Are We "Glorifying" Nurses?

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

(and as I said earlier, or maybe in a different thread - once in a while I do go home and cry about a patient, but I don't consider that a good or virtuous thing, I consider that a major personality flaw and it's not something I admit to anyone except maybe my husband).

I don't get this. I wouldn't call it "virtuous"--as if everyone should strive to cry about patients--but I also wouldn't call it a "major personality flaw" either--as if another person's suffering should never, ever affect anyone else. Your choice of polar opposite descriptions is very odd. I tend to think if crying about a patient happens, it happens, it's natural, but we can't let it happen all the time or we'll never be able to do our jobs.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2015

I get a little uncomfortable with the angel crap too, but I don't think the answer is found in this article--to then do a 180 and say we don't do the hard work, we don't have to be smart, etc. I think the author's tone and derisive content was unnecessary.

if if there was more middle ground, if there was an accurate description and appreciation for what we do, we wouldn't need the Angels vs Mindless protocol-follower debate at all.

In my setting, we monitor for changes in condition, prevent deterioration, educate, encourage progression to baseline functioning, provide emotional support and physical comfort, coordinate care. If all members of the team (including nursing) recognized our functions realistically, we wouldn't have such a huge teamwork problem.

13Gracie · Jul 15, 2015

While I was offended by some of the statements in the article, I like and agree with your response about "thankless job". I don't care if anybody "thanks" me. I chose to do this job and I really like it, (most of the time).

Jaykalkyn, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2015

This article has to be a trolling article. It has to be!

As a 4th level nursing student who has had many, many hours of coursework, clinical experience, and work experience in various capacities at all major local hospitals in my city, I have to say that the author of the article clearly needs to find another line of work.

I may not have years of nursing experience under my belt, but the almost 2 years of exposure I do have has shown me that nurses are ABSOLUTELY heroes of the medical profession on the daily. I'm not talking about performing surgeries and whatnot, I'm talking about making daily decisions that can mean life or death for an individual. Every day nurses have to constantly think about what is needed to make their patients health move in a positive, forward direction. And let us not forget that they have to be learned enough to make recommendations and suggestions to doctors, who I have witnessed agree with the nurses. Now how is that for a measly 2-4 year education. If nurses are so undereducated, how is that they are able to do this? How is it that they are able to formulate a plan for their patients that a super-educated doctor can agree with? Surely that has to mean there is some level of intelligence in a nurse.

I have witnessed, with awe, how the nurses in a code situation rock out while the doctor stands in the center of the room calling out what is needed all the while the nurses are already 3 steps ahead of the doctor with whatever is needed already in hand.

Now, I'm not saying by any means that nurses could walk into any situation and fix it. I'm not saying you can hand a nurse a scalpel and send them in to perform a CABG surgery. But lets give credit where credit is due. Nurses are heavily scrutinized, underpaid ($22 an hour as a new grad locally? Really? Is that it?), at risk for losing their license almost daily, but highly respected.

If the author no longer wants to be associated with this highly regarded profession, there is plenty of time for her to go back to school to become an engineer or physics expert. Move on, you won't be missed, I promise you!

lrobinson5 · Jul 15, 2015

I don't consider myself a hero, but seriously? This article is a large steaming pile, or rather pool, of C-Diff. We get paid well for our 'limited education'? Just because teachers don't make what they're worth doesn't mean we get paid too much. The same argument is used against the minimum wage. When I was an EMT people would call you a glorified driver to your face, screw the fact that if an emergency situation comes up you have a duty to act.

The post would have been fine if it just pointed out that most of us aren't heroes, we signed up for the job. Don't make us out to be stupid whiners that should just be grateful for our pay.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2015

Being paid "well" does not equal being paid "too much"

SallyRNCNOR · Jul 16, 2015

I was appalled at the nurse who wrote in an article that Nursing should not be glorified. Excuse me, but this person seems to burned out. Nurses are underpaid, underrespectd by both hospital administration and doctors. Yes doctors have more of an education than RN's, but who is at the bedside 24/7 to catch errors in ordering medications by physicians, critical lab values,or a change in the patient's condition to name a few tasks What do we get for our diligence? We get screamed out by doctors for calling to report on their patients. Hospital administration doesn't back us up, but gets rid of all ancillary staff, but they say it has nothing to do with cost cutting and then get upset with the RN's when they find it increasingly difficult to carry out their daily nursing assignments. Yet despite our herculean efforts when we do manage to get things right, and prevent the hospital from being sued, or the patient from dying, it's not the RN who gets the credit, but management. Just remember in all the public opinion polls nursing is still the top most respected profession and it has been for years. By the way don't compare nurses with teachers. I agree that teachers are underpaid, but they aren't forced to work mandatory overtime. They have every weekend off, and they have the entire summer off. You can't say that for nurses. This person who wrote the article should get a reality check.

NurseRatliff · Jul 16, 2015

In guessing this person isn't even a nurse. Lol

rudecat · Jul 18, 2015

It's unfortunate that this nurse feels that he and his career are so unimportant. As a nurse and I'm sure I can speak for many, we have had to make very serious decisions on our own especially those in community who have only themselves to rely on. Education......., I do believe that all College of Nurses require us to continue to educate and update our nursing knowledge . The RN role has changed in that we are now placed more in management roles. This does not mean that we are working less and passing the patient care to the LPN's because we choose not to do the work, it's that we are usually so bogged down with paperwork, meetings etc. A bitter letter, a hurtful letter but this person has a right to their opinion . We are important and needed. Doctors and patients need us . Thank you

starfire70 · Jul 19, 2015

First of all, on a superficial review, her grammar ("sicker") and punctuation tells me she is in need of English 101. Poor form, author!!

Now, for a real review!

How dare you.

How dare you, as a nurse, feel it is about the bi-weekly paycheck and not about soul, experience, knowledge, countless hours, and sacrifice? Are you so removed from the nursing profession that you have forgotten what a true nurse is?

Any college student could do this? Do you remember those who could not retain their GPA that were asked to leave the program? How about the prospective students who were not able to pass their entrance exam?

I think it may be time for you to reflect on your life. Because you need to.

Nursing is a calling. Sure, there are those who do "do it" for a paycheck, but most of the fine nurses I have had the honor of working with are stars. And I count my blessings.

Kaytimm · Jul 19, 2015

I don't believe so.

Grillmister · Jul 19, 2015

I'm 42 and a recent ADN grad from a school that accepts 10% of applicants. I passed NCLEX on first try with 75 questions. I found nursing school to be very challenging. I also find that many people in every walk of life are a little too self congratulating for my taste... That's just people, who cares? Not me. Smile and accept each other. ðŸ˜ŽðŸ˜Ž

None of you want to be concrete finishers!! Haha!! (My first profession)