How many nurses out there still had to learn this pledge?? I did when I was in college and I was just wondering if anyone else had had to memorize it too.
Florence Nightingale Pledge
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
You need to realize where the aversion to being doctors' handmaidens began, and where we are with the "chain of command" now. Starting with now, we have somewhat more status than in years past, but doctors often don't acknowledge our care plans, or read our notes. By the way, they're not always "him", but female physicians are a little more likely to see value in the role nurses play, than they were decades ago.
I'm startled when I watch "Grey's Anatomy", that nurses don't seem to have much recognition, especially in the O.R., where we actually run the show, insofar as instrument and sponge counts are concerned. I'd love to see a scene wherein the Nurse states that the operation can not be finished (patient's tissue cannot be closed) until the sponge/instrument count is correct. I've seen docs throw instruments across the room, when that happens - and it happens! Infection Control Nurses can close a hospital or nursery down because of too many identical positive cultures in one or more areas. Let's see a little of that.....
"House" is another example, except his Nurses are Doctors, who do most things assigned to Nurses in reality. Have you ever seen a doctor accompany a patient for an MRI (who wasn't his wife or child)? His grumpiness follows real life, though. However I've never seen a Doctor admit he/she is perplexed about a patient's diagnosis.....
Now, back in the old days, if I got on an elevator with a doctor, I had to stand back until he/she got in and out, and when they entered the Nursing Station, we stood up, as if "Here come de Judge" (you're possibly too young to remember that line from a sitcom out of the past). One of my classmates gave the wrong patient MOM, and was suspended for 3 weeks. Wrong meds occur more frequently now, due I think to understaffing, and the vastly increased number of medications, but the type of med is considered, and while a punishment is appropriate, it isn't very severe - yet if an IV med is given before a pump is connected to the IV, it's major (before pumps, we counted drops carefully, and checked frequently to be sure it didn't go faster).
When I was given Benadryl to take before my transfusion I refused it, as I would never mask a reaction. When did that become "standard", as I was told, (and of course I was deemed uncooperative)?
My mind is blown when TV docs go to patients' homes for clues about their conditions. You need police and a warrant to do that, and what staff doc is going to stand around for that - even if it's a possible epidemic. And who would pay the lawyer? Otherwise, it's what's known as "breaking and entering", which could lose docs a license to practise! Oh, well......
Years ago I was coaching Sally Struthers for her childbirth scene on "All in the Family". I was so proud when she replied to a writer who wanted her to say something during a contraction, that "I can't talk then!" No monitors were used in that scene, and she had no medication, nor did she ask for it (not that I discouraged that in my classes).
I object to the term "fem-natzis", also "soup natzis". The comparison to the holocaust is most inappropriate! (I have no sense of humor where annihilation due to prejudice is concerned). Frequently using the word diminishes its horriful impact!
Specializes in ED, Cardiac-step down, tele, med surg.
I don't understand what the flap is over the phrase "aid the physician in his work", why is that considered demeaning and demoralizing? Has the world become so overwhelmed with femi-nazi's that we dare help a MAN!?!
Of course the pledge could be reworded to say "aid in the physicians work", but it's all just a silly matter of semantics. I don't understand why people are so eager to cast tradition out the window. Tradition is wonderful in my opinion especially when it relates to holidays and ceremonies.
We recited the Nightingale Pledge as we light our lamps and it was a very solemn moment, but in contrast, we were allowed to wear "business casual" with a lab coat on top and 1/2 the girls had so much cleavage showing that it was rediculous. I don't want to go back to the days of wearing starched white's and caps at work, but I REALLY wanted to wear white at my pinning and be capped. That's what I grew up invisioning.
As a society we're in danger if we cast off all of our traditions because we'll be blind going forward if we don't keep our past insight.
I respectfully disagree and am offended by you implication that feminists are nazis. That is a very ignorant statement and completely inaccurate. Semantics has everything to do with how we treat other human beings in our society. Language influences how we think. Perhaps you might look up some information on linguistics.
Additionally, the statement implies that all physicians are men, which is inaccurate today as well.
And when tradition does not affirm equality for all people, then it's time to cast it aside. And your opinion is greatly appreciated!
I don't understand what the flap is over the phrase "aid the physician in his work", why is that considered demeaning and demoralizing? Has the world become so overwhelmed with femi-nazi's that we dare help a MAN!?!
Of course the pledge could be reworded to say "aid in the physicians work", but it's all just a silly matter of semantics.
Why do you Assume that the objection has to do with the the male reference of "aid the physician in his work"?
For many of us, it has nothing whatsoever to do with the gender and have to do with the idea that we are merely "aiding the (gender neutral) physician". That nursing in and of itself is nothing but a type of "physician assistant".
Second, as a Jew, I get really tired of the term "Femi-Nazi". I will accept feminazi as a legitimate reference, when a group of female organizers band together, take over a country, and line up the predominant male conservatives, send them to concentration camps, work them to death or gas all of them, collecting all of their clothes and taking away all of their money and possessions and giving them to women's groups. Then one can LEGITIMATELY use the term feminazi and it might be appropriate. Wanting some equality in language does not quite qualify as Nazi.
Nightingale (either on her own accord or via propaganda) promotes everything bad and sexist about nursing. Why is she idolized into modern nursing curriculum? The subservient role of nurses, nursing as a female calling, nurses putting their patients ahead of their own needs, the later anti-male propaganda and MD backlash that plagues nursing today....
I know I'm going to offend someone (as per usual ). It is a disservice to both women (and men) and the nursing profession to continue to promote Nightingale. It is oppressive propaganda. And people wonder why nursing has the issues that plague it to this day....FN doesn't apply to modern nursing.
I propose that FN simply used nursing as a means to further her own recognition in an attempt to gain autonomy. I suppose being a teacher just wasn't as radical. There is growing evidence that she also did not accomplish what many think she did.
). It is a disservice to both women (and men) and the nursing profession to continue to promote Nightingale. It is oppressive propaganda. And people wonder why nursing has the issues that plague it to this day....FN doesn't apply to modern nursing.
lamazeteacher
2,170 Posts
You need to realize where the aversion to being doctors' handmaidens began, and where we are with the "chain of command" now. Starting with now, we have somewhat more status than in years past, but doctors often don't acknowledge our care plans, or read our notes. By the way, they're not always "him", but female physicians are a little more likely to see value in the role nurses play, than they were decades ago.
I'm startled when I watch "Grey's Anatomy", that nurses don't seem to have much recognition, especially in the O.R., where we actually run the show, insofar as instrument and sponge counts are concerned. I'd love to see a scene wherein the Nurse states that the operation can not be finished (patient's tissue cannot be closed) until the sponge/instrument count is correct. I've seen docs throw instruments across the room, when that happens - and it happens! Infection Control Nurses can close a hospital or nursery down because of too many identical positive cultures in one or more areas. Let's see a little of that.....
"House" is another example, except his Nurses are Doctors, who do most things assigned to Nurses in reality. Have you ever seen a doctor accompany a patient for an MRI (who wasn't his wife or child)? His grumpiness follows real life, though. However I've never seen a Doctor admit he/she is perplexed about a patient's diagnosis.....
Now, back in the old days, if I got on an elevator with a doctor, I had to stand back until he/she got in and out, and when they entered the Nursing Station, we stood up, as if "Here come de Judge" (you're possibly too young to remember that line from a sitcom out of the past). One of my classmates gave the wrong patient MOM, and was suspended for 3 weeks. Wrong meds occur more frequently now, due I think to understaffing, and the vastly increased number of medications, but the type of med is considered, and while a punishment is appropriate, it isn't very severe - yet if an IV med is given before a pump is connected to the IV, it's major (before pumps, we counted drops carefully, and checked frequently to be sure it didn't go faster).
When I was given Benadryl to take before my transfusion I refused it, as I would never mask a reaction. When did that become "standard", as I was told, (and of course I was deemed uncooperative)?
My mind is blown when TV docs go to patients' homes for clues about their conditions. You need police and a warrant to do that, and what staff doc is going to stand around for that - even if it's a possible epidemic. And who would pay the lawyer? Otherwise, it's what's known as "breaking and entering", which could lose docs a license to practise! Oh, well......
Years ago I was coaching Sally Struthers for her childbirth scene on "All in the Family". I was so proud when she replied to a writer who wanted her to say something during a contraction, that "I can't talk then!" No monitors were used in that scene, and she had no medication, nor did she ask for it (not that I discouraged that in my classes).