Howdy all, well the title pretty much sums up the situation. I voluntary took an early retirement (age 43) to start my 2nd career while I was still relatively young. I am a EMT and still a reserve Deputy, but needed to get off the street.
But... my first concern is dealing with the nurse "Ratchet" types, you know man hating, butch hair, chronic victim.
My second concern is that I can't be paid to "love" a patient , won't happen. I can treat people with respect and compassion but that's it. My hide is a little too thick to be a "cuddle nurse"
You can do it and this is why! I was a cop for just shy of 8yrs when a 9mm round ended my career. I will graduate from nursing school in less then 15 weeks. If you would of asked me when I first started I would of told you that I liked police work better. However I have learned over the past 2yrs that the two jobs are very similar. This is why. Most of the time in both professions the only time people want anything to do with you is if there is something wrong. Then they think that you owe them something. As you know and will learn both professions teach you to always keep the good of the people you are serving as your first priorty. I read something earlier today that pretty much sums it up "Cops and Nurses have to be hardened just enough to not take home all the bad and sad things they see often joking in private about the very stuff that would make most people cringe, but they need to be soft enough to show compasion to there patients or some skell that stinks to high hevean that you are trying to find a place to sleep so he does not freeze his ass of on a winter night"
Tell which I am A Cop or A Nurse
1) When we first meet something is wrong
2) I ask you what is wrong
3) I ask you for all your personal info
4) I investgate the situation
5) I assess you
6) I make recomendations to a higher authority
7) I take orders form a higher authority
8) I carry out those orders to the letter or I get my ass in a sling!
9) I Pray for the best outcome
10)I Move on to the next person and start all over again
You can do it and this is why! I was a cop for just shy of 8yrs when a 9mm round ended my career. I will graduate from nursing school in less then 15 weeks.
Right on, Brother. Glad to see you've made such a great thing out of your experience.
I was a City Cop for 20 years, been a nurse the last 15 yrs. Made more arrests than the others and only had 3 times I needed to file resisting charges.
I work in LTC and 2/3 of my unit is Dementia care.
I love to "cuddle" with my patients. Cuddle meaning tactile, smiling, patient.
Heck, I am no hero, but if I can do it anyone can. Cops seem to have a good ability to communicate if they were successful. I have seen many people from the job now in nursing.
Your first concern. I have been working in hospitals since 1991, and never met a man hating , butch hair, chronic victim combo. Seriously. And while there are plenty of women with issues, it pretty much matches up to the number of men with issues. And here's to hoping that you don't also buy into the dozens of soft/hard Media nursey fantasies, given that you are buying into other stereotypes, hook, line and sinker. You are bound to be disappointed.
And contrary to popular belief (probably expounded in the nurse as Media princess), we do not get "paid to love" pts....that would be illegal and insurance does not reimburse for those type of "services". :lol2: We get paid to render nursing care to patients, and that rarely includes cuddling, barring nursery. Compassion, respect, honesty and open mindedness but little to no cuddling. Seriously, "love" (of any time) would interfere with the pts' proper therapy and recovery, in both the physical/psychological sense. The caregiver has to "share" the pt and the pt has to be able to interact with many caregivers to achieve a well rounded recovery. We may admire and support our pts, but given the need for professional boundaries, not "love" them.
There are several great books out there regarding nursing stereotypes perpetuated in the media that damage nursing. May I recommend, "Saving Lives"?
My experiences and exposure to the nursing profession are based in my contact with them as a Police Officer. Typically, all of my contact was in the ER, de-tox or in 48 phyic hold/evaluations. And shocking as it may be, I had to deal with a fair amount of male hatred. Some where awesome GREAT female nurses --others no so much. "
Ultimately the hatred "trigger" for the man hatters, is having to deal with a man (white no less) in a position of perceived authority. Again another shock, why do you think some women choose the career of nursing....to work with other women ! This is no different than women trying to work as Police Officers -its still a male dominated profession.
Additionally, your repeated reference to Mediaography is really weird. (and really-really stereotypical--how do you know if I am even hetro ?) In my experience in dealing with sex offenders all are hooked on Media. (male and female)
If you have something positive to contribute, than do it, if not don't waste everyone's time.
Cheers
To answer your question: can it work? Absolutely. Will it work? That depends.
I'm not surprised you've gotten flamed a little (just a little) for the "Nurse Ratched" and "butch, man-hating," comment. No, not surprised at all. If you want to be a miserable excuse for a nurse that no one wants to work with, that's just the attitude you'll need. If you want to be any good, you'll need to revise your way of thinking.
Seriously, Dude. The name of the site is Allnurses.com. What kind of judgement does it show to come on and start belittling nurses? I've been in healthcare going on 12 years and haven't met a man-hater, yet. I've met a couple who were kinda butch. I've met a couple who didn't like much of anybody, but that's been rare. Now, I have to admit, there's always the slim possibility that you've been unlucky, but frankly, it's just a whole lot more likely that you don't know what you're talking about. And if you aren't prepared to accept that possibility, you will never make much of a nurse. It's as simple as that, and that's how it is.
The OP needs to think about how as a member of the Police Service they have interacted with the nurses in the ER.
I've had police and corrections officers on the unit and there are some great ones and ones you hope never to see again. You know the kind, swagger around, try to impress the single staff members, kinda the stereotypical Bosco of "Third Watch" infamy. The great ones brought the "older" ones coffee back from their breaks, talked to us with interest about our jobs.
Oh, and the most memorable one, kept telling us how big his gun was. Yup. A prince.
It appears that cop to RN is fairly common. To the former police officers......I was just curious to know what motivated you into nursing as a 2nd career ie......prior medical experience (military medic) or was it recommended by your HR, $$ etc.
Most cops, believe or not, have an instictive desire to help people. That desire is tainted when we realize most people on the streets hate us. After we leave the job and adjust back to reality, we again feel the desire to help people. Money does have a large part to do with it ( the bills still have to get paid ), but it's definitely not the only motivation. In my case, I miss making a difference every day.
:lol2:
cop2bnurse41
46 Posts
You can do it and this is why! I was a cop for just shy of 8yrs when a 9mm round ended my career. I will graduate from nursing school in less then 15 weeks. If you would of asked me when I first started I would of told you that I liked police work better. However I have learned over the past 2yrs that the two jobs are very similar. This is why. Most of the time in both professions the only time people want anything to do with you is if there is something wrong. Then they think that you owe them something. As you know and will learn both professions teach you to always keep the good of the people you are serving as your first priorty. I read something earlier today that pretty much sums it up "Cops and Nurses have to be hardened just enough to not take home all the bad and sad things they see often joking in private about the very stuff that would make most people cringe, but they need to be soft enough to show compasion to there patients or some skell that stinks to high hevean that you are trying to find a place to sleep so he does not freeze his ass of on a winter night"
Tell which I am A Cop or A Nurse
1) When we first meet something is wrong
2) I ask you what is wrong
3) I ask you for all your personal info
4) I investgate the situation
5) I assess you
6) I make recomendations to a higher authority
7) I take orders form a higher authority
8) I carry out those orders to the letter or I get my ass in a sling!
9) I Pray for the best outcome
10)I Move on to the next person and start all over again
The answer is I am both and very proud of it!!