Are nurse's all that and a bag of chips?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

Specializes in School Nursing.

I hear what you're saying... but I definitely hold surviving the hell that was my nursing school like a badge of honor... that place was a hell hole. ;)

Really though.. I agree.. it's okay to be proud of what you do, another thing entirely to be a martyr.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Nacho Cheese please!!!

Cool Ranch, baybeeee! All day long! :D

I was at a gym that was next to a hospital — it was a nice gym that anyone could join, but they also had a lot of cardiac rehab patients working out there because it was affiliated with the hospital. One day I saw a lady in a shirt with the EMS star of life on the front, and the back said "I KNOW CPR" in really big letters ... I was like, dang, you are just begging the universe to drop one of those poor suckers off the treadmill ... ugh.

My mom bought me the shirt that says "I'm a nurse, I'm here to save your ***, not kiss it." I will never wear it! lol. But it was cute that my mom bought it, she was so pleased with herself.

Now I will say that there have been Army nurses who have indeed sacrificed their lives. In light of our recent holiday, they are worth a mention. I remember when CPT Jenny Moreno was killed in action while I was deployed, it was gut wrenching, to say the least. I didn't know her personally, but we had a lot of friends in common — Army nursing is a small world.

Army Capt. Jennifer M. Moreno | Military Times

RIP, CPT Moreno.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.

My nurse shirt says " this is what a really cool nurse looks like" I wear it on dress down days....the kids like it ;).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I never did understand those tshirts. I get that this is a difficult profession at times, and the schooling isn't a cakewalk either, but we signed up for this! Saying "I sacrificed my life for this" makes it seem like you had no choice or that somebody walked up one day with a gun to your head and forced you to become a nurse. Puh-lease. It's fine to be proud of yourself, but another thing entirely to want everyone around you to be proud of you too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am all that and a bag of chips, because I'm, well, Me.

I like being a nurse. I think it's a tough job at times, and I don't mind if people say "I couldn't do what you do..."

No. Many of you cannot do what we do.

Sacrificing our lives, though? Meh.

I wear my breast cancer "Save The Boobies/Girl Power" t-shirt to the gym. Which would die of shock if I stepped foot in the door. If the gym could die.

Because, ya know...bag of chips.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, trauma.

A shirt i got in nursing school said something along the lines of "If i died today and went straight to hell it would take me 2 weeks to realize i wasn't in nursing school anymore"

A little dramatic, but i thought it was hilarious :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Realistically that shirt should say "I sacrificed my bladder and lunch to save your life."

Because you know... "Breaks"

I don't sacrifice my bladder. After delivering 5 babies, it's not physically possible to hold it 8-12 hrs. :bag: Lunch, I maybe sacrifice once every couple of months, usually when I get an unstable admission around 1800. For that reason, whenever I have an admit bed I try to go earlier, because admissions usually keep me tied up.

I like the "my job is to save your ***, not kiss it." Because I'm not big on *** kissing either. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
"Wow, hi, congrats! You look so healthy for someone that sacrificed her life! My great grandpa sacrificed his life in World War I and he never worked out again after that."

*crickets* *mic drop*

On a related note, has anyone seen that ridiculous clipping floating around Facebook about how Guinness Book of Eorld Records has named the BSN degree the hardest degree? I can't believe the people I had considered fairly intelligent sharing it. I mean- every school is different and while it may be difficult, I am confident I would find an organic chemistry major harder.

For me, any engineering major...and physics...advanced math...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I prefer to be all that and a bag of doritios. They are cheesy and spicy......

Bugles! You can put them on your fingertips and eat one at a time like a Diva!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What an interesting assumption. I don't know any nurses who think that way or wear t-shirts of that nature. I find it rich that someone as presumptuous as you are has the unmitigated gall to tell others to get off their perceived (only on your part) high horse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"Realistically that shirt should say "I sacrificed my bladder and lunch to save your life."

LMAO , :) :) :) :) :)

that's funny, love it!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all the comments guys, glad to know I am not the only nurse that finds things like that ridiculous.

I do like being a nurse and am proud of my profession and what I do, JUST LIKE ANY ONE that is in a profession that they are proud of physician, lawyer (well some lawyers), teacher, day care worker, special needs teacher, Indian chief, NURSING Aid's, truck driver, dock worker, etc, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment