Is this the publics perception of nurses? - page 4

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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... Read More

  1. by Q.
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: Patient Education Specialty: 7 year(s) of experience in LDRP; Education ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 7,470; Likes: 56
    Originally posted by SmilingBluEyes
    No Suzy,my argument was not to support fragmented education, but to point out the inaccuracy of the statement ---and that making such a point will be useless in changing public opinion of what we do and who we are.
    Then maybe we should've asked that patient in the first post more about this. You honestly think that his perception of nursing education has nothing to do with the fact that his family member, as a PT, requires a Bachelors and we do not? And to argue that other professions require even HIGHER degrees only seems to further the point, don't you think?
  2. by SmilingBluEyes
    Dec 27, '02
    Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,756; Likes: 16,291
    NO Suzy, I don't believe they (the public) *all* do not care the level of education we possess. And I don't live in a vacuum; I have talked to patients/family/people we serve and garnered a lot of different responses as to what they do think of nurses and their image. For example, they CRINGE when the see medical care workers outside smoking cigarettes or wearing excessive perfume/make-up. I doubt highly that they would care ONE iota if they held a Master's degree or even a PhD at that point. It is about IMAGE also! That is why--- I believe, If tomorrow, we all were BSN-only RN's it would still not be NEAR enough to change the public view of nursing in general and do NOTHING to garner respect from the esteemed doctors with whom we work. I just believe the issue is MULTI-dimensional and see the BIG picture, I guess.
    Last edit by SmilingBluEyes on Dec 27, '02
  3. by Sleepyeyes
    Dec 27, '02
    Joined: Dec '01; Posts: 3,165; Likes: 59
    The public respect issue really has nothing to do with the amount of education one needs, IMO.

    The public respects MONEY. If the employer values a worker enough to PAY them, the public associates that with importance and status.

    I just want to get paid more--the respect will follow.
  4. by Q.
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: Patient Education Specialty: 7 year(s) of experience in LDRP; Education ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 7,470; Likes: 56
    I agree nursing's problems are multi-dimensional, as you say, however, this particular issue seemed to be geared at one aspect of nursing - that being nursing education. I also stand firm that among those "multi-dimensional" issues of nursing, is educational levels.
  5. by SmilingBluEyes
    Dec 27, '02
    Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 38,756; Likes: 16,291
    Perhaps, one day in a perfect world, we can all be BSN-prepared universally. But until the shortage is sated and there are BSN programs universally available to serve all who desire to enter nursing, it is not possible. So, why not address the issues that WE CAN TACKLE TODAY and shelve the BSN versus ADN argument for a time when it's do-able to make BSN-only entry a reality?
  6. by Sleepyeyes
    Dec 27, '02
    Joined: Dec '01; Posts: 3,165; Likes: 59
    Originally posted by Susy K
    however, this particular issue seemed to be geared at one aspect of nursing - that being nursing education.
    Suzy, I respectfully disagree. The major issue that nurses have with the public perception of nursing is a lack of respect. Nurses mistakenly think that respect is more associated with education, but I again submit that the public perception of ANY job is more directly associated to SALARY.

    I point to the instant respect that doctors and plumbers get as supporting evidence.
  7. by spineCNOR
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: Staff Development Coordinator - OR Joined: Jun '02; Posts: 577; Likes: 11
    Austinheart,

    My understanding of your post was that you were questioning whether the public is aware that to be a nurse some formal education is required, be it diploma, ADN, BSN, etc...
    Often people during a doctor's office appointment see "the nurse" who is actually a medical assistant or nursing assistant, and I have heard OR techs with no formal education beyond high school refer to themselves as a "scrub nurse". No wonder the public is confused.
    As far as the respect issue - as long as hospital administrators see nurses as an expense rather than essential assets we will never be respected, at least in the hospital setting--JMHO.
  8. by Q.
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: Patient Education Specialty: 7 year(s) of experience in LDRP; Education ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 7,470; Likes: 56
    Originally posted by Sleepyeyes
    Suzy, I respectfully disagree. The major issue that nurses have with the public perception of nursing is a lack of respect.
    Sleepy,
    I meant the issue at hand for this particular thread seemed to be geared at nursing education, and the education (or lack thereof - per the patient in the original post) that it takes to be a nurse. It didn't appear to me that this patient didn't respect nurses or the nurse taking care of him, but was merely questioning salary based on his perceptions of the level of education nurses are required to have. In fact, it could be argued that this patient could've felt the nurse should be paid more, but probably isn't due his/her educational level (real or perceived). Again:

    he then asks me if i make good money beings that i have no college degree.
    Based on this question it appears to me that this patient (and probably more like him) most certainly do equate education with compensation. Meaning, more education generally means higher pay.
    Last edit by Susy K on Dec 27, '02
  9. by Sleepyeyes
    Dec 27, '02
    Joined: Dec '01; Posts: 3,165; Likes: 59
    OK, you're right....

    as I read the original question the first time, I read more into it than the writer probably intended.
  10. by shay
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: RN Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 1,487; Likes: 70
    Well doggone it, I had my popcorn and beer all ready and was getting comfy for a good ol' fashioned flame fest. :chuckle You people quit being respectful and logical, I'm bored, damn it!!

    I haven't had anyone out and out SAY something like that to me, but it would really piss me off if they did. I really feel, deep in my heart, that the lack of respect nurses have ORIGINATES from the fact that it spawned as a female-dominated profession, and medicine spawned as a male-dominated profession...medicine and nursing "proper," that is. Anyhoo, I feel that the lack of respect now is PERPETUATED by many more factors, gender being the least of them in it's most basic sense.

    I also agree w/whomever it was that said the general public watches way too much t.v.. No doubt!!!
  11. by Q.
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: Patient Education Specialty: 7 year(s) of experience in LDRP; Education ; Joined: Mar '01; Posts: 7,470; Likes: 56
    SHAY!!!! I miss ya, girl!!!
  12. by CJ
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: Student Nurse Joined: Oct '00; Posts: 5
    But I believe the previously stated patient's daughter was identified as a physical theripist ,which requires a Bachelor's degree, while a respiratory therapist does not.
  13. by LasVegasRN
    Dec 27, '02
    Occupation: RN Case Manager Joined: Apr '02; Posts: 4,945; Likes: 27
    Yeah, Shay. Quit teasin' and come on out!! :chuckle

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