Do You Feel Respected as a Nurse?

biker nurse · Jul 27, 2007

Absolutely!!!

Especially today I just got my first paycheck as an RN!!

Seriously, many people tell me they could never do what I do beacuse.... But the job satisfaction.

My husband has been the person who has given me the most respect.

If your heart is telling you nursing I believe you are getting the "calling"

good luck and let me know what you decide.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 27, 2007

generally I find respect but there is always a small minority where respect isn't given. I don't fall to their level but just ignore them and continue to give care to the best of my ability.

Same if in th street I just ignore them and continue with whatever I am doing

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

I feel for the most part very respected. There are a few people that seem to pity nurses and think the job is disgusting. But most love and respect nurses.

MIA-RN · Jul 27, 2007

I think last I read, nurses were the most trusted profession. There is respect there, but also there are people that have the ideas of nurses that are perpetuated by the media (think cute betty boop with her short dress and big bosoms).

I am proud to tell people that I am a nurse, but its not about respect for me. Its a calling for me, too. (no you're not corny!) (or at least not the only one~!) :wink2:

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

I do not feel fully respected. However, people have always gravitated toward the practice of giving the most respect to those with the most prestigious occupational titles (physicians, attorneys, engineers, and so on). I am horrendously dissatisfied with the terrible attitudes and behaviors that are being displayed by doctors, family members, and patients.

Doctors tend to be rather disrespectful toward nurses because they have many more years of education than us. In the opinion of the average doctor, the nurse is stupid and has attained inferior education.

Family members frequently tend to be abusive toward nurses because they have an overwhelming sense of entitlement, with no regard for the other patients on the unit. In other words, when the vulgar family member wants something, you better conjure it up within the next 15 seconds or risk being threatened. Many of my family members like to throw their weight around by asking questions that imply that absolutely no care was provided. For example, "Did mother even eat today?" "When was the last time her teeth got brushed?" "Did father even get a shower this week?"

Patients tend to be demanding toward nurses because illness brings out the worst in people. They will bother you with housekeeping requests, such as asking you to fluff their pillow, dust the blinds, fold their sheets, run to the vending machine, call the pizza delivery place, fetch some coffee, and so forth. I also receive plenty of food complaints from my grumpy patients.

jollyjenny · Jul 27, 2007

Thanks to all who have responded so far!

I forgot to add this question in my first post...Do you think the level of respect varies according to the specialty setting you work in?

loriann, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

For the most part, yes, I feel respected. My family is very proud and my friends are amazed at what I do and see. As a matter of fact, this is my second career, and almost all people I know are much happier with my career switch, and most importantly, so am I.

The doctors I work with are very respectful of the nurses on my unit (cardiac stepdown/telemetry), and I really feel like I work collaboratively with all my co-workers, regardless of their title. A lot of nurses in my hospital complain about not being respected by doctors, and I can honestly say that when we have boarders on our unit, I feel like I am treated differently by other disciplines. Other RNs have told me that cardiac nurses in general report greater satisfaction on their units and feel supported by MDs. I'm not sure if that is true, but I do feel that way on my unit. I would be interested to hear from other nurses about their thoughts on this.

I think you need to decide which area (sonography or nursing) appeals to you most. Finding the right environment, whether it be acute care, outpatient, LTC, clinic, etc. is where you will develop your reputation, experience which I think will have a tremendous impact on the respect that others give you.

Of course, you will always run into people incapable of respecting others. I think if you become a nurse, you have to have sort of a hard shell against that sort of behavior, otherwise, you will hate what you do. People that are disrespectful to others are the ones with the problems, not you. The care you provide to others is much more important.

Good luck in your decision.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

Thanks to all who have responded so far!
I forgot to add this question in my first post...Do you think the level of respect varies according to the specialty setting you work in?

I think so.

ICU, CCU, MICU, and SICU nurses are highly respected by most parties, and doctors will even ask for their opinions and input prior to making decisions regarding the critically ill patient. ICU nurses, in my opinion, are held in higher regard than nurses who work in other specialities. They tend to have more autonomy in decision-making, and can even kick uncouth family members off the floor with the full support of management.

LTC nurses receive the least respect, and much of it revolves around societal attitudes regarding the elderly. Society views elderly people as boring, useless, asexual, smelly, and 'waiting to die.' Also, nursing homes generally have bad reputations regarding the care provided. Some people mistakenly assume that a nurse would resort to working in a nursing home, only because (s)he couldn't handle it at the hospital setting or elsewhere.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

Hello everyone!!
Overall, would you say you feel respected by people in general because you're a nurse? I have had a hard time deciding which career path to take (Nursing or Sonography) but feel like I'm being pulled into the direction of nursing, even though my head is telling me to go for the sonography. Almost like it's my calling to be a nurse (how corny, right?). When I mention to people my desire to go to nursing school, I always get a very respected response, like people put nurses up on a pedestal. I, personally, have always admired and respected nurses. But I have read lots of threads on this website about nurses that hate their jobs because there is no respect from doctors, patients, families, administration, etc.
So, as a whole, do you feel respected because you're a nurse? It would be such a dissapointment to me to put so much time, energy, and money into nursing school, all to find out that I'm not respected. I really want to be a nurse, but this aspect scares me a little.
Thanks,
jollyjenny

I'd have to say it's a definite "Sometimes."

A lot of people respect nurses in principle because they understand that nursing is a physically challenging, emotionally difficult and intellectually demanding job.

But in practice, no, I don't get much respect.

Still, I couldn't imagine doing anything else for a living.

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

Thanks to all who have responded so far!
I forgot to add this question in my first post...Do you think the level of respect varies according to the specialty setting you work in?

Yes, I think there is more respect for some nursing specialties. Since I moved to ICU, people seem more impressed.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2007

I's have to say NO, I do not feel respected by a lot of pt's relatives, certainly not by doctors, other nurses from other floors who look down their noses at you and want to write you up as soon as look at you. Until we are a more together professional I doubt we shall achieve the level of respect we deserve.