Just wondering, what do you all think constitutes someone being a "baby nurse"? I get offended when I am called this and don't really care for the term.
I was an LPN for 6 years and have been an RN now for almost a year, for a total of about 7 years as a nurse. When speaking with other RNs at work, I got referred to as a baby nurse yesterday and found it offensive. I was getting report from a nurse who has been an RN for 5 years who was complaining about a patient. I said that the patient didn't bother me and I didn't mind that she called often to be toilette. The other nurse said "that's because you're still a baby nurse. Give it time and you will."
Anyway, just wondering if you would find this offensive. Also wondering if RNs in general overlook the years of experience of an LPN? Would you consider me a baby nurse still?
For LPN experience to be discounted is ridiculous. In some settings I've seen, the LPNs and diploma RNs ran rings around the college crowd. This is NOT meant to set off another educational debate, but merely to point out that these "other" nurses are a valuable resource, not something to be dismissed.
I've never seen anyone discount any RN based on their education. Actually, in my experience, diploma prepared RN's often have the strongest clinical skills.
I have seen LPN's work and input discounted by other RN's. The first time I witnessed this, I was a new traveler and completely flabbergasted by what I heard. The second time I witnessed it, I defended the LPN's.
The term doesn't offend me, but I've only experienced it being used in an enduring manner.
That is most often the intention of staff who call older folks "sweetie" and "honey", too, intending to use it as a term of endearment. The problem is that there are other connotations that come along with it, no matter how innocently spoken.
It's not a phrase to be personally wounded by, but it would be wonderful if we could promote and defend a modicum of respect for our profession, and this terminology doesn't really do anything to advance that cause.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Just wondering, what do you all think constitutes someone being a "baby nurse"?
The only nurse I call a "baby nurse" is a nurse who takes care of babies. I think it's an offensive term and contributes to the culture of lateral violence that many hospital units still struggle with.
I prefer to support our new nurses, appreciate the unique life experiences and fresh knowledge they bring to the table, rather than insult and patronize them.
Specializes in MCH,NICU,NNsy,Educ,Village Nursing.
Does anything not offend people these days?
This is true. Life is too short to be offended by a label. I wonder if the OP has some confidence issues of her/his own ability that perhaps a nerve was struck when told they were a "baby nurse". It's just not worth the energy to get upset over, imo. On the other hand...since I'm from the South, being called a Yankee might just offend ;-)
The nurse implies that it is normal, acceptable, expected, for crusty older nurses to be upset when a patient needs frequent toileting or any other frequent demands. That is offensive to all nurses.
A nurse that gets upset to help someone ambulate to the bathroom? Doesn't sound like a nurse to me.
And here it is, summed up rather well.
The other nurse was making herself feel better about her attitude, at least that's how it comes across to me. By diminishing your experience, she's trying to validate her own feelings ... which just makes her look defensive (and rude).
This is true. Life is too short to be offended by a label. I wonder if the OP has some confidence issues of her/his own ability that perhaps a nerve was struck when told they were a "baby nurse". It's just not worth the energy to get upset over, imo. On the other hand...since I'm from the South, being called a Yankee might just offend ;-)
You're right, I do probably have some confidence issues of my own. Due to my upbringing, I struggled a lot most of my life feeling inadequate. I am over that for the most part, but this comment did sort of make me start to feel a little inadequate. It just made me feel as if my experience and knowledge was discounted because I was an LPN and not an RN. As an LPN, I worked in long term care, hospice and home health, and at another hospital on med surg and a crisis stabilization unit. I have never worked in ICU before this job and I have learned a whole lot, and am still learning.
Thanks for all the input and kind words everyone! I definitely feel better and after sleeping on it, am going to let this go and not stew on it. I realize she was probably OT making me feel this way on purpose to make herself feel better about not wanting to care for a needy patient.
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saskrn
562 Posts
I've never seen anyone discount any RN based on their education. Actually, in my experience, diploma prepared RN's often have the strongest clinical skills.
I have seen LPN's work and input discounted by other RN's. The first time I witnessed this, I was a new traveler and completely flabbergasted by what I heard. The second time I witnessed it, I defended the LPN's.