Title says it all . Second semester baby nurse in clinicals at a major hospital.
Patients = Awesome
Most Nurses = Very sweet and helpful
Some nurses are rude, terse, horrible with patients, horrible with students and horrible with each other.
To those nurses I say this, please retire.
Its only a matter of time before management figures out they can live without you and hire some very hungry and very competent new grads that want to be there to fill your dusty shoes....
word...
sadly the vast majority of the time these happen to also be charge nurses....in charge of what? Misery?
Just thought I'd borrow the OP's technique of repeating myself for emphasis.
One can simply observe which posts received the most "Kudos" to see where majority opinion lies here. Nursemike, heron, moogie, etc.- you've all done an amazing job saying what I've been thinking whilst banging my head against my laptop.
I hope this OP doesn't move to my state or vice versa.
It is interesting that many of you assumed I was a female..
Why? Because I am a nursing student?
I am not a female. I also find it interesting that nurses who happen to be female are referred to as nurses. From my insanely limited experience, nurses who happen to be male are referred to as male nurses...
Why is this? Can a nurse just be a nurse without gender entering in to the equation?
As for everything else it all boils down to opinions. They are based on individual experiences and we all have them and are entitled to them.
I think much of what I have said is hypothetical in that time will have to pass to see if my premises were accurate or not..
So that said, time shall pass and at a later time I shall return to review this thread. In the mean time, it is study study study...
Let us all be kind to our clients, to each other, and especially to ourselves.....life is short, carpe diem
I fail to see what bearing your gender has on the thread ... Not to be offensive, I do get the feeling you are or will be the type of nurse that stirs the pot of poop with a big stick.
Why did you edit the post I commented on before posting the above? Was it to remove the word "hypothetical"? I should've quoted that post too, my bad. Your ethics are showing.
I too spent a couple of decades in corporate management. I don't know you personally but I do know you.
Yep, unfortunately most of us know or work with that type of person.
And I also have some years of management experience - I have never wanted to be the "clipboard carrying nurse", you hear the clickety-clack of their shoes before they show up down the hall.
That's what a lot of disgruntled American workers are feeling these days.
After being squeezed by bosses looking to maximize productivity, half of U.S. employees are actively eyeing the exits or have a less than favorable opinion of their employers, according to a report Monday from Mercer, an outplacement and consulting firm.
Mercer surveyed 2,400 workers in the United States and hundreds more in other countries over the past six months.
Its report said that nearly one in three American workers is seriously considering leaving his or her job, up from 23% six years ago.
In addition, 21% said they have a negative view of their employer and have largely checked out of their job, even if they aren't looking for another one, according to the survey.
This level of dissatisfaction among workers is a red flag for employers, who could face higher retention costs and decreased productivity from a burned out workforce, according to Mindy Fox, a senior partner at Mercer. "The business consequences of this erosion in employee sentiment are significant," she said.
Of course, many unhappy workers don't have a lot of options right now.
I'm thinkin' that maybe leslie's suggestion is a good one. I know that I'm not particularly inclined to make nice on this subject. I think the intensity of many posts here is a testament to the pent-up anger many of us feel in reaction to incompetent management.
I'm with u there, heron. A couple of my posts weren't kosher with everyone and deleted. I didn't really enjoy hearing us "bitter" and "dried up" nurses called creatures. Oh, well...
- being a nurse doesn't = 'customer service representative.'
there is no "customer" here - there is however a "patient". call it 'semantics' if you want - but don't cheapen my profession while you're doing so. if you want "customer service", hire a "customer service representative".
and leave "nursing" to the nurses...
- "patient care" doesn't = "customer care".
this isn't walmart. this isn't tgif. this isn't best buy. heck, this isn't even an escort service!
a "customer" is different from a patient.
"hello mr. smith. my name is roy. i'm a customer service specialist. i understand you're a client of big healthcare mob. how may i serve you today?"
- my obligation and my duty is for the well being of my patient.not my "customer". not my "client". my patient.
- a good part of that "obligation/duty" involves setting limits on behavior. this involves pts. who are compliant andnon-compliant with therapy.
- until you are responsible for the "well being" (legal and medical) of a non-compliant, frequent abuser of the health care system; until you've talked yourself hoorifice with a manipulative pt. who alternates between "screaming in agony" (loud enough to disturb the other pts.) because "my stomach is killing me" and then calls your every 3 minutes with "can't you put me out? can't you just knock me out?" ... never mind the od of narcotics, benzos and cocaine in their tox-screen [never mind their bp being in the toilet]... and you've put up with the shenanigans over and over and over and over and over and over again for the 19th time in 30 days...
..... and this wouldn't be the first "frequent flier" nor is this the only one with 'similar complaints'.
and that's just for starters...
... we'll have a conversation then.
in the mean time, if by your exalted standards, i am a "bitter, dried up nurse that needs to retire"...
... you're probably right. after all, why should a nurse elevate pt. safety and care over pt. satisfaction? i mean, after all, isn't pt. satisfaction that which brings pts. to the hospital? it's all about "customer care", yes?
of course it is! but why not let patients in on the boondoggle about "getting hot tea" or a "warm blanket" over competent nursing care? how well do "surveys" address "competent nursing care" over "customer care"? i know the difference - i've been a patient too! "was the nurse friendly?" "was the person drawing blood kind?" "were the cafeteria staff helpful?"
yep! absolutely gonna help us with providing "safe, effective, medical care for our patients".
It is interesting that many of you assumed I was a female..
Why? Because I am a nursing student?
I am not a female. I also find it interesting that nurses who happen to be female are referred to as nurses. From my insanely limited experience, nurses who happen to be male are referred to as male nurses...
Why is this? Can a nurse just be a nurse without gender entering in to the equation?
As for everything else it all boils down to opinions. They are based on individual experiences and we all have them and are entitled to them.
I think much of what I have said is hypothetical in that time will have to pass to see if my premises were accurate or not..
So that said, time shall pass and at a later time I shall return to review this thread. In the mean time, it is study study study...
Let us all be kind to our clients, to each other, and especially to ourselves.....life is short, carpe diem
Well two points come to mind here -
- Making a minor mistake re gender is not something we make into a big deal. We realise it happens and no need to make it an issue.
-That was a good point you made about being kind to each other.
Our field would be a better place if we all tried a bit harder
I too agree with being kind to each other. However, I find it ironic that mindlor makes this observation what....24 pages after deliberately raising controversy and ******* people off. Oh well, I'm sure he will make a wonderful addition to the corporate suits we have.
:yeah:
caroladybelle, BSN, RN
5,486 Posts
I was so trying to stay out of this......but......
Now I know which new grad, my bitter, old, need to retire self, should precept on my floor.