Can we get rid of the sugar in nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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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?

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
The original post is so funny, I laughed so hard!

I always try to be professional and sympathetic. And BTW old Flo Nightingale was a VERY strong woman who fought against her quite rich family to become a nurse (seen as quite disgraceful for a lady), and argued and fought against the Gods at the time aka doctors, to get nursing recognised as a profession. She was one tough lady from what I have read about her!

Yes. I recently discovered this item on archive.org which has a huge amount of material in the public domain. It's an audio reading of "Notes on Nursing- what it is and what it is not" by Florence Nightingale c1859

Notes on Nursing : Florence Nightingale : Free Download Streaming : Internet Archive

Just for fun- this film for high schoolers about what a nurse does is . . . well, hilarious- only because Miss Austin spends quite a bit of time passing out hair ribbons and patting little children on the arm (I never passed out hair ribbons in peds!) -- (ed to add: because I was crazy busy, not because I have anything against nurses passing out ribbons)

Nursing Career : Free Download Streaming : Internet Archive

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Specializes in ICU.
I opened this thinking it was about snacks.

But I think I agree with the OP, for the most part.

Mmmm...snacks...

:paw:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

What about the ones that call every single person/patient 'sweetie' or 'honey' - that cracks me up. They don't even realise they are doing it I suppose.

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I will admit -- I'm a sweetie and honey person, but it's only because I just CANNOT remember their names!!! I nice "sir" or "maam" also works and is respectful.

Over the past 2 years, I've gone full circle with patients. I have loathed them, been disgusted by them, been infuriated by them, impatient with them, annoyed by them, and what have you. But over time, I begin to see that much of their behavior is driven by their fears, by the unfamiliarity of the hospital, by not being in their homes, surrounded by the families, etc. I think I might be the same way, as a fellow human being, if I were the one in that bed.

So, I have grown to almost look forward to meeting each patient on the first day of my assignment to them, to ANTICIPATING their needs, to meeting them, and seeing their eyes light up when I bring in or say the one thing that is the exact thing they are needing, or needing to hear. It doesn't have to be syrupy, or sickeningly sweet -- but it MEETS THEIR NEEDS at the moment. We are dealing with human beings, not machines. I do love cuddling little cute old people, especially if they are sweet right back. To me they are like babies, just at the other end of their lives ... I guess I'm a sucker for that. And then some of them are just downright recalcitrant and mean ...and I just give them their space.

I guess I genuinely like most people, and I'm interested in hearing their stories, for the most part ....unless they just tend to go on and on, or are complainers. In the end, I get to go home to my nice home and family and enjoy my good health. They, on the other hand, are alone in a strange room, w/o their family, and suffering some godawful health problem. I do feel for a lot of them ... so I try to do things that make their days good ones and to try to be extra nice tothem, even though a lot of times, they don't deserve it. But they are sick ...they're not at the top of their game and are vulnerable.

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Specializes in Geriatrics/Med-Surg/ED.

I can tell you my 70 yr old dad (a retired MD) was NOT impressed when the 50-something RN kept calling him "hot shot" & "big guy" after his prostate surgery! He finally, after about the 3rd time asked her to please call him by his name! Your patient should not be cringing when you ask him a question! I try to make a conscious effort to call my patients by their names, after all, I'm a perfect stranger to them & pet names indicate a kind of familiarity that doesn't exist (I'm in acute care) & may not even be appreciated- in fact, many find it insulting & condescending.

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Specializes in student; help!.
This was about the same time that a memo came out stating female nurses look better in makeup and should wear it.

Oh, HELL NO. They'd hear my screeching from the basement.

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Specializes in student; help!.
I would rather have a curt nurse

I totally misread this and was about to enlarge one of your spincters with my boot when I realized I just needed to clean my glasses.

Might be time for bed already.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
I totally misread this and was about to enlarge one of your spincters with my boot when I realized I just needed to clean my glasses.

Might be time for bed already.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

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