This thread might draw ire, but I feel that it has to be said.
In my carefully considered opinion, one of the biggest things that holds nursing back as a profession is what I view as a high school dropout mentality. Those who have this mentality act as if being an RN gives you the right to bully others. It takes its shape in unprofessional behavior of all kinds, including publicly "calling out" other nurses on the floor, yelling at other nurses in front of patients, lecturing new people about their many years of experience on the floor, and constantly complaining about the facility, the people in it, and gossiping and backstabbing people. You all know people who fit this description to a T at work.
Here is what I discovered through my dealings with these types. Certain groups tend to have high numbers of individuals with this mentality, and they include nurses who were adult learners, community college students, former LPNs, former CNAs, and people who actually did drop out of high school in their teens. Meanwhile, BSN students and second degree nursing students tend to not have this high school dropout mentality. Is that because BSN and second degree students are just less likely to actually have dropped out of high school than the groups I listed above? Maybe.
"Getting my RN" and becoming a floor nurse is seen as the biggest accomplishment in the world by these groups. Becoming an RN is a worthy accomplishment to be sure, but acting like it's the highest honor in the world is rather pretentious. I am not bashing associate degree nurses. I myself graduated with an associate degree in nursing and am pursuing a BSN while working.
Before anyone says it, I realize that most people within these groups are normal, everyday people trying to make a living. But isn't that part of what holds nursing back? I want nursing to attract the best and the brightest. I want people who see it as more than a paycheck. I want people who are interested in professional advancement, education, and research, not people who are content with being a ratty, shat-on-her-scrubs floor nurse in a nursing home for twenty years in order to support three adult children who are on welfare. The kind of nurse who long ago forgot if your appendix is on your left or right side of your body. The kind who doesn't care about the science.
Does anyone want to weigh in? Use this thread to discuss your thoughts and feelings about the high school dropout mentality in nursing. Do you believe it exists? Or do you believe it is imagined? Use this thread to discuss ways in which we can raise the standards of the everyday nurse and stop low class, ignorant behavior.
The term I thought was apt. One of the characteristics that unites people with this mentality is that they have very low ambition. They are content working as a floor nurse, because it lets them feel above LPNs and CNAs, which is all that is important to them. Becoming an RN is about status to them.
And I don't agree that low class ignorant behavior is as pervasive in other professions. When was the last time you saw two pharmacists shouting at each other in the hallway, writing each other up, or trying to humiliate one another in other ways? The same with physical therapists, speech therapists, social workers, and so forth. I just don't see it happening where I work. In nursing, I see it all the time.
It is my belief that the raw stock of people that nursing draws from is cut from a different cloth than these other professions, and unfortunately that cloth is poor. And even more unfortunately, I believe that this hurts our profession and holds nurses back from attaining the respect that we deserve from other professionals and our employers.
The site (AN) would allow me to use the quote format....
I think many persons whom have responded have taken the OP waaay to personal.
I agree with the observation about" Getting my RN" she/he never said it wasn't an accomplishment to be proud of, only that it wasn't "the biggest accomplishment in the world.
And frankly i have seen the persons to which she refers. And do you really want the ones who "have forgotten/didn"t thoroughly learn, the "science"?
Not that long ago, you didn't have this segment in nursing, if they dropped out they stayed dropped out. Don't shoot the messenger because you don't like message. The attitude she describes, certaily exists, and does lower the level of professionalism in nursing.
The reason I say this is because I was bullied, but when I wore my college hoodie or hat everyone was nice to me (a little in awe) and the bullying stopped.
The "best and the brightest" are not always the most caring, compassionate and empathetic. Clearly. I just started my first block of nursing school at a community college. I am also a college dropout, my parents are divorced and i have a family member with a substance abuse problem. Pair all that with being a young mom and married at 19 and now I've gone back to school as an "adult learner", I'm about as low class as it gets.I should just quit school now.
That comment made me write out a reply that I then had to delete.
Target had some great sweatshirts on sale with "Princeton" and "Yale" written across the front. I think I might buy one to impress people. I'm sure they will totes be in awe.
It is my belief that the raw stock of people that nursing draws from is cut from a different cloth than these other professions, and unfortunately that cloth is poor.
You do realize that you have just incriminated...yourself!
I'm sorry for your experiences. I believe I know the type you are describing, but can't agree that it is a "high school drop out" mentality. They did better themselves to the extent that they are able. Professionalism is lost on them, but that's because they are content with the level they achieved.
I actually find them less bullying than some straight entry level MSN students. I was an LVN, then an ADN, had over 2 years experience and was orienting at a new facility. I introduced myself to the EL MSN nurse and said let's do report. He said in a snotty way,"Oh we better wait for your preceptor because I don't want to miss anything that's important." I was shocked..floored. I tried to explain that I knew the patient well and we could ask her after if I had missed anything. He was adamant.
My report was fine. He thought lesser of ADN nurses. I had already finished my bachelors, and I had more experience than him. Anyway, when he found this out, he started being a lot nicer to me.
Anyone of any background can be an a$$. I find entitlement and arrogance the most nauseating personally.
The term I thought was apt. One of the characteristics that unites people with this mentality is that they have very low ambition. They are content working as a floor nurse, because it lets them feel above LPNs and CNAs, which is all that is important to them. Becoming an RN is about status to them.
That is the most ignorant statement I have ever read on AN. How dare you insult RNs that choose to stay on the floor. Implying that it is result of lack of ambition shows your own poor character.
The term I thought was apt. One of the characteristics that unites people with this mentality is that they have very low ambition. They are content working as a floor nurse, because it lets them feel above LPNs and CNAs, which is all that is important to them. Becoming an RN is about status to them.
And I don't agree that low class ignorant behavior is as pervasive in other professions. When was the last time you saw two pharmacists shouting at each other in the hallway, writing each other up, or trying to humiliate one another in other ways? The same with physical therapists, speech therapists, social workers, and so forth. I just don't see it happening where I work. In nursing, I see it all the time.
It is my belief that the raw stock of people that nursing draws from is cut from a different cloth than these other professions, and unfortunately that cloth is poor. And even more unfortunately, I believe that this hurts our profession and holds nurses back from attaining the respect that we deserve from other professionals and our employers.
Ya know, I was all about giving you the benefit of the doubt, trying to see your point of view, and not taking what you are saying too personally. But now, well, I just can't do it. You have completely turned me off to being open to anything you have to say. Does this happen to you in real life, too?
That is the most ignorant statement I have ever read on AN. How dare you insult RNs that choose to stay on the floor. Implying that it is result of lack of ambition shows your own poor character.
I respect young people just starting out in nursing, who are working for the floor and giving it their all. The ones who aren't jaded, weary, and constantly using dark humor in order to cope. They are cheerful, vibrant, and dynamic in their attitude and youthful demeanor.
Let's face the fact that most RNs who have been on the floor for more than 20 years are not doing so because they "choose" to stay on the floor. They probably don't want to go back to school to get their BSN, they lack the drive and ambition, or they don't have good enough standing in their facility to be promoted. The kind of people I'm talking about don't "choose to stay on the floor." They *have* to because they are bridge burners.
Ya know, I was all about giving you the benefit of the doubt, trying to see your point of view, and not taking what you are saying too personally. But now, well, I just can't do it. You have completely turned me off to being open to anything you have to say. Does this happen to you in real life, too?
i respect young people just starting out in nursing, who are working for the floor and giving it their all. the ones who aren't jaded, weary, and constantly using dark humor in order to cope.
let's face the fact that most rns who have been on the floor for more than 20 years are not doing so because they "choose" to stay on the floor. they probably don't want to go back to school to get their bsn, they lack the drive and ambition, or they don't have good enough standing in their facility to be promoted. the kind of people i'm talking about don't "choose to stay on the floor." they *have* to because they are bridge burners.
it needed to be said.
aren't you *just* starting out in nursing?
and i am starting to detect an undercurrent to your posts.....and it is taking me back to an earlier thread you had started a while back where you were complaining about being "discriminated" against at work.
so i guess i'm going to come right out and ask. are these "low class, ignorant, individuals, who lack drive and ambition, who aren't good enough to be promoted, who are bridge burners," who
"are content with being a ratty, shat-on-her-scrubs floor nurse in a nursing home for twenty years in order to support three adult children who are on welfare." (your words)...
is this a racial thing? because that's the kind of language that i hear a lot of racists use.
WillRegNurse
21 Posts
The term I thought was apt. One of the characteristics that unites people with this mentality is that they have very low ambition. They are content working as a floor nurse, because it lets them feel above LPNs and CNAs, which is all that is important to them. Becoming an RN is about status to them.
And I don't agree that low class ignorant behavior is as pervasive in other professions. When was the last time you saw two pharmacists shouting at each other in the hallway, writing each other up, or trying to humiliate one another in other ways? The same with physical therapists, speech therapists, social workers, and so forth. I just don't see it happening where I work. In nursing, I see it all the time.
It is my belief that the raw stock of people that nursing draws from is cut from a different cloth than these other professions, and unfortunately that cloth is poor. And even more unfortunately, I believe that this hurts our profession and holds nurses back from attaining the respect that we deserve from other professionals and our employers.