Attitudes towards RN's and lack of respect

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello. I am in nursing school and doing a paper on LACK OF RESPECT, ATTITUDES in nursing. I want to get your thoughts and opinions on this. It will help me for my paper. I know this topic has been talked about before and I have read a lot on here about it. I have read that administrators talk down to us, doctors, and sometimes patients. Do you have any stories to share?? Also, if you are a nurse and have been treated very well by others most of your career, I'd be interested in hearing that too.

I hope that with my paper and presentation I can express the concerns we have as nurses- how many times we do not get the respect we should and how we might be able to better portray ourselves so others will respect us. I respect myself and my nursing counterparts. What we have to go through to become nurses is unbelievable. We all work very hard to be called a nurse and we deserve respect. One of my teachers told me at the beginning of RN school that MORE TIMES THEN NOT, YOU WILL BE TELLING THE DOCTORS WHAT TO DO. Opinions?? Thoughts? Your impact is appreciated.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

There will be times when you are respected, there will be times when you are not. There will be times when you deserve it, there will be times when you did not. Knowing what you did wrong...priceless.

I would say that most of the disrespect I have recieved has come from pts and visitors. I think there are a few reasons why. First, like some others have said, they are stressed and just don't know what to do, so they lash out. I can deal with that. Second, they are uneducated about what nurses really do, and since nurses are the ones they see, we hear all the complaints (why haven't they done my Xray yet? Why aren't my pills here? Why are they serving food I don't like?etc.). That annoys me, but again, I can deal. The third reason people are disrespectful to nurses is that some people are just jerks. I have had people say stuff to the effect that they don't care if I was with another pt, when that call ilght comes on, I need to be there. That is when I get mad. It's tough to get through stuff like that, but you do.

And I have not told a doctor what to do (have made MANY a suggestion though!), but I have told them what NOT to do! No, the pt is allergic to PCN. No, we can't give her tylenol because she is a neutropenic leukemic. Etc, etc. They are usually very good about it, and 9 times out of 10, they go, "oh yeah, duh, thanks". We're a team, we should work together!

Specializes in L/D, and now Occupational Health.

administration does little to nothing in retaining their valued nurses.

we are all merely expendable entities on an assembly line...

especially after the fact that our backs and spirits are irreparably broken.

with all the lateral violence, we shoot ourselves in the foot.

unless one is in the field, very few have any knowledge re the scope of our practice, and what we are expected to know.

Very well put Earl. As far as people, patients, coworkers, doctors, etc., I have never really felt disrespected as a nurse, or that the profession is disrespected. I have always been proud to answer peoples question of,"What do you do?" with I AM A NURSE.

However, in light of things that have gone on with me professionally in the past year I must agree with Earl. I was with the same healthcare system for 10 years, and I was nothing more than my employee ID. They couldn't have cared less about the fact that i had been with them for so many years. I was one of many DRONES that showed up to punch a time clock. Never late, never called in sick, the latter actually ended up to be my downfall :offtopic:, anyway, after 10 years I was no further ahead than I was when I walked through those doors as a stupid wide eyed new grad !! When it suited the "powers" I was gone and because of "at will" I was powerless to do anything about it.

I am still very proud to be a nurse, you can only be disrespected if you allow yourself to be. Our MDs treat us with respect, they know us and must trust us when we call with an assessment, question or concern. Sometimes you have to earn respect, and a lot of the time all you have to do is RESPECT YOURSELF (and others).

Specializes in LTAC, Med/Surg..

If you truly want to represent the whole of the PROFESSION of nursing in your research, PLEASE do not forget about the LPN. I noticed that your post title referred only to RN's. I am only a student at the moment myself, so cannot speak to this issue on a day-today basis, but I will tell you that my choice to enter nursing as a LPN has earned me enough disrespect to last the length of a career, before that career has even started.

Different scope of practice - yes. Different levels of responsibilty - yes. Different amount of respect deserved - absolutely not.

Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

I have never been in the position of "telling the docs what to do"; however, my opinion has always been solicited and I have had only one or two run-ins with a doc over patient meds/procedure, etc.

Not so with FAMILIES! I have always worked in critical care and the one or two families with members from hell have been a problem. I consider eating a meal in the room with an intubated, sedated trauma or post cardiac procedure patient UNACCEPTABLE. I consider using the toilet that I dump urine/feces in at I&O time UNACCEPTABLE. I consider more than 2 or even 3 (as many as 20 - no lie) at the bedside of a patient who is NOT terminal UNACCEPTABLE. I consider being inundated with complaints about my co-workers or doctors or even lunch or dinner selections given to the patient (how dare we monitor or dictate what a critically ill patient can eat!) UNACCEPTABLE.

I apologize for being the PATIENT'S ADVOCATE!!! How dare I! I consider a family member telling me when and what and even dosage of pain medication or other meds UNACCEPTABLE. I consider allowing a family member to bring some hell-bent, life-saving derived from the swamp concoction to either pour on, rub on, or apply in any other fashion UNACCEPTABLE.

Recently I had to send two family members out of the room because I felt that coming to blows over their mother's death bed over which mortuary (you read right) to use UNACCEPTABLE.

I guess I am just old-fashioned!

Specializes in L&D, High Risk OB, OR, Med-Surg, PHN.

]:idea: I agree c some of the above posts I find more disrespect form families and visitors then I do c the docs. The younger MD's find our opinion a great benefit to them because we are there eyes when they are not there. A lot of families in the areas I have work look at us like a personal maid because they are staying in a very expensive Omni.

Lisa :trout:

Not so with FAMILIES! I have always worked in critical care and the one or two families with members from hell have been a problem. I consider eating a meal in the room with an intubated, sedated trauma or post cardiac procedure patient UNACCEPTABLE.

That is one of my pet peeves. The last thing a sick / post-op / chemo patient needs is to be assaulted with this. I've walked into rooms and practically been knocked over by the strong odor of the food visitors are eating at the patient's bedside. Of course, these idiots then proceed to chase down and harass the nurses because their loved ones are suddenly barfing up their toenails.

Years ago, I cared for a young man with a brain tumor; he was minimally responsive, but aware of his surroundings.

One night I walked in and found about 10 people in his room, all standing around holding plates, chowing down. They had moved the patient as far as they could to the side, pressed up against the rails. And laid out on the bed, like a buffet table, was their Thanksgiving dinner. Complete with roast turkey.

I KID YOU NOT.

:angryfire

Specializes in Emergency Room.

i really can't complain. i feel respected by docs, coworkers and patients. i am naturally a nice person and patients tell me all the time "you are the nicest nurse i ever had". i have had demanding, ignorant , disrepectful patients also but these people are probably the same, even outside the hospital. and like trauma said, don't take things personal. if i am doing my best then that's going to have to be good enough.

i am naturally a nice person and patients tell me all the time "you are the nicest nurse i ever had".

Invariably when I have a patient that (for whatever reason) is making me want to pull out my hair, they'll hit me with that at the end of the shift. :rolleyes:

Just let me wallow in my frustration! :lol2:

;)

THANK YOU EVERYONE!! :yelclap: I really appreciate all the replies and I have read most of them. If there is anything else you'd like to add... please feel free. This will help me tremendously!!

Much thanks to everyone and best regards.... E :nurse:

Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.

Since I have been coming on the net for the past nine years I have found:

1. Patients attacking nurses.

2. Patient's families attacking nurses.

3. Patients being too demanding.

4. Patients and their families asking for services that are not considered part of nursing,i.e. offer for family members.

5. Physicians being disrespectful.

6. Physicians being demeaning.

7. Physicians ignoring nurses observations and request.

8. Physicians not knowing what they are doing.

9. Nurses ignoring patients.

10.Nurses not giving pain medication often enough because they are afraid:

a. the patient is an addict.

b. they will make the patient an addict.

c. the patient doesn't meet the nurse's standard for a patient having pain.

d. the patient is asking for pain medication too soon and the nurse just ignores the patient's request.

11. Nurses being too rough in their physical care of a patient.

12. Nurses causing unwarranted or unnecessary pain.

13. Nurses not explain to a patient or family what they are about to do, if it will be painful, how they will manage the pain.

14. Nurses, usually out of the hearing but not always, of the patient, making fun of a patient or family-yes this really does happen.

My observations are based on more then twenty five years of working experience and about twenty years as a patient. Health care is a complex organization, where physicians, nurses, patients and families sometimes act badly. As a nurse, I have been the recipient of bad physician and patient attitudes and actions. And as a patient I have been the recipient of poor care from nurses and physicians. And one time, I threated to slap a nurse if she did not stop poking me painfully on her third attempt to start an IV. And even though I have been bashed for making the threat, I would do it again because I had asked her nice twice to stop. I had my rights as a patient ignored. Everyone has a right to be respected, be they a nurse, a physician, a patient, a family.

Woody:balloons:

Specializes in Rehab, LTC, Peds, Hospice.
Since I have been coming on the net for the past nine years I have found:

1. Patients attacking nurses.

2. Patient's families attacking nurses.

3. Patients being too demanding.

4. Patients and their families asking for services that are not considered part of nursing,i.e. offer for family members.

5. Physicians being disrespectful.

6. Physicians being demeaning.

7. Physicians ignoring nurses observations and request.

8. Physicians not knowing what they are doing.

9. Nurses ignoring patients.

10.Nurses not giving pain medication often enough because they are afraid:

a. the patient is an addict.

b. they will make the patient an addict.

c. the patient doesn't meet the nurse's standard for a patient having pain.

d. the patient is asking for pain medication too soon and the nurse just ignores the patient's request.

11. Nurses being too rough in their physical care of a patient.

12. Nurses causing unwarranted or unnecessary pain.

13. Nurses not explain to a patient or family what they are about to do, if it will be painful, how they will manage the pain.

14. Nurses, usually out of the hearing but not always, of the patient, making fun of a patient or family-yes this really does happen.

My observations are based on more then twenty five years of working experience and about twenty years as a patient. Health care is a complex organization, where physicians, nurses, patients and families sometimes act badly. As a nurse, I have been the recipient of bad physician and patient attitudes and actions. And as a patient I have been the recipient of poor care from nurses and physicians. And one time, I threated to slap a nurse if she did not stop poking me painfully on her third attempt to start an IV. And even though I have been bashed for making the threat, I would do it again because I had asked her nice twice to stop. I had my rights as a patient ignored. Everyone has a right to be respected, be they a nurse, a physician, a patient, a family.

Woody:balloons:

Sorry for the way you were treated, however when my 4 year old needed blood work they had a hard time getting it and she never cried or said a word, just watched fascinated. (Which is why I always like my peds patients, they are just tougher than adults and much more resiliant sp?!) And I'm also never going to say it is ok to threaten someone or physically abuse them unless you happen to be one of my little demented old people, who can be forgiven because they just don't know any better.

In general though, when my Mom c/o the care she got post a fx hip from 'Nursing', I persisted questioning her until she admitted that only one nurse was the problem (@ one instance), and her nursing care was in fact very good. So I'm sure it takes only one negative experience to skew some people's views about nursing.

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