Disrespectful ad against nurses on Craigslist

[Trilldayz,RN BSN]

Ok guys, So I was helping my friend look for NP jobs on various job websites. I decided to look on Craigslist for ads. I search my city (Houston) for their medical job ads. I see an ad calling for 50 bussers needed for a wedding event facility (The Bell Tower on 34th is the name of the event facility). So I think to myself "why would an advertisement for bussers be in the medical section?" and LO AND BEHOLD.... this is what the ad said:

A Perfect job for Nursing Students! If you think like a Nurse this job is a match.

Our Goal Is To Deliver Excellent Events No One Will Ever Forget!

We have many exciting and rewarding career opportunities for leaders who want to be a part of creating spectacular one of a kind events. If a commitment to excellence, uncompromising quality, and world class customer service is important to you, then come join our team!

Accepting Applications for

BUSSERS -- with possibilities for growth and advancement

^^^ Yep... you read that right. I had to reread the first sentence a couple of times.

FIRST OF ALL, why would ONLY nurses be targeted?? Why not just say a perfect job for students? SECONDLY, nurses actually save lives, our care matters (unlike what our CEOs might say lol). Why would our schooling and knowledge be seen as equal to the skill set of a job that requires no education?

Needless to say, I wrote them a nasty email. I wrote:

Hello, I was just reading your ad. I am a nurse and I was wondering how cleaning up event spaces equate to "thinking like a nurse". What do you mean, exactly? Nurses do more than cleaning up after people. We handle critical patients and actually save lives. We deal with life and death situations. So I really urge your company to stop demeaning an entire profession and calling on our students, in particular, to feel like a simple task such as bussing, is the same with the critical thinking skills needed to be a Nurse. I will no longer support your event facility and will be sure to alert every nurse (and nursing website) I come across about your ad, if it is not rectified.

Regretfully,

A LIFE SAVING RN

I urge you to not support this company and if you know anyone in the HOuston area, please tell them to not support this company, as they clearly have such a low view of us. Am I overreacting? Am I justified for feeling "some type of way" about it??

[OnlinePersona, LPN]

i guess everyone has different view points. All the nurses i spoke to about it to just now felt insulted.

Maybe I had to be there for when you showed them the ad... maybe you explained it differently. Either way, I don't think its that big of a deal.

[LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN]

I love your enthusiasm! But people sell their old bras and meet for "massages" off Craig's List so perhaps over reacting a tad

[Wrench Party]

I think you got your gutchies in a bunch over a whole lot of nothin'.

[mago8388]

Totally over reacting. Unless the bussers are required to wear some Halloween type of sexy nurse costume.

[kp1987]

It's probably some sicko wanting good looking girls who are "nurses", like some kind of sick fantasy hahaha if you catch my drift

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I've been a waitress, a bartender, a customer service rep, retail store manager, and worked in hotel management for many years before I was a nurse. Many of the skills I learned made my transition to nursing that much smoother.

[happyinmyheart]

Honestly, my first reaction was to be slightly offended. Would they have said "A perfect job for Pre-Med students" or "A perfect job for Physical Therapy students". No.... Probably not. This adds to the assumption that the career of nursing is picking up after someone.

However, after reading comments, I understand that it's really not too offensive.

Simply my opinion, not claiming to be right or wrong :) I kind of admire OP for taking a stance and emailing the company!

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

I always tell people I'm a waitress.

[klone, MSN, RN]

"You ain't nothin but a waitress in the sky."

That's how I felt when I worked postpartum nights.

Sorry, no point to this post. Carry on.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

.....but is this company magnet?

In all seriousness, bussing is a more typical job for a college student. Or should I say USED to be, when more college students worked. My thought is that because positions such as bussing as so hard to fill, they went on every "specialty" on craigslist and posted the same type of ad. "Think like an engineer...." "Think like a rock star...."

Bussing is hard work. So are any number of careers. Especially ones involving "I have the time" and "we want you to be DELIGHTED!"

And a bit less offensive than "think like you actually want to work for a living you entitled brat!"

Looks like someone in the company was thinking like a marketer.....

(and I would take off where this ad is and any reference to the actual company...)

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

If I lived in the area, I wouldn't support them either. Good job!

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

It's nothing to do with nurses. This company is looking for any students. I searched the text you posted and found the listing on Houston Craigslist. I also found the same company posting saying the job is good for "students," "engineering students," and "education students."

They're blasting keywords into cyberspace so any nursing student that Googles "good job for nursing student" will see their ad. And they'll get their 50 bussers at $9/hour.