big bad nursing myths busted

[adrienurse]

In the name of nursing week I will defend our profession. I'm not trying to stir up controversy, but lets admit nurses perpetuate myths about their own profession and injure nursing's rep way more than everyone else can. Ever heard any good ones?

For example:

Geriatric nursing is only for untalented nurses and ones gearing down for their retirement.:trout:

[firstyearstudent]

Psych nurses are lazy and won't or can't do med/surg.

Psych nurses are crazy.

I had an ICU nurse tell me this one last week: How can you tell a psych nurse from her/his patients? They let the psych nurse keep her shoelaces.

[Nur_1996]

Dipped in Chocolate! Yummy!

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

Don't go into oncology. All you'll do is watch people die all the time.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

Nurses have to follow doctor's orders and cannot do anything on their own.

Nurses only wipe butts and pass pills.

Most nurses are only there to marry some rich young doctor.

Night shift doesn't do anything because the patients all sleep; day shift does all the real work.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

You work nights and have it so easy. All the pts do is sleep at night. NOT!

Nurses in the ICU are mean and eat their young.

Nurses in med surg aren't good enough to work in the ER or ICU.

Nurses (in general) eat their young.

Nurses who got all A's are the best nurses. (So not true)

BSN nurses are better.

[all4schwa]

Night shift is easy; all the patients do is sleep all night.

This drives me crazy!!

How can you tell a psych nurse from her/his patients? They let the psych nurse keep her shoelaces.

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to use that one!! j/k

Most nurses are only there to marry some rich young doctor.

Yuck!

Of course, you know, sterotypes usually do have a grain of truth to them....or else why would so many people say these things??

Except the ones about pts sleeping all night, those ones just never worked nights....of course all my experience is in LTC and my Neuro unit, that could have something to do with it.

[mamason]

All nurses do is sit on their butts all day long.

LOL!!!! This one really cracks me up!. Is this why my feet and legs hurt so much after working 12 hour day shifts? I'm lucky to pee once during my shift!!!

[DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN]

All nurses do is sit on their butts all day long.

LOL!!!! This one really cracks me up!. Is this why my feet and legs hurt so much after working 12 hour day shifts? I'm lucky to pee once during my

shift!!!

Yeah, that's why our butts are so big, everyone knows that! We sit at the desk and yack on the phone and eat while we ignore the call lights.

[tatgirl]

Let's see:

Nurses who work in LTC couldnt hack it in the hospital.

Night shift nurses dont do anything all night long ( yeah right!! I have worked nights, and worked my butt off, 1 of me to 46 residents and most dont sleep all nite!!!)

Nurses eat their young ( well some do!! but most do not)

New nurses should go straight to med surg ( I am a nurse for one year who didnt go to med surg)

Wendy

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

LPN's are being phased out (this has been rumored for at least 25 years....

[nursejllrn]

Nursery nurses get paid to rock babies.

.

[time4meRN]

Gosh you guys, you're making me hungry ! I think you helped me realize why I've gained 20 pounds since I started nursing 30 years ago. Just kidding, I love training new nurses. (most of the time). Helps me remember where I came from. Thanks for the laughs though.

1. Floor nurses are not as smart. After 30 years in critical care, I say if you are a good "floor" nurse, you are one of the best nurses out there. Talk about multitasking. Koodoes (?sp) to all of you !

2. Nurses can't spell or do math. (oh wait, maybe that's true )