million bucks> sheesh.so I guess its not trash. Whats wrong with blue collar anyway?

I myself think nurse is both blue collar and white collor. Some/most of us work with our hands but we also have some sort of degree behind (mostly) as an RN. Be that ADN or BSN or whatever.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
Is it any different than "pink collar" (as nursing is often defined) or "white collar?"

It is meant to imply the type of job - blue collar meaning physical labor.

Exactly. Blue collar used by itself, in the context of working people is not offensive. "Blue collar trailer trash", however, used to describe a disrespectful characterization of the nursing profession is clearly an insult to all blue collar working people.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
First, what does "in your face NYer opinions" mean? I have met incredibly polite people in NY and rude ones in other places. This has nothing to do with being from NY, Spokane, California, Florida or any other region and everything to do with respectful and professional communication.

If nurses wish to be seen as professionals, and their opinions to be shown respect, it would be best to stop stereotyping others. That speaks more loudly, than any string of initials on one's nametag.

Second, one does not earn the support of other professionals by insulting their profession. There are some people that look at nurses and see us as waitresses with pills, believing it easy to do. I am sure that there are a few Biology teachers that look at us and the money that we make, and how we were in Bio class and poo poo our abilities and skills. Virtually all professions can look easy on the surface. Please do not put down another profession, in a vain attempt to elevate your own.

My extended family shows me the utmost respect for what I do...and virtually none of them have any idea what kind of degrees that health professionals require. That is not important to them. What is important is that they get good care in a timely manner, by an unhurried professional, with good communication skills.

And none of them want to be treated as "blue collar trailer trash", even if they fit the definition.

Very well said.

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You are right on.

Maybe it would help if we stopped insulting each other. Am I "blue collar trailer trash" because I am a Registered Nurse who obtained an ASN before taking the same boards as the nuirse who obtained a BSN?

I generally dont even respond when this comes up but I must say this old argument is insulting.:o

Amen to that!!!! I don't see myself as Blue collar trailer trash nor am I treated that way. It starts with us (nurses...ASN,BSN,MSN,Phd) respecting each other and valuing each other as a profession. You are how you act!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

if nurses were recognized as professionals by hospital administration (and patients...my addition here) and if nurse billed for their services as md's do.....if the public were aware (made aware) of this fact...things would change and change fast.!

totally agree...we would most likely be recognized more for our technical and educational abilities...because we would charge good money for those services.

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