Disrespectful ad against nurses on Craigslist

Mikayla13 · Dec 2, 2015

Good job!

blue bag nurse · Dec 2, 2015

I realize there are a ton of responses to this, but I have said a million times over the years that waiting tables was wonderful prep for being a nurse. Taught me about prioritizing and people skills. Best thing I ever did during nursing school.

Kiki1970 · Dec 2, 2015

I spent 15 yrs in hotel management/hospitality and waitressed when I was 19. I can see both sides. I've been hit by irate guests at a front desk even stalked/attempted rape at a ritzy hotel. I've also been hit by pts in a hospital bed. Both professions require great customer service skills and critical thinking- its all about perspective. And to some degree, instead of bussing dishes, we just buss pts. :laugh:

catform83 · Dec 2, 2015

Wow! I am surprised at all of these responses!!! I think that if I was the one that stumbled upon this I would have been upset myself! Like you said, it doesn't say, "a perfect job for college students to make some quick cash," or anything in those regards. Just... nursing students! And then continues to target nursing students throughout the ad, and then mentions at the bottom, "Bussers- with possibility of growth and enhancement." Because we go to nursing school to become a Busser and the possibility to work our way up from that? I don't necessarily think this ad was trying to insult nurses, in fact, obviously if they targeted nursing students particularly, they know MOST of us who go to nursing school are very caring, respectful, have dedication, strong work ethics, can deal with a fast paced work environment where we often have to deal with receiving a lack of appreciation from those we care for (and even work for, unfortunately,) and we ARE in a "service" field where the "customer is always right," even though they usually aren't. Knowing that, and as someone else had mentioned, maybe their best Bussers were nursing students, maybe that's why they targeted them? Obviously I don't know. But I DO agree that the ad was NOT well-written. If they said "perfect for students to make extra cash" or anyone with Bussing experience that also possess the specific attributes they are looking for...that would be a great ad! The attributes listed in the ad in regards to nursing students were great ones... but why just nursing students? That's a miss for them! But I definitely understand how it could make you feel uncomfortable and make you question the company in general. As far as to write a complaint to them, and one as strong worded as you did... I'd say a tad bit of an over reaction. But on the other hand, maybe they will amend their future ads if they didn't realize this could be taken offensively. I wouldn't worry much about it either way! It's their issue, not yours!

flyersfan88 · Dec 2, 2015

Wow! I am surprised at all of these responses!!! I think that if I was the one that stumbled upon this I would have been upset myself! Like you said, it doesn't say, "a perfect job for college students to make some quick cash," or anything in those regards. Just... nursing students! And then continues to target nursing students throughout the ad, and then mentions at the bottom, "Bussers- with possibility of growth and enhancement." Because we go to nursing school to become a Busser and the possibility to work our way up from that? I don't necessarily think this ad was trying to insult nurses, in fact, obviously if they targeted nursing students particularly, they know MOST of us who go to nursing school are very caring, respectful, have dedication, strong work ethics, can deal with a fast paced work environment where we often have to deal with receiving a lack of appreciation from those we care for (and even work for, unfortunately,) and we ARE in a "service" field where the "customer is always right," even though they usually aren't. Knowing that, and as someone else had mentioned, maybe their best Bussers were nursing students, maybe that's why they targeted them? Obviously I don't know. But I DO agree that the ad was NOT well-written. If they said "perfect for students to make extra cash" or anyone with Bussing experience that also possess the specific attributes they are looking for...that would be a great ad! The attributes listed in the ad in regards to nursing students were great ones... but why just nursing students? That's a miss for them! But I definitely understand how it could make you feel uncomfortable and make you question the company in general. As far as to write a complaint to them, and one as strong worded as you did... I'd say a tad bit of an over reaction. But on the other hand, maybe they will amend their future ads if they didn't realize this could be taken offensively. I wouldn't worry much about it either way! It's their issue, not yours!

You missed the part where they made multiple posts targeting multiple majors. Stop overreacting.

Spinmass, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Dec 2, 2015

Many times these companies post similar ads in many different fields. I.E. Under nursing, engineering, business etc trying to attract any student willing to take the job. I wouldn't even have given it a second thought that they were insulting nurses.

ScrappytheCoco · Dec 2, 2015

I have said since day one that my waitressing experience was an asset in teaching me time management and people skills on my path to nursing. Im not the least bit offended.

allnurses Guide · Dec 2, 2015

Thanks for all your view points, everyone!

Thanks for not leaving in a huff as so often happens in these threads!

Comparing the nursing job to the waitress job, as a veteran of the pie shop on the local cruise night boulevard that stayed open after 0200 (booze cut-off hour) I say a crowd of boisterous and obnoxious people all showing up at once was something I instantly recognized when I started working as a nurse.

When I was at a loss over the whole prioritizing thing if someone had said "pretend you're still a waitress" I'd be :idea: Now I get it!

Of course, nobody would ever say that, and I'm talking about the mental organizing. I fully appreciated the "you could kill someone if you do your job wrong" part.

Raechel Frant · Dec 3, 2015

What more do you expect? The ad was probably written by someone who works for a temp agency. Temp agencies are notoriously stupid.

vanilla bean · Dec 3, 2015

What more do you expect? The ad was probably written by someone who works for a temp agency. Temp agencies are notoriously stupid.

As a former temp worker, I am offended on behalf of all temp agency workers - past, present, and future. Not really. Also didn't find craigslist ad offensive. Like others, I find that my previous work experience as a server (and now can add temp agency employee) to be helpful in my role as an RN - flexibility, prioritization, multitasking - all groundwork laid from those previous jobs that now serves me well (pun intended).

springchick1, ADN, RN · Dec 3, 2015

Why do people have to be offended by the stupidest things? Good grief!

catform83 · Dec 3, 2015

You missed the part where they made multiple posts targeting multiple majors. Stop overreacting.

Yes, I didn't read all of the responses, particularly the ones stating that they put the same ad in multiple searches substituting the name of the profession at the time I posted that. That DID cross my mind that that was a possibility... but I responded to her post based on what she told us.

But... now that I have read more responses... I am even more amazed at the amount of (non-constructive) criticism and judgement offered, and the total lack of a basic empathy for fellow nurses, aka human-beings on here! I THOUGHT we were here to support and help eachother, REGARDLESS of if we are thinking someone is "overreacting" or whatever the case is... and even if someone DOES think that, shouldn't we offer that opinion in a more compassionate way and maybe offer some constructive feedback? But maybe I am wrong on that, idk...

Anyways, the original post stated she wanted feedback from members including if we thought SHE overreacted... and my original post was to do exactly that by trying to see it from multiple viewpoints (as you can tell from that post, I start off stating my original reaction as if I had just read the ad like she did, but as I continued to write, my viewpoint swayed as I thought of different things... in the end, concluding that in my opinion, it really wasn't worth it for her to worry over one way or another.) However... I did NOT ask for anyone's opinion (or YOUR'S) regarding if I was overreacting.