Gunners in Nursing

[Guest343211]

Share your experiences re: non-supportive, or even, God-forbid, cut-throat (in your face or behind the scenes) nurses that function with the ole gunner MO.

Now I will NOT deny that I've worked with a good amount of supportive, caring, unified nurses--BUT I have also worked with a fair number of the opposites--especially the gunner types; although I am sure a fair number of them will deny to themselves that they are gunners or think and act like gunners.

I think we need to bring this into the light of day and be open about it. I mean not a @#$%^& fest; but relating an all too often destructive reality within nursing.

Any thoughts?

[silentRN]

Space shuttle door gunner? I.e. the dude who can--and has--done anything even though he looks seems more fit to distribute beef jerky? Do you mean the people who say things like "I could drop an NG tube from low Earth orbit without spilling the beer in my left hand, but you can't even . . ."

I'm waiting here in an urgent care waiting to see the doc and I read this and made me laugh out loud in a crowded waiting room. Everyone probably think I'm nuts now.

[firstyearstudent]

Nursing, in general, is not a profession that attracts people who are concerned with "status" per say. I don't usually run across these types at the bedside. If you don't possess a certain amount of humility, you wouldn't survive bedside nursing.

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

Gunner will go out of their way to find stuff that you missed and point it out.

I worked with a nurse very much like that on a prison mental health unit. She couldn't wait for the DON to come in every morning so she could tell him all the things she found that others had done wrong. It got to the point that he started minimizing his visits just so she wouldn't have anything to talk about. I worked with her for about four months (we were paired with the same schedules) and we came to an understanding very early that I wasn't going to be a part of her games.

[massbaby]

What is a gunner??? Hope it is not another term referring to an "OLDER" nurse :)

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

I haven't ever heard the term either....other than a Marine Gunnery Sgt. and they have my fullest respect. I would no more go to the medical forums than I would eat ice cream on my pork chop and chipolte.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

The OP needs to clarify the term, as it is not common to Nursing.

"Gunners" is a term used almost exclusive in regards to medicine and med students/interns/residents.

It describes the intern that has virtually everything memorized, perfectly recites all indications for drugs, all differentials for a diagnostic issue, and recites the "perfect" care plan for each patient on rounds, thus setting the bar excessively high for an attendings expectations. It then makes the "less perfect" other MDs that cannot do this on rounds look poorly in the eyes of the attending/chief resident/other staff.

If they know that a certain attending (and gunners actually research this issues) has a specific interest, they go out of their way to research that issue, or take the more difficult pt that has that illness, and go well out of their way to impress the "important" people. It isn't because they actually have an interest in the pt or the illness, but that they are seeking "power/prestige" - they have issues with this. And they often step on other med students/interns/residents' toes while doing so.

The issue is that the gunner tends to try and impress the attendings with the "best connections" or with "the most power/prestigous". And often may denegrate others in doing so.

If you read many books about med school/internship, the term "gunner" comes up frequently.

This is not that common in nursing, at least as far as indiscriminant currying of favor for gain in school. Though there are few out there. But the nature on nursing...it is not a prestige laden profession, and not quite tiered like MDs where who you impressed has much bearing on where you get a fellowship/chief residency. As we do not have those things to deal with.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Is a gunner someone that likes to "shoot people down?"

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

"Gunners" in internship also tend to be a teaching hospital phenomenon, and thus, nurses probably have less exposure to the term and the need to impress. Nurses in the teaching hospital environment/on grand rounds/teaching rounds are probably not the majority on this BB.

[zenman]

I would no more go to the medical forums than I would eat ice cream on my pork chop and chipolte.

That is so funny! I like to go over there (when I'm bored) and practice my sarcastic wit. However, it quickly becomes tiring as it is so incomprehensible how intelligent people (?) can come up with the strangest things from your posts. It's like telling a joke to someone from another culture...the wheels spinning but the hamster is not there!

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

I have no idea what you are talking about

I'm with you. huh!?