Let's be kind to other nurses even if they are not as hi-tech

[unsaint77]

I am about to launch into my nursing career. I want to be a nurse anesthetist eventually, but probably I will start out as a nursing home nurse. I admire many great nurses. However, it's disheartening to hear about some high tech nurses (ICU nurses for example) looking down on home care nurses or long term care nurses. That phenomenon exists in all professions, and it stems

from insecurity. For example, an electrician loves pouncing on

minor flaws of other electrician's jobs. We all feel insecure about our

skills, although we don't admit it. A high tech nurse would get a dose

of ego-boost by dissing the nurses in less high-tech fields. But what does that say about that nurse's view toward the holistic nature of nursing? Perhaps that nurse should have gone to a medical school. something to think about.

[rntj]

I'm with you, some ICU nurses do tend to be a little uppity at times. (Even my sister, who is an ICU nurse, would admit to this). I love the nursing culture on my step-down unit, no huge egos there. I've worked LTC (as a CNA) and home care (as an RN) as well. We should definitely not knock nurses in those fields, their jobs really hard and they have tons more patients to care for. As for anyone who thinks home care is easy, they are dead wrong. I went into a deep depression when I did home care because I always had tons of work to do, even on my days off. I was never done. Now, after my shift is over, I'm done and I don't even think about work. But I would never judge another nurse for being "less high-tech." All nursing positions come with a lot of stress and we should support rather than look down on one another.

[ShayRN]

I work in hospice, which is as about as low tech as you can get in nursing. I don't care what other nurses think of my career choice. I make a difference every day I go to work. That is more than enough for me.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

I am about to launch into my nursing career. I want to be a nurse anesthetist eventually, but probably I will start out as a nursing home nurse. I admire many great nurses. However, it's disheartening to hear about some high tech nurses (ICU nurses for example) looking down on home care nurses or long term care nurses. That phenomenon exists in all professions, and it stems

from insecurity. For example, an electrician loves pouncing on

minor flaws of other electrician's jobs. We all feel insecure about our

skills, although we don't admit it. A high tech nurse would get a dose

of ego-boost by dissing the nurses in less high-tech fields. But what does that say about that nurse's view toward the holistic nature of nursing? Perhaps that nurse should have gone to a medical school. something to think about.

Can you give any examples of "high tech nurses" misbehaving?

[loriangel14, RN]

I have never seen this behaviour that you are speaking of.Just because we use less gadgets we are no less nurses

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i am about to launch into my nursing career. i want to be a nurse anesthetist eventually, but probably i will start out as a nursing home nurse. i admire many great nurses. however, it's disheartening to hear about some high tech nurses (icu nurses for example) looking down on home care nurses or long term care nurses. that phenomenon exists in all professions, and it stems

from insecurity. for example, an electrician loves pouncing on

minor flaws of other electrician's jobs. we all feel insecure about our

skills, although we don't admit it. a high tech nurse would get a dose

of ego-boost by dissing the nurses in less high-tech fields. but what does that say about that nurse's view toward the holistic nature of nursing? perhaps that nurse should have gone to a medical school. something to think about.

i'm one of those hi-tech nurses you're disrespecting here. i certainly don't look down on nurses in palliative care, long term care, rehab, assisted living or any other specialty, and none of my icu-type friends does, either. (my sister might, but that's a whole different story.) i've worked icu for over 30 years now, and i know i couldn't do the job of a nurse in an alf or ltc facility. i've watched them take care of my mother for years now, and i have the utmost respect for their knowledge base, professionalism, patience and caring. when i see the ltc nurses and cnas kindly and patiently redirect my mother, who seems to believe she's their supervisor and ought to be directing their activities, i marvel at their capacity for not only taking the crap she's dealing out hour after hour, day after day, but for seeing the real, frightened person underneath all that obnoxiousness. sometimes i get a patient like that in the icu -- i drug 'em and restrain 'em if possible. these nurses actually care for them.

each of us has different strengths and weaknesses to bring to nursing. i cannot help but admire those whose strengths are so different from my own.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

I just wanted to point out one thing, --- you NEED ICU experience to be a CRNA. You might want to look into getting into a hospital, on a med surg floor, then going to ICU. Rather than starting with LTC.

[unsaint77]

Of course I will try getting into a hospital first. The job market in my area doesn't look very promising, but I will still try anything. Thanks.

[ShayRN]

Well said, Ruby. I cross trained to a Cardiovascular Intensive when I worked the step down and just hated it. I felt like I was missing out on the interactions with the families and the patients. You are so correct when you say we all have our strengthes and weaknessess. It is just rewarding as a nurse when we find them early enough in our careers. So very sad to see all these new nurses say how much they hate nursing, when they have only done ONE type of nursing. There are just so many avenues open to us.

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

How about being kind to everyone?

[sapphire18]

Agree with ScottE. Can't help but feel insulted here.

[unsaint77]

If you feel insulted, that means you are a nurse who respects all nurses in all fields. Thanks for being a good nurse.