Entitlement/ superiority attitude of some nurses?

[Infofreak411]

I work alongside nurses and am in the process of becoming a nurse myself.

While I have great respect for the profession and my coworkers as well as a passion for it (hence my reason for going to RN school), I've noticed nurses (many but not all) have this superiority attitude like their job is the only job in the Healthcare field that matters. They talk down to all the other professionals (respiratory therapists, social workers, occupational therapists, etc) and disregard any of the hard work they do and just expect a pat on the back for every little thing. I've even heard some nurses say they should get paid more than the doctor because their work is more important.

Also, I hear many nurses complain that they have too much to do, and then when anyone tries to give them a hand they have this turf battle and think everyone is trying to take over their job and isn't competent enough to do so even if it's something as simple as helping bathe a patient.

What's your opinion?

[funtimes]

not.done.yet said:

Considering the nurse role encompasses everything the RT role does and more, it is far more likely that RTs will be phased out or into a smaller role rather than the other way around. In fact, once upon a time RTs did not exist and nurses did all that. There is noise about doing that again. Trust me, we don't want that, but it could easily come to pass. However, RTs could never be made into nurses without additional schooling.

Oops. There I go. Being all entitled.

There are many things in medicine that were once done that were later found to be bad practice. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for a return to the bad old days.

RT's still find themselves frequently having to correct mistakes or undo damage done by RNs that thought they knew what they were doing. I could use a couple recent rapid responses I've been on as examples. So please, for the patient's sake, just stick to what you know.

To the other person that suggested I flunked out of Nursing school(because naturally all other health care professionals want to be Nurses right). I was on a waiting list for RN school when I decided being an RT would be a better fit for me, in part because I'd always been impressed with the RTs Id worked around. The RNs were more of a mixed bag. Some of the very best and very worst people id worked with were RNs. RT school seemed to have a little better quality control.

In fairness, its because Nursing is such a broad field that some RNs never really find that niche they are good at, whereas RT school does a much better job of ensuring someone is actually cut out for and good at the job they are going to do.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

funtimes said:

There are many things in medicine that were once done that were later found to be bad practice. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for a return to the bad old days.

RT's still find themselves frequently having to correct mistakes or undo damage done by RNs that thought they knew what they were doing. I could use a couple recent rapid responses I've been on as examples. So please, for the patient's sake, just stick to what you know.

To the other person that suggested I flunked out of Nursing school(because naturally all other health care professionals want to be Nurses right). I was on a waiting list for RN school when I decided being an RT would be a better fit for me, in part because I'd always been impressed with the RTs Id worked around. The RNs were more of a mixed bag. Some of the very best and very worst people id worked with were RNs. RT school seemed to have a little better quality control.

In fairness, its because Nursing is such a broad field that some RNs never really find that niche they are good at, whereas RT school does a much better job of ensuring someone is actually cut out for and good at the job they are going to do.

There is nothing magical about the field of RT. Just like any other industry, it has its nice guys and it has its jerks. If people are doing a job, you're going to see all kinds.

[Kiki1970]

Horseshoe said:

It's too bad they can't take a legitimate old NCLEX just as a learning exercise. A little humility might do them some good.

Oh my gosh, I would love that! I know how you mean it, but it is a good idea. I study my Suanders NCLEX-RN 6 regularly as well as my old medsurg from years ago. It's an eye opener and it's considered the "easy" book! I would bet good money the OP and RTs posting haven't done any practice exams let alone read any chapters of an NCLEX review.

[NurseCocoBSN, BSN]

nynursey_ said:

This post has given me time to think about my biggest pet peeve: individuals (patients, visitors, ancillary staff) who think that the nurse is "just playing around with ...." rather than doing her job. When I'm on the phone, or the computer, or speaking to another staff member, rest assured it is somehow directly related to patient care and is indeed important.

Why is the assumption ALWAYS that the nurse is somehow relaxing when she's not with a patient rather than busy with other tasks? [emoji35]

Oh man, so much THIS.

A family member, while eating something, "Oh, what, did you just decide to take a break or something? Is that why you didn't want to come here right away?"

Oh? You mean the 10 minutes I had 8 hours into my shift where I shoved my lunch down my throat so I didn't get a migraine? I bet they're the same people working 8 hour shifts demanding their 2 15 minute breaks and 30 minutes for lunch no matter what happens.

We are ALLOWED to take breaks. We are ALLOWED to sit down. No, you cannot come stand in the door of our breakroom DEMANDING a non emergent task be completed that second. I am not a robot and I am not a machine.

As for the OP, I worked as a CNA while I was in nursing school, and I think you're going to be in for a rude awakening when you get your first RN job...because you sound just like the CNAs I hated being scheduled with. Always so "busy" but always had the time to go stand and complain about everyone else being lazy.

Get over yourself. You have no idea what it takes to do this job. And I suggest you drop the know it all complex, because your coworkers won't care that you were a CNA, and that entitlement you're dripping with will not make you any friends on the floors.

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

OCNRN63 said:

I do not answer the phone in the bathroom...ever. I'm not working anymore, but I wouldn't have done it even when I was working. Whoever is calling can usually wait the few minutes it takes for me to pee; if not, then it sounds like an emergent situation that should be handled by someone else.

I recall when I was district nursing, I was so desperate for a lunch break I bought myself pie and a carwash. Even if my phone rang there was nothing I would do for 8 minutes because I would be stuck in the car wash:cheeky:

[teleRN0515]

I don't get where the attitudes among many students I've read who have posted being somewhat "entitled" and also some I've had experiences on my floor with, have changed so much since I graduated. I actually had a precepting student in her final semester lie and say they weren't allowed to hang IVPB antibiotics... Say what?? (We went to the same program so I knew it wasn't true..) When called out on it she said "I just didn't feel like it.." But I digress...

OP I've been nursing less than a year and I can give you this advice: Never EVER forget what the shiny new diploma and license really mean and the immense responsibility attached to them! Learn to stay in your own head but be willing to accept help when you need it. No matter how you feel about another nurse, it takes a team effort. Remember we are all human and it's not a popularity contest or "everything zen" attitude. Most nurses are perfectionists and become flustered when they aren't getting the pt outcome they strive for. DONT TAKE IT PERSONALLY. good luck

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

funtimes said:

I've noticed this mindset in Nursing as well. It just seems like modern nurses see themselves as the center of the universe. It's what drove me away from Nursing school and into Respiratory therapy. I hate to say this, but from working as a tech and EMT for many years I gradually realized that I just didn't like Nurses very much. Gone are the days of people who get into the profession because they genuinely cared for people. Now its all ME ME ME.

I like being an RT, and loved working EMS, because I was around people who didn't just do it for the money, and who had a team mentality. I don't see that in Nursing at all. I think its a profession in crises, and I think maybe other health professionals need to step up and reduce the role of RNs in health care. They will always be necessary of course, but they've accrued way too much power and influence and patient care is suffering as a result.

Someday... you will be on the receiving end of a nurses care. THEN you will realize they do not have the "power" that they need.

Please find a way to reduce my role.. then I may have the time to take a bathroom break.

"me, me,me" .. when can I take a pee?

[0.adamantite]

Been there,done that said:

Someday... you will be on the receiving end of a nurses care. THEN you will realize they do not have the "power" that they need.

Please find a way to reduce my role.. then I may have the time to take a bathroom break.

"me, me,me" .. when can I take a pee?

Yes, please take away some of my responsibility. I want to be able to take a meal break and not cram 4 graham crackers in at the nurse's station so I don't faint.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

0.adamantite said:

Yes, please take away some of my responsibility. I want to be able to take a meal break and not cram 4 graham crackers in at the nurse's station so I don't faint.

Better not be hospital pantry graham crackers... security will walk you out the door. Don't even THINK about the peanut butter.

[Dogen]

0.adamantite said:

Yes, please take away some of my responsibility. I want to be able to take a meal break and not cram 4 graham crackers in at the nurse's station so I don't faint.

So, random side note... It seems every hospital has the same graham crackers. My last hospital had the little blue pack of two, and after 5 years I moved to Portland and started at a new hospital with the same blue packets. One day I opened one and there were three graham crackers! I thought I... I mean my patient was lucky, like getting a four leaf clover. Then a month later I opened another packet. Three graham crackers! Wait, that's not possible. I'm not that lucky. So I asked someone, and it turns out all the packets are of three. I wasn't lucky. I guess my old hospital was just cheap (shocking, right?).

Anyway, that was the story of how my mind was blown and then my heart broken by graham crackers.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Dogen said:

So, random side note... It seems every hospital has the same graham crackers. My last hospital had the little blue pack of two, and after 5 years I moved to Portland and started at a new hospital with the same blue packets. One day I opened one and there were three graham crackers! I thought I... I mean my patient was lucky, like getting a four leaf clover. Then a month later I opened another packet. Three graham crackers! Wait, that's not possible. I'm not that lucky. So I asked someone, and it turns out all the packets are of three. I wasn't lucky. I guess my old hospital was just cheap (shocking, right?).

Anyway, that was the story of how my mind was blown and then my heart broken by graham crackers.

That just might be the saddest story I ever read 

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Is it considered entitlement to expect something better than some crappy cracker squares?

Way back when I was a younger nurse with a worthless ex and several children to feed, I used to avail myself of the hospital snack room because I couldn't afford to do anything else BUT work. I got hungry, and couldn't afford meals in the cafeteria. (This was in the days before the Internet!! - that's how long ago .

That's where the snack room came in handy:

Oh my goodness! Back then there was Juices, different types of sandwiches, puddings, ensure drinks, sodas, parfaits, cartons of milk, PB, jelly, loaves of bread, and decent crackers.

Now, there are only cardboard graham crackers, saltines, and maybe some milk or soda. Very slim pickings.