Why do so many people want to discourage nursing students???? (vent)

WV Hillbilly RN · Nov 9, 2002

Hang in there girl....... I'm right there with you! I am 26 and wife and mommy...... it's not easy, and I never hear positive... and I don't know if you have this problem or not, but a lot of times in our clinical settings.... the staff are just horrible to us. They hide thermometers so we can't do our vitals, and after we make our beds, they go behind us and untuck our sheets to get us in trouble. I'm telling you...... I promise...PROMISE.... that when I become an RN in May, I will do everything I can to encourage others to join us, and not mistreat students when they come to do clinicals in my facility...... I mean, come on... you would think that they would want to be good to us because after all, if we get through school, we are going to be out there in the field to help lighten their load, right? I hate negativity and I too am extremely bull headed, so I understand! Good luck in school, and I hope all goes well for you!

rachdd · Nov 9, 2002

I have to say that I have not had that happen to me YET!! :lol Hang in there and try to just let it go in one ear and out the other. These people were probably just having a very rotten day!!!

HUGS!!! I know you can do this and I know you will make a great nurse!!

pixiestudent · Nov 9, 2002

I know how you feel. What really makes me mad is when people are like "why do you want to be around all that gross stuff". I just don't understand people!!!!!!!!!! I also get a lot of "why don't you just become a doctor?" Like nursing is some kind of low life profession or something. But on the other hand I get lots of praises. But that is usually from my residents!! They're so sweet!:)

oilerfan · Nov 9, 2002

Pixie hit it on the head, it aint a low profession. sure it is under appreciated and looked down upon by some, pardon the Quebec French, but..."fu*@ em', Tabernacle!" My dad still doesn't understand why I did not get my BComm or BEng...but when I talk about some of my days he cannot believe what we do. Some people don't get it and never will. They are ordinary office types. (no offence to accountants). You, through doing what you do, will Become an extrordinary person. The last thing you should think about is what anyone else says, you learned this in grade school. if this makes you happy, then giver.

OBNURSEHEATHER · Nov 9, 2002

I think they're all just jealous because of the cool uniforms we get to wear :rolleyes:

I honestly don't know why they do that Stacey. Just tune them out, and do what's in your heart.

Heather

jdomep · Nov 9, 2002

I was wondering the same thing... I agree that the ones who are discouraging are nurses - They say things like "why would you want to do that? " I say "I have one degree I don't use because 15 years ago someone talked me out of nursing - and this is something I have always wanted to do and if you don't like it anymore maybe you shouldn't be doing it" Because those people probably could care less about their patients too ...

I take those quip comments and they make me more determined to be the nurse I WANT to be - I totally understand where you are coming from.....but lets not let it keep us away from what we know we'll be great at

There is also a lot of negitivity in classes too (and I wish those people would drop out now before they become those "sour puss nurses" )

PS - I also used to get stupid comments everytime we got pg again - people would say "why would you want another one? Too me that is just as stupid...

memphispanda, RN · Nov 9, 2002

I have something in common with you! I am 31, mom of 3, and married also! I haven't really had many people discourage me from going to nursing school, but I have had people tell me they think I am crazy to do it with all I have going on with plain old life. Even here though, if you read enough threads, there is tons of information that would discourage someone from becoming a nurse. I figure we all have our gripes...there are probably people in nursing right now who truly dislike being a nurse and people who are burnt out. There are problems with every job, and if you ask around you could probably find people willing to discourage you from just about every profession there is. As long as you are informed about what you are getting into, you can make the decision yourself and forget about what others say.

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2002

Originally posted by WV Hillbilly RN
I don't know if you have this problem or not, but a lot of times in our clinical settings.... the staff are just horrible to us. They hide thermometers so we can't do our vitals, and after we make our beds, they go behind us and untuck our sheets to get us in trouble.

Did any of the other nurses pick up on this???

I've heard all kinds of horror stories, but this is the first time I've heard anything along these lines. *sigh* I doubt very much if anybody is hiding things from you to make you look bad. Things just up and disappar in a clinical setting. Get used to it. :kiss

Believe me, nobody working in a clinical setting now-a-days has TIME to hide thermometers to mess up the students on clinicals, even if they're evil enough to want to.

When I was a student, I can remember a couple of times when I was a tech, and a few nurses would come galloping up to tell me to do something else entirely. Kind of like somebody on a ship yelling "SAVE yourself!" :chuckle

Try giving the nurses telling you this the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they feel they're giving you valid advice. They should KNOW that you won't take their advice AND that you resent it. I'll betcha a quarter that nurses said and did the same thing when they were students. And they resented it.

Nurses are all stubborn, hard-headed and we overcome a lot every day of our lives. Okay, weazeling out - MOST nurses are. We'll be standing up, taking care of people in hospital who sometimes are less sick than we are. We're just more motivated.....

And Heather - I think you're right about the cool uniforms. But I think specifically it's the WHITE SUPPORT HOSE!!!

Love

Dennie

sbic56, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2002

StacyS

You won't understand what they are talking about until you walk as many miles in their shoes as they have in order to feel the way they do today. Go for it. I think most jobs suck eventually, anyway. Personally, I still like shopping for the ultimate comfortable shoe...and finding it!

shannonRN, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2002

been there done that...my own godmother didn't want me to become a nurse....yes i understand that nursing is a very demanding profession but for once let's support one another. applaud that future student for chosing their job because they truly have a desire to care for people and not just make millions! yes we are underpaid, mistreated, overworked....but maybe if we encourage instead of discourage people from entering this profession the shortage might improve!

Originally posted by StacyS
Can't I just ask for someone other than a family member or fellow nursing students to cheer me on and not give me every reason under the sun, NOT to be a nurse!?

congrats for finding your calling and pursuing it despite the discouraging remarks!

Mkue · Nov 9, 2002

I just basically say that I'm going to be a nurse because there is so much to do in nursing and I usually don't have any negative responses from that.

Years ago I think being a nurse to most people meant "hospital nursing" now there is so much to do and become, it's truly amazing the many ways we can contribute to society.

:)