Is this the publics perception of nurses?

[austin heart]

i am a charge RN in a cvicu. yesterday i took care of a man that was pod1 5 vessel cabg on a balloon pump and multiple drips. i had post op'd the pt the previous day so i had developed a repor with he and his family. he was telling me that his daughter is a physical therapist and works in a DR's office yadda yadda, yadda. he then asks me if i make good money beings that i have no college degree. i informed him that i did have a college degree and was very well educated in my field. he stated that he was unaware that you needed to go to college to be a nurse.

i was shocked! this was a very sick man and needed detailed care! is this the perception of the public that anyone can walk in off the street and get a job as a nurse? do they think it is like checking groceries or something? and this was a very well educated man himself. i am still just shocked and offended! has anyone else had this happen?

thanks for letting me vent

[Q.]

Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes

another thing: NEVER ALLOWING NON-NURSES TO ABUSE OUR TITLE, PRIVELEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES by calling themselves such when they are NOT---would also help a LOT.

I couldn't agree more. That is one of my biggest concerns.

[askater11]

Susy K I always enjoy reading your post.

You and I are so much alike. We both enjoy educating ourselves inside and outside of school.

[hapeewendy]

agreed 100% on that one too!

that was one of the major points in the presentation I did in class regarding skill mix

some scary stories out there of "nurse impersonators"

[Q.]

Originally posted by rncountry

Forgive me but I personally don't give a flying F**k what John Q. Public regards as a "worthy" education.

Jesus H. Christ, Helen - *points finger* - you SWORE!

Ok now let me try to word this right. I don't care either what most people think (apparently - as I piss a few people off sometimes saying "what I think") but sometimes it seems we also have to choose our battles wisely. By that I mean, we're going to gain respect (and logically, pay would follow) when the public, society, admininstration, understands and appreciates what we do. We have a very hard time ourselves defining our roles to each other. Some say a nurse is her psychomotor skills, some say a nurse is her mind and healing art. Some say it's both. Yes, I agree, educating the public about who/what we are will help a bit, but honestly, I don't know the inner-workings or fully understand attorneys, pilots or a host of other well paid and respected professions. The public sees us as "helping the sick," and really, do they need to know more? Honestly, until we can agree on what is and what is not a nurse, how can we educate the public about it? We got nurses here calling aides "nurse Judy" and calling vet techs "nurses" (I know, another thread).

I've always said that a college degree is the universal language, if you will, across disciplines and across society. People may not understand what you do, but they understand what a Bachelor's degree or an Associates degree means. For us to speak to the public about our education and "smarts", we need to speak their language. Right or wrong, the language in our society is formalized higher education. Otherwise o me, it's like trying to tell a person who only speaks Italian what we do, but speaking it in Spanish, knowing full well they speak Italian but refusing to do so just to prove a point.

[MishlB]

Why does everyone throw the word 'respect' around? I met an EMT who was entering the LPN program. I asked her why she was now going into nursing and what she planned to do. She said she would not pursue RN, and that she wanted to be an LPN for "respect". Her attitude was so crappy, but she thought, "if I am a nurse, I will have respect." WRONG....no matter what you do, you are not automatically respected, nor does a bigger paycheck follow...(didn't quite get that comment...)

If you become bothered because a 'non-nurse' asks about your education, that's too bad. Then go back to school and earn another degree. You still won't have the 'respect' you are searching for.

We should all wear nametags that say NURSE.....maybe then there wouldn't be a problem.

[MishlB]

Originally posted by Susy K

Jesus H. Christ, Helen - *points finger* - you SWORE!

I've always said that a college degree is the universal language, if you will, across disciplines and across society. People may not understand what you do, but they understand what a Bachelor's degree or an Associates degree means. For us to speak to the public about our education and "smarts", we need to speak their language. Right or wrong, the language in our society is formalized higher education. Otherwise o me, it's like trying to tell a person who only speaks Italian what we do, but speaking it in Spanish, knowing full well they speak Italian but refusing to do so just to prove a point.

College degrees are required for certain professions, but not for all, as stated in an earlier post. A degree was not always needed for nursing either, but since times have changed, we must comply. I don't think even the general public understands the difference in Associate's and Bachelor's degrees. Why do we need to take time to educate the public about what our titles are and what degree we hold as nurses, when we should be focusing on preventative health care education and the like. I would much rather talk to teens about the risks of smoking or unprotected sex, then why I have an Associate's degree but I am still an RN. Sure, go to a high school job fair and explain a little to them about nursing and its options. But as for the rest of the public, they just want to be made to feel better when they are sick. Period.

[Sleepyeyes]

but....

to paraphrase an old saying: "Ya can't live on respect."

[Q.]

Originally posted by MishlB

Why do we need to take time to educate the public about what our titles are and what degree we hold as nurses, when we should be focusing on preventative health care education and the like.

Because unfortunately, there is no money in preventative health care, and alot of people like insurance companies and hospital administrators don't care about preventative health.

Even so, if the public and society (which includes our administrators, etc) don't understand what it is we can do, they won't buy into it or see us as useful.

I believe nurses are key in promoting the health of America and keeping overall costs down. But no one else really sees it that way. For example, schools eliminated school RNs but yet at the same time, some have physicians there instead to treat and promote wellness to children. Now why is a physician doing that when clearly, a nurse can and should be? I believe it's because John Q doesn't think we can do that kind of thing. We follow orders and that's it. THAT'S why I feel it's crucial to educate about we CAN do and who we are - so we'll be best utilized, respected for what only a NURSE can give. What does a nurse give right now that can't be given by a great CNA? Or a great tech? Or an awesome physician? In that answer lies our salvation, I believe.

[SmilingBluEyes]

"Because unfortunately, there is no money in preventative health care, and alot of people like insurance companies and hospital administrators don't care about preventative health.

Even so, if the public and society (which includes our administrators, etc) don't understand what it is we can do, they won't buy into it or see us as useful.

I believe nurses are key in promoting the health of America and keeping overall costs down. But no one else really sees it that way. For example, schools eliminated school RNs but yet at the same time, some have physicians there instead to treat and promote wellness to children. Now why is a physician doing that when clearly, a nurse can and should be? I believe it's because John Q doesn't think we can do that kind of thing. We follow orders and that's it. THAT'S why I feel it's crucial to educate about we CAN do and who we are - so we'll be best utilized, respected for what only a NURSE can give. What does a nurse give right now that can't be given by a great CNA? Or a great tech? Or an awesome physician? In that answer lies our salvation, I believe."---SuzyK.*********************************************

Suzy, you and I may not see eye-to-eye often, but I have to agree with this post. You are correct. And while we may not LIVE on respect, it means a helluva a lot to most self-respecting people. The nursing community NEEDS to be self-respecting to survive...or else all we will attract to our ranks are people who don't give a flying frig the job they do and how it's done. Is THAT who we want taking care of loved ones, friends or ourselves one day?

PS: (I am still too dim to learn how to quote people in the bold way as you guys do, so I just did my best cut/paste and gave credit where due, sorry, Suzy).

[fab4fan]

Just a comment about putting degress, etc. on name badges. The hosp. I work for only allows you to put your level of licensure, no more. I could have a BSN, and my CEN, and it still would just have, "my name" RN.

[rncountry]

:roll I do that upon occasion! You made me laugh! :rotfl:

[semstr]

Fab4, NEVER say you are a "lowly" diploma-nurse! I'll scream my head off, when you do that again!

First I am one myself and I don't think of myself as a lowly RN, and second, 2/3 of the European nurses would be lowly.

And third, as long as we talk about ourselves as being lowly-educated, how on earth do you want these John Q (like that one) to get a highter opinion of you?

And out of this thread, bye Renee