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??

[Dogen]

Oh. We all know what it means. There's been enough threads on it.

Do you know that bussing is another term for kissing?

I checked urban dictionary and found two interesting definitions, but they both seem to be directed at men. One is for "bussing" and it's the opposite of a wingman, it's a guy who prevents you from hooking up... which is funny because the traditional definition of bussing is taking the dishes away, and "dish" is also slang for an attractive woman. The other is "bussing tables" and is supposedly "cleaning up" at the end of the night when the bar is closing and people are desperate to not go home alone.

Neither of these sounds like something someone would pay students to do. But it IS craigslist.

[Dogen]

It's not just the OP. It seems like nowadays people are just looking for any opportunity to be OFFENDED. Pretty soon, the only acceptable subjects for discussion will be the weather.

If my pediatrician asks if I'm enjoying the weather I'm switching providers. It's none of their business, and I'm not going to stand for it.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Don't forget that 2015 is the year that absolutely everyone has be designated to be outraged by something!

hppy

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

If my pediatrician asks if I'm enjoying the weather I'm switching providers. It's none of their business, and I'm not going to stand for it.

LOL, that's really not that far off of reality.

[Farawyn]

Don't forget that 2015 is the year that absolutely everyone has be designated to be outraged by something!

hppy

I did NOT know this. I'm completely outraged.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

It's Craig's list... anyone and everyone can post whatever they choose. It's up to you to respond or react.

Back in the day, I supported myself through nursing school by serving at banquets.

Get your panties , out of your self made bunch.

[guestng82]

This could have been a blanket advertisement posted in many different ad sections where they just easily substitute nursing for any other profession.

[MrNurse(x2), ADN]

That may be a form ad that has "insert career path here", did you look under teachers? We as a society are so easily offended, maybe taking a step back and thinking it through may be the best next step. We live in a time where we can be offended, fire off a nasty email and feel smug about it before we cool down to think logically. I have definitely done this and regretted it later. You may still feel offended, but, as others posted, maybe the business found nursing students capable of being dedicated workers in a pool of entitled youth. Will you please let us know if they should respond? You already defamed them without allowing response. Kind of poor integrity when you cite professionalism.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

This could have been a blanket advertisement posted in many different ad sections where they just easily substitute nursing for any other profession.

I actually wondered if that was the case when I read the OP.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I wouldn't take much offense. They were targeting students (college students in general are known for needing $$$), plus nursing students are used to working for hours, on their feet, without breaks, for no pay (). Seriously I wouldn't get upset. I'm sure this was posted in several forums and they simply changed a few words to fit the ad.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Ummm it's Craigslist. NOT a featured opinion piece in the New York Times.

good grief.

I am curious. Why did you ask our opinions after all the vitriol you posted in CL? Did you expect us to rise up like what happened after the mess on the View?

Well that clearly is not what happened. IMO you kind of hurt our cause, instead of helping it.

But hey, it's only my opinion.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

Funny. I was just thinking about how waitress experience is great preparation for nursing as I was getting some food today!

Unfortunately there are days on my job when I feel like nothing more than a glorified waitress...without the tips.

During this insanity, the psychiatrist working with us on the floor asked us if any of us have ever waited tables. It so happened that all three of us on staff were previously involved in food service in one way or another and told him so. He was very serious when he told us, "that's why you're all able to handle this." He said that he had a lot of respect for them because of how they can deal with multiple issues, and wouldn't hesitate to hire anyone who has been a waiter (waitress, etc.).

And yes, he had been one too.

Just something else to think about, OP.