Do people treat you different when they find out you are a nurse?

Otessa, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

They don't treat me different because I'm considered a "gold mine". I usually hear that they respect nurse and couldn't do what we do-they often have a story about a nurse that either took care of them or a friend/family member that was better because a nurse cared for them.

otessa

neonatal_nurse · Aug 3, 2009

When I tell people that I'm a nurse, they're like, "Wow." Just like Otessa, this reaction not only pertains to the money aspect of the job, but the respect they have for nurses. After all, these days there are like 100 Million other people wanting to be part of this profession, but only few make it. I guess it's because nursing isn't just an in demand job, but because it is a noble profession as well. We are advocates of not only what is right for our patients but also in the eyes of God. Because in the end, things are not really in our hands but in His. :)

tattooednursie, LVN · Aug 3, 2009

I must say that some do. It has already been said that it is not a "gold mine" Job. It is a noble profession, and it is also quite an accomplishment.

pandora44 · Aug 3, 2009

Yes, I do think people see me differently. I don't know if they treat me any differently. And, yes, it too makes me laugh a little bit inside at the irony. I was introduced to a woman recently and said that I was a nurse. Oh, she said, I just work in an office. I don't do important things such savings lives like you do. She was completely honest and earnest when she said that. I thought, My goodness you have no idea how much of my job involves cleaning up poop.

But I like that what I do is respected, if not always completely understood, by the general public. I am less fond of health questions from friends, family and acquaintances, especially since almost no one follows my advice to go see their doctor.

Annisme · Aug 3, 2009

I had a doctor tell me today that she had recent experience as a patient. While she had always had a respect for nurses and the job we do, she was amazed at the kindness and "heart" that nurses have. It was nice to hear from someone who had more than one perspective of who we are and the job we do.

And yes, people do treat me differently...I am often asked "what do you think this is....?" LOL! I refer them to their physicians, telling them I don't diagnose, but I will provide them the best care possible. So far, no complaints!

chicookie, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

I do a lot of volunteering, and usually the ones in charge even though they already know I am a nurse, I always feel like I have to prove it. I don't know if its because I am young and look younger or what. Even when i tell people on the street, i feel like I always have to prove it.

Then I get the oh so great questions. "I've had yellow pudding diarrhea for 3 months what should I do?" "um go see a doctor?"

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

Do I get treated differently since I'm a nurse?

Well, when I was a computer systems analyst, nobody ever said, "Hey, can you look at this rash?"

:typing

Katnip, RN · Aug 3, 2009

Oh, she said, I just work in an office. I don't do important things such savings lives like you do. She was completely honest and earnest when she said that.

We do save lives. We clean up poop too, but we really do save lives. When someone tells me that "I'm just a..." with the you save lives part, it's kind of humbling. But I always tell them that they contribute to society as well. It's just what we do.

beachbutterfly · Aug 3, 2009

Yes, I do think people see me differently. I don't know if they treat me any differently. And, yes, it too makes me laugh a little bit inside at the irony. I was introduced to a woman recently and said that I was a nurse. Oh, she said, I just work in an office. I don't do important things such savings lives like you do. She was completely honest and earnest when she said that. I thought, My goodness you have no idea how much of my job involves cleaning up poop.
But I like that what I do is respected, if not always completely understood, by the general public. I am less fond of health questions from friends, family and acquaintances, especially since almost no one follows my advice to go see their doctor.

Yep,I had a similar experience,it seems that office workers are intimidated by and display respect for nursing profession,little they know since it seems that often grass appears to be greener on the other side,but then again I had contrary experience as well and I was told by some (especially my boss at my current job) that I always will be just a nurse working under doctor's orders!!!!Part of me wants to think it was the jelousy speaking but also part of me thinks that maybe these people really feel that way,oh well!!!

beachbutterfly · Aug 3, 2009

Yes, I do think people see me differently. I don't know if they treat me any differently. And, yes, it too makes me laugh a little bit inside at the irony. I was introduced to a woman recently and said that I was a nurse. Oh, she said, I just work in an office. I don't do important things such savings lives like you do. She was completely honest and earnest when she said that. I thought, My goodness you have no idea how much of my job involves cleaning up poop.
But I like that what I do is respected, if not always completely understood, by the general public. I am less fond of health questions from friends, family and acquaintances, especially since almost no one follows my advice to go see their doctor.

I had to laught at your last paragraph,how true,people seek my advice and never follow it but there is this 1% of people who do follow it and it makes you feel so goooooooood!!!!!!!!! that you can actually help someone to mantain their health!!!! Or you explain to your friends/ loved one the treatment options available to them and when they come back from doctor's office they informed you that you were right and that the doc said the same thing!!!It is then that you start to think it was really worth to survive nursing school!

MJJFan1, BSN, RN · Aug 3, 2009

i normally get "oh" as if it's nothing at all. Then they try and make their job seem more important. That's when i get offended and say "try having 6 patients, 1 is confused and is kicking your %%%. 1 is on peritoneal dialysis, oh your don't know what that is, 3 are drug seekers asking for meds around the clock and that last one is a 100 that you just hope will sleep but instead they code on you with family members at the bedside saying, 'do everything you can' and all the while you are coding this patient, your confusd patient is climbing out of bed, your PD fluid needs to be changed to the drain mode, and 2 of your 3 druggers are calling the nurses station asking for dilaudid. experience that and then tell me how important your job is.