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:

[scattycarrot, BSN, RN]

Have we had the...'every nurse wants to marry a doctor because they make lots of money' yet?

[TrudyRN]

Gee, I never realized how ridiculous so many people are and how many have such terrible attitudes.

The part about marrying a rich doctor - hmm, not a bad plan, actually. I wish I had done that. And he wouldn't have to be young. I've seen a couple of instances where a young, lovely nurse has come onto a job and snagged an older doc who was in mid-life crisis and was cheating on the wife in one case and another who was a recent widower. Both couples are doing well, so I hear. The May-December couple - he's old and sick now and she stands to inherit. I can imagine the fireworks from his children.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

Nurses eat their young.

Having experienced this, I am sorry to say it is true. However this "young" developed teeth and bites back so it doesn't happen to much anymore.

[Pumpkin1621]

i am enjoying reading these myths.

i hate the bedpan myth. i get told, "why do you want to be a nurse all they do is clean bedpans."

every nurse wanted to be a doctor but couldn't hack it, is another myth i hate.

i was told when i was a little girl, "don't have a card that says you are an organ donor or they will let you die and use your body to save many other people." this myth is directly related to nursing, but i find it humorous now.

:smiletea: sorry this was so long, and thanks for reading.

[Cattitude]

Nursing is a tough degree!

As for busting the myth that nursing school is a tough degree, why don't you wait until you actually experience it.

Good advice and you may want to take it yourself . The prereq's may be a lot different than the actual nursing courses. I found them much easier.

Nursing school is tough, not super hard just tough. Of course I also worked full time and that may have clouded my judgement.

Still, I think you should decide AFTER you finish nursing school, not before.

Good luck and I hope you sail through!

[Diploma'82]

I use to get asked when I was going to marry some good looking rich doctor...my reply was...the good looking ones are already taken, they aren't rich because they have to pay so much for malpractice insurance and the first time they were mean to a night nurse (me having been one), I'd probably beat him to death with a lamp (haha)!

[TazziRN, RN]

Hospitals take care of its employees.

They do.........until you're in the middle of a problem, then they drop you like a hot potato.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

"I couldn't be an oncology nurse, because I can't harden my heart that much"

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

A patient is referred to hospice:

"They're gonna kill Daddy with that Moephin"

"Hospice is just another name for euthanasia"

" When are they gonna give him THE PILL (or THE SHOT).....you know what I mean...the one that will make him die".

[Irishgirl]

A patient is referred to hospice:

"They're gonna kill Daddy with that Moephin"

"Hospice is just another name for euthanasia"

" When are they gonna give him THE PILL (or THE SHOT).....you know what I mean...the one that will make him die".

I know some nurses who have that attitude, it's sad that they do. I worked in Hospice (briefly), and if I'm terminal, sign me up! I want to be comfortable when I go out. Kudos to Hospice nurses, they're very strong people.

P.S. I was actually told that if you're wearing your hospice badge in public, people may come up (to you) and accuse you of being a murderer. Sheesh...

[Roy Fokker, BSN, RN]

moderator note:

everyone, please reference the terms of service (tos), a binding contract signed by you in return for membership privileges. specifically, the sections dealing with:

debates

we promote the idea of lively debate. this means you are free to disagree with anyone on any type of subject matter as long as your criticism is constructive and polite.

personal attacks

our first priority is to the members that have come here because of the flame-free atmosphere we provide. there is a zero-tolerance policy here against personal attacks. we will not tolerate anyone insulting another individual's opinion nor name calling and will ban repeat offenders.

also please note:

how to handle personal attacks or objectionable material is seen

if you are ever in a position where you feel you have been personally attacked, do not respond to that attack. please report the post using "report this post to a moderator" link (red triangle) found in left hand corner of each post. let us deal with the problem. if you respond to that attack, you may find yourself removed as well, and we don't want to see that happen.

this has been a decent thread so far ladies and gentlemen.

let us keep it that way. please do not generalize - be it about our profession, other professions or other people. please do not make the conversation personal. please do not drift from the topic of the thread.

thread is now re-opened for posting.

if anyone has any qeustions, please don't hesitate to contact me via pm

thanks

roy,

allnurses.com moderator

[LadyEJ BSN, RN]

Just because you are a nurse (or nursing student-I'm not even in my program yet!) you should be able to give medical advice for any and every illness. I am a pre-nursing student, my friends and family expect me to know the entire human anatomy and how to cure every common ailment. Once I'm a nurse I wont be surprised if they expect me to know how to perform surgeries.