Nurses Deserve More Respect!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello All,

Does anyone else feel like there is a stigma that comes along with nursing? Like, do you ever feel like people are judging you based on your career choice? Do you feel like nursing isn't as well respected in society as it should be?

My parents and a lot of my friends are being pretty critical of my decision to become a nurse. I can't even count the number of time I've been asked, "But wouldn't you rather be a doctor? Why not try for med school instead?"

Just wondering if anyone else has experience with this sort of thing. How do you handle it?

Love, -NR :heartbeat

Speaking as a nursing student, I can say that I've had it both ways...

My parents were, and are, so proud when I decided to become a nurse, and even more when I got my acceptance letter. My mother tells anyone who will listen that I'm going to be a nurse, so much so that the nurses at her doctors office ask her what part I've come to, what skills we've done, etc. (My mother has to go in monthly to have her INR checked due to being on Coumadin to prevent blood clots.) My sister, who is two years younger and attends the same school that I do, does the same thing; when one of her friends mentions they are thinking of becoming a nurse, she tells them to ask me what I had to have to get in the program or what we're doing in class, etc.

But, there have been a few people who have said, "Why don't you become a Nurse Practioner or a Physician Assistant?" When I tell them that NP is a possible goal down the line, but that I want to actually be there for the patient's to speak to, ask questions to, and really be there for the patient, they just seem puzzled.

I think the issue is that people think of being a nurse, as "Just a nurse," but people within the profession (or who hope to be :)) know the importance of nurses of all levels, LPN, RN, ADN, BSN, MSN, NP, Ph D, and even CNA and MAs. We are there to help the patient, and more importantly to be an advocate for the patient for the MDs, DOs, and PAs of the world.

Julie

:stdnrsrck:

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I don't know your gender but I have a male friend who, all during nursing school, was asked by his brother, "Why didn't you go to med school?" There may be a stigma in some families about a male becoming a nurse.

On the other hand, I have a friend who went to Tulane medical school, did her residency in the Bronx, practiced ob-gyn medicine for 5 years, and then quit. She told me that she wished she had become a nurse instead because of the huge med malpractice premiums she had to pay, the reduced payments to her from insurance companies, and the 24-7 responsibility.

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Specializes in FNP.

FWIW I am a nurse who is more interested in the puzzle. I probably would have liked being a physician, but I'm not interested in an 80 hour work week, so I opted out of medicine.

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Specializes in LTC.

My friends and family are very proud of me being a nurse. My mother sees me being a CRNP but thats just not my cup of tea.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.
FWIW I am a nurse who is more interested in the puzzle. I probably would have liked being a physician, but I'm not interested in an 80 hour work week, so I opted out of medicine.

Illustrates the point I want to make. OP, ask your family if they think you have masochistic tendencies. In some cases, sado-masochistic tendencies....:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

I think it depends on your family situation. My family's proud to say they have a nurse in their family. Perhaps your family is full of doctors and lawyers and so they look down on your decision. But it's your life. Next time they ask if you want to go to med school, say "Sure, as long as you're paying for it." Perhaps your family can afford to pay for it. I'm glad to say that my family is proud of my decision. As a nurse, you'll have a profession...not just a job, but a career. Also understand that the general public really doesn't know what it is we nurses do. I had to explain to my family and boyfriend what it is that I do...they thought I just passed out meds all day and that I never had to wipe a butt. So hold your head up high and be proud of whatever decision you make.

P.S. Nurses get to have lives while docs are responsible 24/7...calls at 3 am anyone.

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My friend, a male nurse, works 12-hour nights. I asked him, "What is the worst part of your night?" What I wanted to know was when he found it hardest to stay awake. (For me, the witching hour was around 5:00 am.) He said, "The worst part is driving to work, anticipating the 12 hours ahead of me. The best part of my day is driving home after my shift." I was shocked, esp. knowing how much he sacrificed to go to nursing school.

I worked nights in the ICU for years and hated the drive home because of fear of falling asleep at the wheel.

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I've gotten that attitude from people, and i've also had people look at me in amazement.. they think nursing is a wonderful thing.

Honestly, this is a little off topic, but the more i'm in school (2nd semester rn student) I'm just amazed at what nurses (the good ones) do. Really, I consider them more intelligent than doctors(not trying to downplay them). It almost seems unreal to me everything that they do.

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respect that's what we all should have. from everyone.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Respect is earned within the profession, not a given with the license.

Really, who cares what everyone outside of the profession in your personal life thinks. Just be happy for yourself.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I've only read the OP, but I honestly don't feel a lack of respect as a nurse.

IME, mentioning you're a nurse automatically garners you respect and trust, at least it has from my children's friends' parents. I can't think of too many professions, outside police and firefighters, that instantly earn you "cred" as soon as you mention you're in that profession.

I don't feel disrespected or disparaged at all, as a nurse.

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Natasha,

I'm just going based on a guess here, but I think it is a cultural thing. Based on your username, I can see (my best guess) that you or your family are probably Russian. Being Russian (ok, Ukranian) I see this a lot. My family is pretty westernized and they now totally respect the nursing profession and what I do, but whenever they tell their more foreign friends what I do, I get a lot of hostility and little respect.Same thing that you mentioned "why wouldn't she just become a doctor?"; "nurses just do all the dirty work" etc.

Sooo... I'm sorry if I'm way off by making all these assumptions, but I think that in North America and many other countries around the world it is a highly respected profession, but in others it is still seen as not much more than a babysitter.

I had this hostility from my family too before I started. As soon as they saw what I was doing in nursing school and what I do now as an RN their opinion of nursing changed pretty fast. If it is where your passion is, then just go for it, and just wait and see how you can change their opinions :)

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