Comment that really ticks me off.........

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 20, 2004

I mean this in a good natured way, but why didn't you tell him to do it himself? By the time the Doc gets done asking you, he could have already assisted his, not just your, patient. I find his thought process to be quite arrogant, and by "passing the buck" along to your tech, you are perpetuating and passing along his arrogance. Hierarchy and a chain of command exist in most work places, but I get the sneaking suspicion that this event was more of a "personal test" or "personal insult" than a vital order (otherwise he would have acted immediately). In these situations I personally stand up for myself. Unless the MD owns the business or hospital, he/she isn't your boss, and you can refuse anything they tell you if you feel you have a just reason, or patient harm may result. They, the MDs, are just more employees in the same organization. They don't sign your checks (if they don't own the business) and they can be disciplined like any other employee.

*sigh* I figured that someone here would criticize me for that episode, which is why I so carefully clarified exactly where everyone was physically positioned at the time of the exchange. Let me just say that trust me, he was making a point, and my response slapped that point right back at 'im in a goodnatured way. It was one of those rare perfect moments in life when just the right answer was said in just the right way to the right person, resulting in a doc who now has complete respect for nurses and what they do. And let's just leave it at that, ok?

lil' girl, LPN · Dec 20, 2004

Ok, maybe Im just being petty, but the other day I went to see a patient whos neighbor was visiting..... we were having a nice conversation then the neighbor asked me "Where did you get your training ?"
I have seen the subject debated over different entry level degrees and such, but the word "training" just ticks me off. When I told him that I graduated from "XYZ University", his comment was "Oh you had to go to college?"
Why is it that people do not believe that nurses actually go to college?? I mean I can understand if the patient and his neighbor was 80+ yrs old, I know that years ago, nurses did not go to a university setting........ but these 2 men were in their early 40's!!!
What is the difference in nurses taking specialized classes in pharmacology, anatomy, chemistry, etc than a person who has a degree in computers taking specialized classes in programming or networking, etc.....
Those people are considered educated at a college level, but nurses are just trained
Is it just me, or do any of you see this too??????

Maybe he just didn't understand. Where I live our Nursing School is AT the hospital in a seperate building. And we do go to the Hospital for clinicals. So maybe he just wondered what hospital you were associated with. The only classes taken at the actual college are the pre-reqs.

**SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN** · Dec 20, 2004

i cant see taking any offense to what he said, but maybe im just not that sensitive. when i was a young nurse everyone automatically assumed i was a homosexual. fussing over words like training versus education seem very minor in comparison to my mind anyway

in terms of being *trained* in a profession.....well there's lots of people *trained* in their careers & or craft (depends on how one choices to state it). it's all semantics really...one is *educated* in a field, but they still must be *trained*, *oriented* , or *precepted*. take physicians for example. no doubt, they are highly educated folks...right? but we hear them say all the time...."i'm doing my training in such 'n such field." translations...they're doing their residency in _____________ *whatever* (you fill in the blank). they (residents & docs for that matter) have no problems in stating where they're doing or have done their training! the same can be said about educators/teachers. they're educated at universities but they must also obtain certain certification in order to teach....& that involves some sort of hands on training or internship. how about actors & musicians who obtained degrees in their profession or craft...are they any less professional just because they often are *trained* one way or another in terms of acting or playing style? how about work co-ops? many are considered *on the job training*....what's wrong with that? just because one goes to university doesn't make one above being *trained* in the career path chosen!

however, i can & do have a problem with anyone (mds to the general public) making condescending a** remarks such as "any trained monkey can do what you do!"...be it a lpn, rn, or whatever. :angryfire now that eat my goat...in that light...i can & do agree with not appreciating the *trained monkey* statement...with the operative word *monkey* attached. but if it's simply stating or expressing one being educated/precepted/trained...then i have no problems with it.

cheers,

moe

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Dec 20, 2004

It's not really a comment that bugs me, but what bugs me more is the horrified look i get when i tell someone i went to a tech school. Nevermind it was affiliated with a college, but some people hear "tech school" and think "oh, that's it??"

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Dec 20, 2004

Hey, you guys are great nurses out there by reading your posts. Don't let this training/educational stuff get to you. Like someone already said, sometimes it is semantics. I've had the pleasure of working (on the floor) with wonderful nurses of various educational entry points along my career path. LPNs, RN, AD, Diploma, BSN, MSN, PhD, NP/CNS. Like any field...regardless of degree or level of training...there are some great nurses I've had the real pleasure. AND, there are are some I've had the real displeasure in working with....regardless of education...b****y, mean, disrespectful, and just plain stupid. Education doesn't make the nurse...the person does. It is what the person brings to the table. It is the nurse that takes care of business when the s*** hits the fan and when it does not, in providing good care to patients, and to team play with colleagues who get respect. Respect is earned daily and lost daily. Respect can't be bought by a BSN, MSN, PhD, or whatever. You can't pour it out, like out of a box of cereal and say, "there, now I have it...respect". Respect yourself first, regardless of education. Education is important, but can be over rated. If I was a patient, I would want a nurse who has the capacity to critically think and act and have my interests at heart. A nurse with a AD or Diploma or BSN or MSN who does not, has no respect from me as a patient. The nurse who sits on his/her fat a** at the desk without budging all shift gains no respect either. No, it is what you bring to the table as a person, not your degrees or lack thereof.

RNinRubySlippers, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2004

AMEN! lol

stbernardclub · Dec 22, 2004

oh well....its just conversation...

jaimealmostRN · Dec 22, 2004

UGGGGG! This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine too. I'm a new grad and I worked extremely hard to get my degree. I did not go to some "6 weeks and YOU can work in L&D/ICU" type 'school'. While the pts I have worked with as a SN/extern have been more knowedgable than usually expected, a family member of mine keeps asking, "so when are you getting your certificate?" ARGGGG! Another was shocked that Nurses were able to give injections. Like others have already posted, there is a huge PR issue and a general lack of info available to the public...any young woman in scrubs MUST be a nurse. For example, one of my classmates went to her NP's office for a routine exam and didn't even realize that the person assisting the NP and doing her venipuncture was a MA. There is NOTHING wrong with that of course, but if my friend couldn't tell, then how can the public?

JimenyC · Dec 22, 2004

Ok, maybe Im just being petty, but the other day I went to see a patient whos neighbor was visiting..... we were having a nice conversation then the neighbor asked me "Where did you get your training ?"
I have seen the subject debated over different entry level degrees and such, but the word "training" just ticks me off. When I told him that I graduated from "XYZ University", his comment was "Oh you had to go to college?"
Why is it that people do not believe that nurses actually go to college?? I mean I can understand if the patient and his neighbor was 80+ yrs old, I know that years ago, nurses did not go to a university setting........ but these 2 men were in their early 40's!!!
What is the difference in nurses taking specialized classes in pharmacology, anatomy, chemistry, etc than a person who has a degree in computers taking specialized classes in programming or networking, etc.....
Those people are considered educated at a college level, but nurses are just trained
Is it just me, or do any of you see this too??????

HI,

I want to go out on a limb and guess that the person who asked you this question was an "older" person.

Basically, back in tha day, nursing was taught - you were "trained" in hospitals ! In fact, there is still one such prograqm here in my state of RI @ St. Joseph's Hospital.

My wife, who is an RN from a University program, her mom graduated from St. Joseph's. Nursing was much different back then. Training i would take to mean "hands on" by these standards, which, taken that way is NOT an uncomplimentary thing.

Only you would know how it was meant when the q was asked.

I did not get the feel from this posting that you indicated a snide or derisive edge on their part, just an ignorance.

Of course, you could have just made a joke and said that, "No, I got my RN license out of the gumball machine in the lobby and i thought that i would just be a good samaratin by helping the educated nursing staff here on the floor today!"

Cheers,

Jim

JimenyC · Dec 22, 2004

There is one commercial that broadcasts here from a local college, it portray's this woman who looks like an ex-stripper. She say's she's a single mom who wasn't very smart in high school and say's going to school for 12 weeks was the easiest and best decision of her life, If she can do it any one can!
Not that I think I'm better than any ex-stripper - single mother's who weren't intellegent in high school, it's just that I think it does a disservice to the nursing profession. :icon_frow

Hi,

I thought that you would get a kick out of this fact that the world's oldest (and some say most loved and respected) Queen of Media, Nina Hartley, graduated from San Fran State 1985 w/a BSN Magna Cum Laude (no puns here please).

She never worked the floors as a nurse because shortly after graduating she went into films. However, the argument could be made that she still has in her way been a RN at heart since she has done 20-30 instructional videos and has just signed a contract to write an educational book based on her series of instructional videos.

Being an educator is, in fact, a big part of nursing afterall right?

Well, at least you make an interesting point re: the commercial without putting down the ontological value of other people based on station in life. I am curious though what made her "look like a stripper".

Last point real quick, i have met CNA's whom while not having a intense education, have so much experience and are so responsive to their patients - i wonder how many lives they have saved by recognizing a patient as either in distress or having a suddden change. Common sense and intuition just can't be "taught" at any educational level and sometimes i think good nursing happens just as much from the "gut" as it does from the head.

I have said too much again, hahahah, sorry.

Cheers,

Jim