Being a nurse for all the wrong reasons.

mattsmom81 · Jan 1, 2004

I am all for positive changes and I am all for nurses being content and happy. Sadly, we have been largely unable to effect positive change (we don't have the power to do that currently). We try to be content and happy...we are good people or likely we would not have chosen this field. When we get down, we try to effect change for ourselves by voting with our feet. We also try to effect larger change by speaking out...but we must do this carefully as we lack power and support. Our voices are largely unappreciated, even punished, by healthcare's PTB. Nurses change jobs frequently looking for that better place but even that 'best place' is difficult today. Seldom will be find a true pro-nurse healthcare system today. Usually we get lipservice only, while they shortstaff, browbeat and add more duties to our neverending list.

What I object to in the OP's line of thinking is that we can effect the enormity of the circumstance we are in by having a Pollyanna attitude. It is that very type of attitude that has gotten nursing to the current state it finds itself in, IMHO. Through our 'niceness' and cooperation, nurses through the decades have failed to maintain professional boundaries with administrations insisting nurses be all things to all people. We have failed to demand our say in our future. If we continue to stay 'out of the loop' I don't see things get better. The time for passive acceptance is way past us if we are to see positive changes.

The changes I see healthcare making only seem to be rearranging the deck chairs on the nurses' Titanic. When we see our potential power and can overcome our oppressed group mindset and come together for the common good of ALL nurses is when we will succeed. I hope to live to see that day.

Off my soapbox now...Happy New Year All here!! :kiss

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 1, 2004

"A nurse for all the wrong reasons" ??? :confused:

Personally, I'm having difficulty with the title of the thread... just what is the OP trying to say ?

We're not Mother Teresas, nor are we volunteers, nor are we angels sent from above.

We are real ppl, with real families with real needs which must be met... physical, emotional, financial... if these basic needs are not being met, how are we to continue to give of ourselves to others?

Now I'm all for making the best of any situation, and I'm known to smile a lot ... to the dismay and annoyance, even, of others at times.

But I'm also wise enough to know that if you're drowning, and TPTB are pushing your head under the water every time you come up for air, that smile ain't gonna save you !

Neither will the frown, or sour attitude.

Action is key. What can I and will I do to save myself, my career, and my profession in order to continue to provide the care my patients deserve?

I don't go down without a fight. That battle can be fought in numerous ways.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by mattsmom81
I am all for positive changes and I am all for nurses being content and happy. Sadly, we have been largely unable to effect positive change (we don't have the power to do that currently). We try to be content and happy...we are good people or likely we would not have chosen this field. When we get down, we try to effect change for ourselves by voting with our feet. We also try to effect larger change by speaking out...but we must do this carefully as we lack power and support. Our voices are largely unappreciated, even punished, by healthcare's PTB. Nurses change jobs frequently looking for that better place but even that 'best place' is difficult today. Seldom will be find a true pro-nurse healthcare system today. Usually we get lipservice only, while they shortstaff, browbeat and add more duties to our neverending list.

What I object to in the OP's line of thinking is that we can effect the enormity of the circumstance we are in by having a Pollyanna attitude. It is that very type of attitude that has gotten nursing to the current state it finds itself in, IMHO. Through our 'niceness' and cooperation, nurses through the decades have failed to maintain professional boundaries with administrations insisting nurses be all things to all people. We have failed to demand our say in our future. If we continue to stay 'out of the loop' I don't see things get better. The time for passive acceptance is way past us if we are to see positive changes.

The changes I see healthcare making only seem to be rearranging the deck chairs on the nurses' Titanic. When we see our potential power and can overcome our oppressed group mindset and come together for the common good of ALL nurses is when we will succeed. I hope to live to see that day.

Off my soapbox now...Happy New Year All here!! :kiss

Fantastic post, mattsmom!

You go, nurse!

Trauma Columnist · Jan 1, 2004

While I don't think I'm a Pollyanna - I do enjoy my job. Life is waaay tooo short to go around with a chip on your shoulder all the time. If things aren't going well and you can't fix them or at least contribute to the solution, move on - there are other opportunities.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by traumaRUs
While I don't think I'm a Pollyanna - I do enjoy my job. Life is waaay tooo short to go around with a chip on your shoulder all the time. If things aren't going well and you can't fix them or at least contribute to the solution, move on - there are other opportunities.

Now THIS I can agree with . Go where you CAN smile again. :)

Rapheal · Jan 2, 2004

Usually my sour face is from sucking on those little candies called Lemon Heads. They give you a good pucker, but they are so good. I recommend them.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2004

Originally posted by tgibson3770
I see so many sour faced nurses no matter which facility I go into. Sure, there are many problems that face the profession of nursing each day. But is it fair to the patients to be in a depressed or dissatisfied state of mine? We chose this profession for good reasons I hope.

Life is too short to piss it away on a measure of unhappiness.

Maybe we would be happier if others were not preaching at us, about how we don't eat the foods that they consider "healthy", or telling us how awful that it is that nurses are ocasionally overweight and have very human faults.

Life is also to short to waste it away trying to be perfect in another's eyes when we really need to accept the humanity in ourselves.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 2, 2004

Dixen81 · Jan 2, 2004

tgibson, you must be hell to live with.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 2, 2004

Originally posted by peggysue
tgibson, you must be hell to live with.

naw, just too good to be true.

i don't buy it.

gypsyatheart · Jan 2, 2004

Originally posted by Hellllllo Nurse
I am sorry, but I just have to say it-

BARF.

DITTO, DITTO, DITTO! Another "troll" thread!

This OP really has too much time on his hands...perhaps if he spent half as much time on his schoolwork, he'd actually "smarten up"! LOL :chuckle

SC RN, RN · Jan 2, 2004

Originally posted by moondancer
DITTO, DITTO, DITTO! Another "troll" thread!
This OP really has too much time on his hands...perhaps if he spent half as much time on his schoolwork, he'd actually "smarten up"! LOL :chuckle

I've posted a few threads like this and see no problem with it. It disappoints me that so many negative comments were made to the OP. We can ***** all we want ... but we can also be positive all want, too. Isn't this forum here for everyone?

And moondancer, how do you define troll? This person has 67 posts ... you have just over 100 ... they posted what they felt and were ridiculed for it. That's not a troll.

I know life is not always positive, but we can make a difference with our attitudes. I'm not saying walk around with a stupid smile even when you're being screwed. But a smile every now and then does wonders. For the people around you and for yourself.