Are nurses blue or white collar workers?

Nurses Professionalism Nursing Q/A

Are nurses considered blue collar or white collar workers? My co-workers and I were having this conversation and there was no consensus.

Specializes in School Nursing.

There was a piece on my morning news this morning about more and more men entering "pink collar" professions...and yes they used that term. Their main example of this phenomenon was that more men than ever are becoming Registered Nurses. I though it was interesting timing considering this discussion. Like I mentioned earlier, I have no strong opinion either way. I think labels are for cans, but I understand that many people like to categorize, so I say call yourself whatever you want!

Been there,done that said:
Umm,, look at car. Look at brakes, put in correct brakes.

Yes , the need for the brakes can lead to a life or death situation.

However.. it does NOT require critical thinking skills, or an instantaneous decision as to how to intervene when a life is on the line.

Please, don't compare us to mechanics.

I'm pretty sure the blue collar bus driver who suddenly finds himself slipping and sliding down an ice covered highway in the middle of Winter with a bus load of passengers is going to disagree with you.

When I think of a professional, I think of someone well spoken, mannerly, knowledgeable in his or her duties, hard working and properly groomed. It does not take a college degree to obtain those traits.

Specializes in Forensic Psych.
\ said:

I'm pretty sure the blue collar bus driver who suddenly finds himself slipping and sliding down an ice covered highway in the middle of Winter with a bus load of passengers is going to disagree with you.

As would the police officer and firefighter.

Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

I don't care what I considered. The only title that matters to me is ER-RN

Specializes in Med-Surg; Telemetry; School Nurse pk-8.

Wait... scrubs have collars?

:bugeyes:

Specializes in Intermediate care.

It's actually a pink collar job. Not sure if that's a real term, but nursing falls under what is considered "pink collar."

Pink collar workers are service industry that is STEREOTYPICALLY done by women. such as teaching, waitress, nursing, hairdresser etc.

Again- not sure if that's a real term and stressing that when I say "women's job" I am saying STEREOTYPICALLY! because a lot of men make great nurses, teachers and hairdressers!

College degree achieved? Check. National licensing exam passed? Check. Expected to (and able to) educate patients regarding their dx and care, about drugs and interactions, about post-op care and treatment? Check.

White collar.

And as a nurse manager, I guess I feel more firmly rooted in that conclusion. Just be sure to give me my....CHECK! ?

This is a fascinating topic. Regardless of the indicators you've mentioned that would tell you if nurses are blue, white, pink or grey collared, there is another way I think about it. Would appreciate your comments. The salaried vs hourly conversation is interesting. What I find equally compelling is whether nursing is a "job" vs "career". And allow me for this discussion to limit the conversation to nurses with a minimum of BSN education.

If a hospital defines a position "full-time" as 37.5 hours or 36 hours or 40 hours or whatever, how many hours in a week do you work? White collar professionals (often salaried) may be in a position which is defined full time because it is "on the books" as a position with 37.5 hours per week. This would often entitle them to benefits, etc. However, in my experience the white collar professionals who see themselves in a "career" usually are working 50-70 hours per week. 40 would be the absolute minimum and probably would not give you the opportunity for advancement because you would be seen as doing the minimum. The number of hours worked is not the focus, it is what does it take to advance to another position where more critical thinking skills are required, more ambiguity, and therefore more freedom to make informed decisions based on one's education and training? (The goal is not necessarily management, it could be just more responsibility or flexibility.)

If a BSN nurse works the 37.5 hours (or whatever makes it a full-time position) and does not look to work additional shifts to further experience or broaden themselves competitively, are they in a career or a job? What about making an investment of time without pay to "broaden choices" ?? It would seem to me that anyone who will only work if they get "paid" for it is the sign of someone who has a job not a career.

What determines in your minds whether someone treats their work like a job or a career? For example, could you argue that a plumber who goes onto open their own business is now white collar? They are no longer looking at the hours worked but are looking at the long term rewards and opportunities?

Can't wait to hear. I'm throwing this out there without having conclusions of my own. Yet! Thanks.

It does not matter what color collar anyone wears because all of us work hard and make sacrifices to be where we are at today. We are educated and have careers so I personally do not put myself in a category. :thankya:

RNsRWe said:

The gastroenterologists in my practice are protectively-clothed during all procedures, from goggles to booties. In office visits, they are required to wear white lab coats.

Surely, they are still considered professionals? ;)

I did not write the definitions, just relayed them. The question was, are they white collar or blue collar. By definition, they are blue collar. Are they professionals? Absolutely. But that is a different question. Perhaps a better question would have been "Are nurses Professionals?" Semantics matter, at least to me.

Sorry, I did not mean that only BSN need reply, only that the topic would apply to those with BSN--however, now that you've pointed out that oops, guess the topic of job vs career doesn't really matter if you have 2 year degree or 4 year degree does it? My bad.

Just don't call me a pink collar worker - that's far worse than either of the other two!

It seems it doesn't matter what you class yourself as. I have my bachelors degree, I've almost finished my masters and I consider myself a professional. I don't think it makes me any more white collar or any less blue collar than someone who was hospital trained and has worked part-time ever since. We all come to the same place, do the same work, and wear the same uniform - regardless of the colour!

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