Can we get rid of the sugar in nursing?

[Nurse Joey]

I'm sure I'll get burned for this, but today I attended a graduate panel for my former nursing program. The students got to ask us questions about pay scale, what we enjoy about nursing, and how to find jobs... etc. Well all my fellow nurses went on and on about how you touch people's lives, and you become a part of their families. They love all their patients, and *tears flowing* we're just so honored to be like Florence Nightingale. They told stories about sitting around with their patients telling stories about grandkids, and exchanging pictures. The usual cliches; a patient doesn't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. I feel like an outcast because I don't treat each patient like I'm their sweet old granny.

Seriously the way they describe nursing is like a wal-mart greeter in scrubs. Don't get me wrong I have people tell me I'm a great nurse, and a great person. I sit with little old ladies and hold their hands when needed. But can we get the sugar out of nursing? Can we stop calling everybody sweetie, and saying how cute they are? I'm a professional, if you have pain I'll get you a pill, I'll call the doctor, or I'll try my best to fix it, but I won't kiss your boo boo. If you need to be changed, I will change you. If you're scared, then we'll discuss whatever issue you may have. I run my rear off everyday providing care for my patients but never have I treated them like my puppy. Furthermore I don't see doctors acting like Pre-K teachers with patients. Honestly as a patient I don't care how sweet and loving you are, if I'm having a massive heart attack do you know ACLS?

[Riseupandnurse]

Altra: Yes, I know I'll get flamed but the cutesy scrubs are a big part of the problem. Why do nurses want to look like hairdressers or servers at Applebee's? I can't for the life of me figure out why we gave up our uniforms, which gave us some respect. Now we look just like the NAs, housekeepers, cafeteria servers, etc. Can you imagine a policeman or woman trying to do his or her job in some of the nonsense we parade around in? We even had a "fashion show" of scrubs put on by our facility to show us what is "cute." This was about the same time that a memo came out stating female nurses look better in makeup and should wear it. What am I, a waitress at Hooters? No wonder the public doesn't show us much respect anymore.

[SlightlyMental_RN]

We even had a "fashion show" of scrubs put on by our facility to show us what is "cute." This was about the same time that a memo came out stating female nurses look better in makeup and should wear it. What am I, a waitress at Hooters? No wonder the public doesn't show us much respect anymore.

:grn: No freakin' way!!!! Makeup???? I'm lucky if I remember to throw some lip balm in my pocket when I'm getting ready for my shift!

[IndiKast]

A few years ago I was attending a rural university's nursing program. I chose to go there for the simple reason that I could start immeidately, without a wait list, and I could live on campus while going to school. At over 30yrs old, this was hard, but it had to be done. Talk about Sugar! You know that first day when the profs ask you all to describe why you want to go into nursing? I thought I'd puke for sure. One girl actually said she was going to be a Vet but God told her people needed her more. :icon_roll I swear, at the end of the year I was asked to drop the program. They said I wasn't cut out for it. I didn't fit in. Big City girl couldn't cut it with the Little House crew apparently. So I went on and changed schools having learned two things. NEVER call someone a pet name unless they're wearing your collar and stay away from Peds. If you don't sugar those people they add sacchrine and come after your butt.

[Zookeeper3]

I"m just real, I smile if I want to, hold a hand if it feels right and will stare straight through a patient who is acting a fool or family acting nuts.

I don't go to work to win an acting degree. I'm a nurse.

I don't want the emotionally sappy nurse to care for me. I want the level headed one. I have friends and family for a support system, not some stranger with a plastered on smile who'll crack on a dime.:grn:

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

As in most things in life, we have to balance sweet with salt. There's a time for everything.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Some of us are tired of picking up the slack from the nurses who are busy treating all their patients like puppies!

Stop doing it.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

A few years ago I was attending a rural university's nursing program. I chose to go there for the simple reason that I could start immeidately, without a wait list, and I could live on campus while going to school. At over 30yrs old, this was hard, but it had to be done. Talk about Sugar! You know that first day when the profs ask you all to describe why you want to go into nursing? I thought I'd puke for sure. One girl actually said she was going to be a Vet but God told her people needed her more. :icon_roll I swear, at the end of the year I was asked to drop the program. They said I wasn't cut out for it. I didn't fit in. Big City girl couldn't cut it with the Little House crew apparently. So I went on and changed schools having learned two things. NEVER call someone a pet name unless they're wearing your collar and stay away from Peds. If you don't sugar those people they add sacchrine and come after your butt.

Perhaps God did direct her. A lot of us do believe that He's got the whole world in His hands, including directing the steps of those who call upon Him to do so.

I think the fact that you were older made it very hard. It's hard to go backwards in life. That is, once we've had certain experiences or possessed certain nice things or enjoyed some comfort and luxury in life, it's hard to be satisfied with less or say we feel or think a certain way that we've learned isn't true for us. However, we can still respect someone else feeling and believing whatever it is that they feel or believe. That's tolerance, that's diversity, that is cultural respect. We need not all agree all the time, we just need to be courteous about disagreeing.

[steelydanfan]

I"m just real, I smile if I want to, hold a hand if it feels right and will stare straight through a patient who is acting a fool or family acting nuts.

I don't go to work to win an acting degree. I'm a nurse.

I don't want the emotionally sappy nurse to care for me. I want the level headed one. I have friends and family for a support system, not some stranger with a plastered on smile who'll crack on a dime.:grn:

I said this in another post: I would rather have a curt nurse who understood what my complaints of chest pain could entail than a bright chipppie who knew nothing to do except bring me a cup of cocoa.

[nursel56]

I think things work best when "the authorities" don't try and edict what sort of personality a nurse "should" have. It's just as silly to expect the task oriented and less emo nurses to be hearts and flowers as it is the other way around.

I probably shouldn't throw another wrench into the discussion, but. . when Jean Watson and her theory of "carative" nursing is accepted as the framework in many hospitals and schools the average listener will not be able to discern that fine point (that Watson's theory is from academia as opposed to gushing out in a juvenile and cutesy fashion that some people object to).

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

There is more to Nursing than Science.

Nursing is an Art and a Science.

Acting is a form of art. You read the situation and figure out what role you need to play in order to promote health. If you need to be no frills with your patient to promote health, then do so, but that's not going to cut the mustard with every patient, every single time.

Not every patient requires ACLS, but of those that do, you'd better know your science if you're taking care of that patient.

However, if that patient doesn't make it, and the family is coming to you after the code and seeking solace......What science is there that is going to help them with their grief? You figure out the role you need to play and you do what you've been trained to do.

[1icurn.jn]

glad somebody finally said it!:)

[jkaee]

There is more to Nursing than Science.

Nursing is an Art and a Science.

Acting is a form of art. You read the situation and figure out what role you need to play in order to promote health. If you need to be no frills with your patient to promote health, then do so, but that's not going to cut the mustard with every patient, every single time.

Not every patient requires ACLS, but of those that do, you'd better know your science if you're taking care of that patient.

However, if that patient doesn't make it, and the family is coming to you after the code and seeking solace......What science is there that is going to help them with their grief? You figure out the role you need to play and you do what you've been trained to do.

:up:

That's exactly it....wonderfully put!