"You're so smart, you should've gone to medical school"

[Stargazer]

Okay, we've all heard it before (and it never fails to piss me off, BTW), but I was profoundly disturbed to read in this thread that at least 2 different nurses have been told by their nursing instructors that they were, essentially, "too smart to be a nurse."

I mean--what the hell? Seriously. It's bad enough, uninformed enough, ignorant enough, insulting enough, when a physician, a family member, or a member of the general public says this to us... but a nursing instructor? If they don't respect their own profession, then what business do they have teaching it? Have any of the rest of you heard this from another nurse or a nursing instructor before? What did you say?

Gaaah. In case you couldn't tell, I am practically incandescent with rage. I need to go home early and have a BIG glass of wine and calm down. Grrr.

[Teshiee]

That was a very lame comment. Nurses and Md's learn out of a book with clinical experience the only difference I see is that MD'S schooling is longer with a different scope. Doesn't make them smarter by no means. If one has the drive to be a md I don't feel you should let anyone or thing stop you because being a nurse or a doctor is a great accomplishment.

I was read articles of women who wanted to be md's one touched me. She was on welfare with three kids and went on to be an OB/GYN I wish those ladies could go around and speak to our youth especially girls and tell them that bearing children is not the only option. Cheerfuldoer that fact that you supported your dream would have been enough to get through medical school. Men are nortorius or trying to ruin women in succeeding with their goals. When I went through nursing school I met with opposition from some males it seems they want you barefoot and pregnant. I have a little niece that I spend time with and I drill it in her every chance that you can be what ever you desire don't let a man tell you anything you may not be popular because you didn't do the mainstream but your goals are no.1 and if he is a real man he will be by your side no matter what career path you choose.

[sjoe]

Well, at least they didn't say, "You're not very smart. It's a good thing you didn't try to go to medical school."

[CardioTrans, BSN, RN]

There is a nurse in my unit that has "im too smart to be a nurse" attitude. His exact words were, "nursing has no challenge for me, im too smart to be a nurse I should have went to medical school" I was looking at him like wth??? Nursing, no challenge, in a heart transplant ICU??? Then he made a comment to me about him being smarter than anyone that worked in the unit and knew more about nursing than anyone there. (keeping in mind hes only 24 and been out of nursing school 3 yrs) He kept talking to all of us like we knew absolutely nothing except how to do bedbaths..... finally I had enough of him, and said "most of us have been nursing longer than you have been out of high school, and when you learn everything there is to know about nursing, we will call Guiness" he hushed quickly.

[cmggriff]

Once upon a time I was working an ER in Ky. I worked with a particularly cantankerous doc who had a very low opinion of women in general and nurses in particular. Being a man, I didn't have to suffer with his attitude much at all. After working with him for several monthes he suggested I should go to med school. I told I felt I was too old. Sometime later he brought the subject up again. Even told me he ould help me get into a med school. I thanksed him, because this was quite a compliment from the man and then I explained my point of view. I said, "You know you are one of the very few Dr's I like. I have made no secret of the fact that I can't stand most of you SOB's (not short of breath). So why would I want to go to school for 4 years to become someone I don't like?" He never brought it up again. Gary

[Aussienurse2]

I just tell people that I'm too smart for med. school...always gets a giggle.

[researchrabbit]

Originally posted by Aussienurse2

I just tell people that I'm too smart for med. school...always gets a giggle.

:roll

[MollyMo]

Just tell the tactless people "It's because I'm so smart that I'm doing what I want to do, not what someone else thinks I should do."

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

Heya stargazer, I liked that phrase" Incancescent with Rage" Can I borrow that. I'll let ya have it back. But I liked that. its very visual.

outside of that I agree with ya.

doo wah ditty

[Lausana]

Originally posted by cheerfuldoer

Okay....anyway...obviously my bubble was bursted, and I didn't go, but graduated and became a darn good nurse! Guess I read the book titled "Elizabeth Blackwell...First Woman Doctor" too many times as a little girl growing up because NOBODY supported my dream of becoming a doctor just like "Elizabeth Blackwell". Still brings tears to my eyes today...yep...still does

{Aww Renee we'll support you to become a Dr now! You'd be the kind of Doc that the world needs :kiss Actually the NP I usually see at the doc's reminds me of you, real motherly, she's so sweet }

I am awed by these comments from instructors...I'd probably fall over if I heard one of mine say that, they are so passionate about nursing :angryfire Which you should be if you're teaching it...now from the general public I'd probably take it as a compliment of intelligence since to them Drs=smart; Nurse=helper :chuckle my mom still makes my ADN class load sound like I'm taking a 3 week CNA course

[Heather333]

Originally posted by Lausana

:chuckle my mom still makes my ADN class load sound like I'm taking a 3 week CNA course

OMG! My mom has always said that I'm too smart and I should have gone to medical school. That really pisses me off:( Who says you have to be smart to go to med school? I've seem a lot of residents that just don't have a clue.

I want to take care of people and be at the bedside. That's MY choice.

Heather

[delirium]

Ok, I'm one of 'the ones' in the other thread. My instructor didn't tell me I should have gone to medical school, though, she just asked why I chose to go into nursing instead of some other, more prestigious career.

I told her my reasons for becoming a nurse (I have a few good ones), and then told her that we need the smartest nurses we can get. We shouldn't be sending them off to be doctors or engineers or whatever.

I'm not sorry I made the decision to go to nursing school. I think nurses rock, but I also think the public's perception of nursing needs to change.

[JailRN]

ah, yes, but if we went to medical school and got bored with, say being an OB-GYN

Besides if we all became docs, there wouldn't be any nurses for us to put down, demean and try to get into the linen closet and still care for our patients.