Are We "Glorifying" Nurses?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 12, 2015

If nursing school were REALLY that hard, we would not have such a glut of new grad nurses. (Or, what PrincessBride said)

I think there's a glut because of those "commercial schools" pumping out those who do not have the aptitude to be a nurse, as well as many who have taken the NCLEX repeatedly and finally passed; if it were a perfect world, nursing could be more controlled and people who flock to the profession would have to endure MORE challenges in order to be successful-there are plenty of school doing this already; however, these commercial schools are really making it a challenge...

Purple_roses · Jul 12, 2015

I think there's a glut because of those "commercial schools" pumping out those who do not have the aptitude to be a nurse, as well as many who have taken the NCLEX repeatedly and finally passed; if it were a perfect world, nursing could be more controlled and people who flock to the profession would have to endure MORE challenges in order to be successful-there are plenty of school doing this already; however, these commercial schools are really making it a challenge...

Yes, I agree with this. I actually have two friends who "made" it into nursing programs without doing anything. No GPAs were considered, no interviews were given, pre reqs did not have to be completed before entrance. And that school's NCLEX pass rate is declining every year. There are oodles of students who are attending those schools right now. Coincidentally, many of those students will not pass NCLEX right away.

nynursey_ · Jul 12, 2015

If nursing school were REALLY that hard, we would not have such a glut of new grad nurses. (Or, what PrincessBride said)

We have a "glut" of new graduates because there is definitely NO shortage in nursing schools, all with a varying degree of requirements for admission/continuance in the program. And what of the new grads? Are you saying that they're ill prepared? Not intelligent? Passed because nursing programs are easy?

While I'm happy that nursing school did not seem to be the struggle for you that it was for most, please don't discount the educational experience of those who had to fight hard to learn the knowledge they apply daily. Nursing school was quite difficult in my opinion. And I feel as though I'm a fairly intelligent individual not lacking in motivation or intellectual capacity. So, for me, that drives the message home that nursing classes are indeed quite difficult, even for the sharpest of tacks.

nynursey_ · Jul 12, 2015

My post also pointed out that what is difficult for one person may not be so difficult in vice versa in case you didn't catch that...
But I bet people would have different reactions if person A stated he/she is a physicist from person B being a nurse. I have jokingly told my mother that one can't claim to be a physicist without coming off as bragging. Because very few people have the intellect to comprehend that level of abstract thinking.
Hence why there is a huge shortage of physics majors and a glut of wannabe nurses. Saying one is more difficult doesn't make it better or more important.

I'm not sure if it's that few people have the ability to comprehend the level of abstract thinking that goes into being a physicist or whether it is that few people have the interest level and motivation to pursue it. If it isn't interesting to you, why study it? Many find physics boring and bland and prefer less dry material. However, if you're enthralled by the idea, physics is an exciting world. It's all subjective. Being one or the other does not make one more intelligent.

It's the exact same concept as those that say "I could never do what you do." It isn't that you couldn't, but moreover one likely does not have the interest level or motivation. Yes, nursing school is HARD, but no one has ever said it's impossible. I have never, ever sat on a soapbox and claimed that person X, Y, or Z couldn't be a nurse simply because of the difficulty level of the classes.

psu_213, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2015

The person who wrote this crap (Hilary Thomas, No Credentials) is not a nurse. Doesn't have the first clue what nurses do. Also is not a writer, as evidenced by the misplaced apostrophes. My guess? Someone who flunked out of nursing school and now has an axe to grind. IMHO.

There is definitely an irrational bitterness to the whole thing. Not that the "writer" does not make one or two, but why this diatribe against nurses when there are so many more needlessly glorified groups (in my part of the world, experience nurses make quite a bit less than experience public school teachers who still make way less that professional athletes--yet professional athletes are always labeled as "heroes")?

Anyway, count me in with the "yawn" group. She felt the need to spew this gibberish--I hope she feels better. Otherwise, I'm not going to give her the time of day.

dirtyhippiegirl, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2015

Frankly, if someone thinks their ASN/BSN/MSN was easy, then I shudder to think of the things they're truly missing.

I am sorry. You can't admit that the difficulty of course material is subjective and also make disparaging remarks like this. What am I missing? I easily graduated with a single B from nursing school, passed the NCLEX with the minimum amount of questions in 20 minutes, and than successfully worked in a burn ICU for several years. /brag When you say something is subjective, it applies to you as well.

Michnurse03 · Jul 12, 2015

Nurses do have a respect among the general public, but I feel that it was been well earned.

The author did bring up several points that are true, we do get paid well, and less education then the MD. The author did miss several points that make nurses worthy of a little respect, including:

1) other hospital workers will not lose a license for patient abandonment - we are held to a higher standard

2) we have a "morality clause" to our license - which we can lose or be called to defend at any time

3) when an MD refuses to give us an order for pain meds or other intervention - we are left holding the bag

4) we are the ones caught in the middle between the MD and the family/patient.

We share many of the same woes with other hospital workers, but - as nurses are roles are very different. We have a huge responsibility, and I believe this is the reason we get ( and earn) respect.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2015

Do you really believe that only nurses who work in ICU/critical care make critical decisions that save patient lives? If I recall correctly, you work in critical care. Is this how you see yourself versus other nurses who work in different areas?

I believe that most of the time nurses don't make decisions that save patients' lives, period. We report what we see - we don't actually make the treatment decisions. I will hang a bolus before I get a physician order if the BP is critically low, but that's about it. I don't order Vanc for that infection, or blood products for my patient with a low hemoglobin. I don't do surgery to fix bleeding ulcers. Sure, when I call a provider, I may say, "I think the patient may need a diuretic" if they are sounding overloaded, but it's still ultimately not my decision. I carry out interventions that save patients' lives, but I'm not the decision maker. That's outside of my scope of practice.

Even "decision-making" RN positions like rapid response require an order set authorized by a physician - it's still not the nurse's decision.

VANurse2010 · Jul 12, 2015

I believe that most of the time nurses don't make decisions that save patients' lives, period. We report what we see - we don't actually make the treatment decisions. I will hang a bolus before I get a physician order if the BP is critically low, but that's about it. I don't order Vanc for that infection, or blood products for my patient with a low hemoglobin. I don't do surgery to fix bleeding ulcers. Sure, when I call a provider, I may say, "I think the patient may need a diuretic" if they are sounding overloaded, but it's still ultimately not my decision. I carry out interventions that save patients' lives, but I'm not the decision maker. That's outside of my scope of practice.
Even "decision-making" RN positions like rapid response require an order set authorized by a physician - it's still not the nurse's decision.

I am a critical care nurse, but I so often see ICU nurses live in this bizarre fantasy land where they think they're decision-makers or engaging in "autonomy" by following a protocol or order set. Newsflash: everything one does as an RN is backed by a policy, physician order, or some other written protocol somewhere that was authorized by a provider. Hanging a bolus in an emergency is one thing, but confusing that with life-saving decisions is quite a delusion of grandeur. All nurses can suffer from this, but it's particularly bad in critical care.

nynursey_ · Jul 12, 2015

I am a critical care nurse, but I so often see ICU nurses live in this bizarre fantasy land where they think they're decision-makers or engaging in "autonomy" by following a protocol or order set. Newsflash: everything one does as an RN is backed by a policy, physician order, or some other written protocol somewhere that was authorized by a provider. Hanging a bolus in an emergency is one thing, but confusing that with life-saving decisions is quite a delusion of grandeur. All nurses can suffer from this, but it's particularly bad in critical care.

While nurses are not the ultimate decision makers, there is an "R" in SBAR indicating that RN's can and do make recommendations to prescribers, which often can result in improved, if not live-saving, outcomes for the patient.

MurseJJ · Jul 12, 2015

If nursing school were REALLY that hard, we would not have such a glut of new grad nurses. (Or, what PrincessBride said)

I also hear that there is a glut of pharmacy and law graduates. Using this logic, those schools aren't really that hard either, right?

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2015

While nurses are not the ultimate decision makers, there is an "R" in SBAR indicating that RN's can and do make recommendations to prescribers, which often can result in improved, if not live-saving, outcomes for the patient.

I absolutely agree... with the understanding that the provider listens. They don't always, especially if they don't know you well.

Had a patient recently react badly to an IV dose of Ativan at my PRN job. It's on her home med list for anxiety, so I was really surprised when it knocked her out cold and she started agonal breathing. There was a bunch of other stuff going on at the time (spiking a crazy temp with sepsis and having rigors), so the physician didn't believe the Ativan did her in. I did, and recommended some Romazicon. I didn't get it. I had to sit there and sternal rub the patient for almost 45 minutes to make sure she didn't stop breathing (she was a DNI) until the physician finally relented and ordered some Romazicon. She, naturally, woke up just fine after that, but with some horrendous bruising on her chest and I had sore knuckles for a couple of days.

That's the difference between us and physicians - all of our knowledge and decision making skills aren't worth anything if we can't convince a physician we're right in the first place.