Respect For Nurses

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 10, 2017

"Huney, does it has anything to do with the business?" (in sarcasm-soaked yet oh-so- polite tone; watch a few old-time movies if you don't know how to say it THAT way) :)

Then no tip. Problem solved. People who do not care for respecting others, nurses or not, do not deserve your time... nor your money.

macawake, MSN · Jul 10, 2017

As I pulled through the drive through one of the baristas, I usually get coffee from, noticed I has a stethoscope in my car. She asked me if I was a doctor? I told her that I was a Registered Nurse. She looked gobsmacked by my response. She then advised me to "Act Like a DOCTOR!," because I used a stethoscope! OMG!

I responded, No Thank You, I am proud to be a Nurse! Nurses keep patients alive! She tried to press her perspective that doctors were better and that they are the ones who save lives. That just made me boil.

I retorted: We are the first the in patient's rooms, and when a patient's heart stops, we are the ones in their rooms trying to keep them alive!!! Respect the Nurses!!!

I'm a Scandinavian and our workplaces are very egalitarian and both unions and worker's rights are strong, but even here an employee who regularly engaged in expressing unsolicited opinions, bordering on rants, to their customers would most likely receive some type of reprimand. I'm a bit surprised this barista behaved that way, including what from your text looks like screaming the word doctor. Anyway, if it were me I wouldn't let her rent any space in my head, it's really not worth the aggravation. We're all entitled to our opinions, even she, no matter how misguided.

Its just been a full circle week: trying to prevent narcotic errors from Doctors who prescribe, don't verify, and clearly don't understand the impact to their patients they are taking care off. Doctors prescribing and not following REM guidelines and ignoring nursing concerns, till multiple staff members are saying, "wake up and listen."
We do so much, and there is a big difference from prescribing and administering. Administration is a lot more work, but that does not mean that we administrators don't understand prescribing criteria.

I don't know what type of physicians you work with, but the ones I work with are pretty smart and most are dedicated to doing the job to the best of their abilities. Often though, they face the same challenges that nurses do, too many patients and not enough time.

Of course they will make mistakes occasionally, they are human after all, and hopefully there is someone around to catch it before a patient is harmed. That's in my opinion simply a part of multidisciplinary teamwork.

I might be misinterpreting your post, and perhaps this is more of a vent after a rough week than a true reflection of how you view physicians, but what I take away from your post is that you think that nurses have the necessary knowledge to do a physician's job, and that doctors are just clueless klutzes in constant need of rescuing. I personally don't agree with that.

I think that it's entirely possible to expect/demand respect for the nursing profession without resorting to "doctor-bashing". The job we do is important and valuble and it makes a difference in patient's lives. It also oftentimes comes with some major stressors attached, but the same can be said for physicians. It's not an us vs. them relationship, we're both integral parts of the healthcare team.

Just a side note, I do wonder what the barista had in mind when she said act like a doctor :lol2: How do doctors act when sitting in their cars ordering coffee? If you do decide to go back there despite the strange staff they employ, perhaps you could ask her :)

Jedrnurse, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2017

I say that should be reflected on the coffee shop's Press-Ganey scores...

RNGummy40 · Jul 10, 2017

Definitely not doctor bashing. Just the acknowledgement that nurses and our practice continues to be poorly understood and recognized by our community and at times by other medical professionals.

This was definitely a vent and reflection on current barriers to safe patient care. In addition, differentiating the significance of what nurses do in our practice. For a stethoscope to be only associate with an MD's tool is rediculous.

Nurses are the last line of defense. The issues expressed were barriers to safe patient care, and specific providers not following safe practice. Please review, I was told by my barista to Act like a Doctor. If I modeled that behavior this week, my patients would have suffered.

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Jul 10, 2017

Just yesterday I went into a store called "At Home". Men may not be familiar with it, but a lot of women are. Here in Georgia, the name was changed from Garden Ridge. For those who are unfamiliar with this store, it is one that sells household decorative and novelty items such as patio furniture, what-nots, etc., pretty much anything that can be used to decorative one's home.

As I was checking out, the person at the register asked me if I had any kind of military ID. I said no, but I do have a nursing license. He said that they don't give discounts to nurses. I said to him that I would bet the king's ransom that more nurses come into this store than military personnel. He said, "well, there is a military base a few miles down the road". And I said, "Of course it is...exactly 2 miles directly past the 6-story hospital. You'd get to the nurses just by walking through the front door before you reach the military guys, where you'd likely be turned around at the gate even if you had blood and guts pouring out of you".

I turned to leave, and asked one final question. "What population is your biggest client?" He said women were. So, I said to him, "you see this guy with me? He is military-Air Force Reserves, and a sheriff's deputy. However, he is not buying anything, As we walked through this huge store, he even told me that he didn't want **** out of here. I, on the other hand, a 'woman' nurse, am providing you with business. You might want to put a bug in the ear of you regional manager regarding your discounting practices. Enjoy the rest of your evening". He said, "Ma'am, thank you for all that you do for us". I said, "Mention it!" (instead of the clichÃ© "don't mention it"). Then I left.

Purple_roses · Jul 11, 2017

"Doctors are better" says the barista.

TriciaJ, RN · Jul 11, 2017

"Doctors are better" says the barista.

Glad the barista likes doctors. Hope she also likes being a barista.

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jul 11, 2017

I think most people who have never been hospitalized (or had a loved one hospitalized) don't understand the scope of our practice until they're in that position.

My nursing school had a huge scholarship program (i.e. hundreds of thousands of dollars) tied to an Arts Foundation through the Carnegie family. Apparently one of the benefactors was hospitalized and discovered how crucially important nursing care is to patient well-being/recovery. Even though her fortune and foundation were based on fine arts (not healthcare), she decided to prioritize funding programs to support aspiring nurses because she understood how important nursing care can be.

Sour Lemon · Jul 11, 2017

Good Morning.
I decided to post my morning coffee experience.
As I pulled through the drive through one of the baristas, I usually get coffee from, noticed I has a stethoscope in my car. She asked me if I was a doctor? I told her that I was a Registered Nurse. She looked gobsmacked by my response. She then advised me to "Act Like a DOCTOR!," because I used a stethoscope! OMG! I think I was possessed by "Betty Davis," or the "Ghost of Spartan (from the God of War video game) from that point on. I responded, No Thank You, I am proud to be a Nurse! Nurses keep patients alive! She tried to press her perspective that doctors were better and that they are the ones who save lives. That just made me boil. Did I even need the coffee (complete after thought). I retorted: We are the first the in patient's rooms, and when a patient's heart stops, we are the ones in their rooms trying to keep them alive!!! Respect the Nurses!!!
Its just been a full circle week: trying to prevent narcotic errors from Doctors who prescribe, don't verify, and clearly don't understand the impact to their patients they are taking care off. Doctors prescribing and not following REM guidelines and ignoring nursing concerns, till multiple staff members are saying, "wake up and listen."
We do so much, and there is a big difference from prescribing and administering. Administration is a lot more work, but that does not mean that we administrators don't understand prescribing criteria.
The mythology of what nurses do needs to stop being told. Nurses are equal protagonists, doctors and nurses are fighting to keep patients alive, but the discrediting of nursing practice needs to stop.

Is sounds like she was just making "silly" conversation to move the day along ...doesn't seem like a well thought out opinion or anything to get offended by. But I guess you hadn't had your caffeine, yet. I'd probably be looking for a fight, too.

Scottishtape · Jul 11, 2017

"Doctors are better" says the barista.

Hahahahaha

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Jul 12, 2017

Ah, the wisdom of the barista LOL.