I have been a RN for 11 years now, have seen much as many of you have. One thing that continues to irk me are nurses that think because they are a nurse are somehow a cross between Florence Nightingale and Jesus--and act like it. You know, "super nurse syndrome"
I was at my local gym and saw the a T shirt that said:
I sacrificed my life, so I could save your life. I am a nurse.
Really? You sacrificed your life to be a nurse? WOW, I never realized that going to nursing school and getting a job involved life sacrifice.( like so many 100.000's people that go to college to get jobs).
GET OVER IT ALREADY, your a nurse, your not mother Theresa, you don't walk on water and you DID NOT sacrifice your life to become a nurse.
Nursing school and how hard it is, another thing that people want to whine/brag about I get tired of hearing about. Really? I'll bet becoming a chemical engineer is very hard, I'll be learning computer coding is very hard, in fact I'll bet most any college degree--they just don't hand them out for showing up. You have to work for them and earn them---just like nursing school.
What I am saying is being a nurse does not somehow set you apart from the rest of the world, or make you a better person---just because your a nurse.
Doing your job, being courteous to patients AND coworkers AND people in general is what we and everyone else on the planet should be doing----we are all members of the human family.
"sorry u got offended but the truth us the hardest to hear."
You're not a nurse. You're not even a nursing student. You have no idea what you are talking about. Truth??? What truth about nursing can you possibly have for us ACTUAL nurses/nursing students? We're all waiting...
it's been scientifically proven that caregivers lose years off their life so that might explain why pple feel drained of life I do especially when caring for the elderly and if you detach and keep urself at a healthy distance u get judged as uncaring the. politics in nursing is rediculous
I don't doubt that caregivers sacrafice health, or that nursing politics can be too much., I don't care for the politics. But nursing is not just about covering our butts. That's a part of it. I have to legally protect myself and document everything because if I dont, I will lose everything I worked hard for. And I want to continue to care for others. I will never deem anyone else as incompetent, and as far as that goes, that's not a nursing thing, thats a people thing! You'll find those types in every profession! And I don't just give pain meds. That's part of what I do and an important part because my part of my job is to treat pain, make people comfortable, so they can heal.
for someone who hates the judgmental attitude and the politics, your post fed right into it.
I actually don't like telling people what I do....they seem to have a 'pre concieved' idea of what/who I am. Nursing is my job, it's what I do, to make a living. You do your best, be good, kind, efficient , follow the rules.... Like a lot of jobs. We have rough schedules & that messes with life, long hours etc.... but for sure, we are NOT special .
I personally dont know many nurses that openly admit to being a nurse unless directly asked. I love what I do but when I am not at work I don't open any conversation with a person I just met talking about how I am a nurse. I don't own any nursing t-shirts, etc. However if I find out that the person I am talking to is a nurse I feel a connection with them professionally and the dialog can open up. Have been working with mental health, special needs and disabilities for most of my few short years as a nurse and when I meet someone else in the same profession it is an excellent networking opportunity that benefits not only myself but the clients I work with. Thank you to all my fellow nurses in all fields for what you do. We are a part of a wonderful team and I am proud to be able to do what we do.
I have one nurse shirt that my mom bought me as a Christmas gift a few years ago it says "You don't scare me, I'm a nurse, I get paid to stab people with sharp objects" and has a syringe/needle on it. It's cute but I mainly just wear it around the house. I generally don't tell people I'm a nurse unless they specifically ask just because I don't want to answer the 200+ questions that normally start with "oh you're a nurse will you look at this...?"
Our medical directors wife is a nurse and she has the nurses keep doctors from accidentally killing you shirt. He actually bought it for her. I love the irony of that [emoji12]
I was given the "here to save your a**, not kiss it" T-shirt as a gift. I sleep in it occasionally, but it never leaves the house. I don't feel the need to broadcast what I do, but I prefer to leave work at work, and not let my job title define who I am 24/7. I also don't think I'm the be all, end all because I'm a nurse. I think law enforcement, firefighters, soldiers, and others who literally put their lives on the line are making far greater sacrifices than I am. I'd rather eat a bag of chips(salt and vinegar, please) than be one.
I just recently heard a nurse say to me that she " saved a patients life " because she asked the MD to change her medication.. hmmmm. I'm thinking get over yourself.
Can the next complaining post please be about nurses who start comments (in live conversation, on social media, etc.) with "As a nurse..."? I'd rather eat bowels of jello than have to hear/read that. Especially when it comes from someone who has had their license all of 3 hours.
I would rather most people not know I am a nurse. Its not because I am ashamed, but I hate hearing all about how hard it must be, whats the worst thing you have seen blah blah blah.
Also I don't want to answer questions you should be asking your doctor!
I hate this meme as well..."what we don't show you"
Nope!
I don't mind that picture at all. Many times I think nurses aren't given time to reflect and adjust to an internal conflict or trauma (extended/traumatic code, futile care, seeing the effects of abuse/neglect) because the flow of work prevents this internal work, and the public has mistakenly believed that we don't need that time, we don't take emotional damage, we are unflappable stoic servants. Showing nurses hitting their brick wall and being human is good imho.
NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN
791 Posts
Truth? You can't handle the truth!