Why Are Nurses Given Such A Bad Rap Today?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

"In college I took an upper level Sociology class, "Women and Society". I was told that nursing was a "pink -collar ghetto" and that was the attitude that would have to be changed before folks say nursing as a profession.

This was in the late '90's not so long ago. Future doctors and the general public need to be educated about nursing."

The "bad rap" is based on this ideology plus the fact that us nurses are hard on each other.

Another factor is that patients and family rely healvily on the Maslow need-their own needs.

But as far as I know her in Philly, plus some recent polls and surveys, nursing is the most highly respected profession! :rolleyes:

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

I have always found that all prejudice is based in ignorance. Do you know all 34.5 million people in Calif. ? I'm sure there are wonderful people in Philly., though I've never met ANY of them. Also , learn how to spell,& type, as you will need this to succeed in nursing school. Thanks, I feel better.

I am a native californian as well as a Philly resident for 17 years. My heart goes out to all of the nurses in CA. KEEP FIGHTIN'!

sunnyjohn · Apr 20, 2005

sounds like Philly is a great place to practice nursing!!!

Tinkerbell2 · Apr 20, 2005

In reading the threads regarding the so called nursing shortage our country is under , I started wondering why is it that we as nurses are given such a bad rap today. Care to share your thoughts on this? :)

My guess it comes from the pious ignorant people (who have more money than sense) who still put doctors on a pedestal and on the same level with God, who do not think that anyone other than doctors can deliever quality care, and NEVER appreciate the care given them to the ones who REALLY care for them. It is political. Since doctors usually belong to the same upper class that politicians do - they are held in high regard. To those people it is about status - not about caring for people and saving lives.

au@mrc:bn grad2005 · Apr 20, 2005

Of course my perspective is way different since most of you are practicing nurses and I am only a student and my perspective may change with time and experience.

Hey I just wanted to reinforce your importance to the nursing profession. Without students there would be no nurses and nurse educators. As a fourth year nursing student who will soon be working as an undergrad I just wanted you to know that there is no reason to minimalize your accomplishments thus far. All nurses go through education and were students, this means that you are A NURSING STUDENT. Be proud and stand tall, those before you respect what you are doing and do not think of you as just/only a student. If they do then they must recognize how diabling this is to the students mindset. I am thinking this was an oversight, but I thought it important to clarify for others who read this comment.

Good luck in school, I have loved this process and am sad to know that soon it will be over. Mind you I will be starting on specialty courses after my CRNE (Canadian) exam. BB

au@mrc:bn grad2005 · Apr 20, 2005

I haven't gotten to all the messages but so far what i am reading is how the public views nurses from word of mouth and a small fraction from television.

It is true that nurses are disregarded as intelegent, I think a ton of this comes from how "Hollywood" portrays the nursing profession. I love ER, I hate that Abby is a MD now i think it minimalized her strong nursing ethics. What i do see them showing is how Abby is able to communicate well with her patients and encompass her past nursing education with her new role (but this is not all that evident to the public because do not understand the nursing role all that well). I also love HOUSE, but can someone tell me where all the nurses are? Like the docs do all the technical stuff as they portray. I could go on forever. My suggestion to primetime producers of TV shows, develop a show that is dedicated to the importance and beauty which encompasses the nursing profession - include men as nurses. Maybe the more TV or movies portray a positive image of nurses (of both genders) then maybe we will see more individuals willing to join the profession or regard it as a worthy profession. Thanks all, BB

ISeeURN · Apr 20, 2005

I have a very unpopular viewpoint.
Sometimes, when I work swingshift, I listen to Loveline on my way home. A couple of weeks ago a female in her 20s called in and was talking about how dissatisfied she is with her life, how she doesn't have any skills, she doesn't do well in school. Adam suggested she go to junior college and become a nurse, the insinuation being that nurses required neither intellect nor education.
Wow! Holy long post, Batman!

First post on here, so please excuse my hopefully not too horrible use of words...

We have a line of commercials on tv here in Las Vegas right now, which left me at first giggling, then , after thinking about it for a bit, I was stunned and mad.

One "medical Institutes" advertises for medical careers ( I have no clue which medical " professionals" they send out to the world.)

A young lady in the ad talks about her wonderful education at this institute, and now, after completing the educational program, she can watch "ER" and wow actually understand what they are talking about on tv.

Now that is a reason to get an education... so that I can understand prime time tv...

Another one advertises for anyone to get into a medical career who so far had a life, which went no where...

Add to that the "Dare to Care" - why would people not think we are a bunch of bedpan swinging Morons, trying to "land" a physician?

Pictures and images like that make it apparently so hard to understand what Nurses really do.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 20, 2005

Bedpan-swingin morons LOL.

sunnyjohn · Apr 20, 2005

Bedpan-swingin morons LOL.

:rotfl:

This is a good thread cheerfuldoer!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Apr 21, 2005

Bedpan-swingin morons LOL.

Would these be empty bedpans? Because, if not, the moron thing might be a little hard to argue with.

littlebitwf · Apr 21, 2005

I am a nursing major and everyone keeps telling me that nursing school is really hard. I want to be a CRNA. I had a guy tell me that the nursing school at which I may go to is the hardest thing at the university besides chemical engineering. Can somebody tell me if it is true about nursing school being so hard??

foxyhill21 · Apr 21, 2005

I am in nursing school right now, my first semster. At the begaining I wanted to quit, it was to much. But I have gotten the hang of it. I would not say it is hard, it is just a large amount of reading and studying. So much reading!!!!!!! Take good notes, read chapters if u have time to, (best to scan chapters) practice, practice,practice your skills. Study a little ever nite.