Are you insulted????

Nurses General Nursing

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Okay, I do not want to insult anyone or step in a hornets nest here, but I have a serious question. Recently my hubby had surgery, and everyone at the hospital would ask"are you a nurse?" to which I would reply "No, I am a CNA". Most of the time it was accepted and the nurses, techs, etc were happy to let me do most of the care for my man, and were very appreciative. There were 2 or 3 nurses that asked me "why not continue my education and become a "real nurse"? I gave my reasons for not wanting to, in a mild tone, without judgement.

The reasons I listed are 1. I am very satisfied with my life. I was in nursing school when I gave birth to my first child and chose to be a stay at home mom to my 2 boys, so decided to not finish. 2. Nursing has changed considerably over the last 26 year, so I chose to return to school and go the CNA path and am quite satisfied. I have much respect and admire good nurses, as I do good teachers, but chose not to pursue either path.

The responses I got from these 2 or 3 nurses was off the charts over reaction. They were so insulted and rude. One even told me she did not believe me, that all CNAs and TECHs say that , but they are really just frustrated with their jobs. So my question is this: Are you insulted by this as a nurse? Does it bother you that some would choose not to continue on the education path and be "just a CNA"? Does it insult you as a nurse that I feel like your job is not the job I aspire to and I am happy where I am? I work 2-3 shifts/wk. and truly enjoy my low key, 3-11 position. What are your thoughts, please. Did I say something wrong????

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

When all is said and done, in the end, you have to make yourself happy - not your family, children, parents, sisters, brothers or anyone else. If ur happy just say so, give a big smile and just act cheerful. It p*****s people off no end!

I've done lots of psych work and I must say, most people's problems (though not all problems of course), come from trying to always please other people.

Until you become a bit selfish (yes, we're constantly told it's BAD to be selfish), you can never truly look into your heart, say bugger what everyone else wants, and travel down your own road.

Sometimes, that's the only way you can truly find yourself and be happy.

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You're very lucky to have a job that you love and proud of. Not many people can say the same about their job, whatever career it is that they have. The nurses who tried to belittle you are very immature and naive to assume everyone wants to be a nurse!

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Specializes in FNP.

No. How silly.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I have gotten to do some CNA/PCT work while in school and I love it. If it paid better, I would stick with it.

So no, I do not think you are wrong for it and I would not be insulted. I would want to work with you - someone who is content in their life is usually someone who is good at what they do and a pleasure to be around.

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Specializes in Cardiac/ED.

I have to smile at your post as I recently was grilled by a patients' family member about why I didn't want to be a physician and appeared bewildered when I explained that I loved being a nurse!

P2

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The responses I got from these 2 or 3 nurses was off the charts over reaction. They were so insulted and rude. One even told me she did not believe me, that all CNAs and TECHs say that , but they are really just frustrated with their jobs. So my question is this: Are you insulted by this as a nurse? Does it bother you that some would choose not to continue on the education path and be "just a CNA"? Does it insult you as a nurse that I feel like your job is not the job I aspire to and I am happy where I am? I work 2-3 shifts/wk. and truly enjoy my low key, 3-11 position. What are your thoughts, please. Did I say something wrong????

Those nurses were extremely rude and seem to need a life. I wonder if those same nurses go around badgering teachers about getting their advanced degrees to become principals. I can hardly believe the things people open their mouths and say to each other :eek: I thank God that you have found a job that you really enjoy and that you had the control to answer these rude nurses nicely. I could tell you a few nurses by name that probably would have flat cursed them out :lol2:

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Specializes in tele, oncology.

I'd have asked them when they were planning on going to med school or when their DNP program finished up. But then I'm not always the most PC person in the world.

If you're happy being a CNA, by all means be happy being a CNA...and don't worry about the mean girls.

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You all are a great resource. I feel good enough about myself and my decisions to not care what others think, but I thought I might be portraying some sort of snobbery on my part without realizing it. I am glad to have heard from you all. I feel assured that I am not doing this. More power to us all in the decisions we make for our own lives!!!!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm so happy to hear someone say they love the job of a CNA - of course I'm not insulted and it appears those nurses need a "mind your own business" protocol -jeeze! If I've learned anything around nursing it is that whatever you've done, there is a ready-made group of "why don't you get your blah blah blah whatever-is-next-up-the totem pole?"

I was just thinking today about the wife of a doctor who lived on our street when I was a kid - she was a "nurse's aide" (CNA) she loved the job, she was happy doing it and that was that. Perhaps she was excluded from the Junior League crowd, oh well.

I still remember how she looked in her spiffy "whites" and dark hair pinned up in a chignon - It's sad to hear how many nurses seem to have no respect for the CNAs.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Absolutely. This is along the same lines re: why I'm single and I choose not to have children. I want it this way, and, as long as I'm happy, who cares? I will never understand why other people feel the need to impose THEIR values!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I know a woman who was an LVN and decided after many years of nursing that she preferred to do the work of a NA so that just what she did. One of the best NA's i've ever met too. Not everyone aspires to be a nurse and someone has to be there to help us out. I say if you are happy, then that's all that matters.

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Specializes in School Nurse; ICU.

I would be insulted. Usually if "just a" is in the conversation any of us would be insulted. How many threads have we read about where the topic was "just a nurse". NOBODY is "just a" we just are...does that make sense?

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