Has being a nurse made you tougher in other aspects of life?

MelodyRNurse · Mar 26, 2009

I think I am tougher internally, meaning I can endure more then I previously could. I hate confrontation unless it is absolutely necessary.

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 26, 2009

I just wonder if it's my age or if being a nurse has turned me into a person who can't take crap like I used to. I guess I've always kind of been a little "edgy" but I never used to show it, I'd wait until I was alone to get riled up and fighting mad.
Now, I let it out wherever.
I was at the grocery store yesterday, and I have been without one of those "discount" cards for awhile, so I asked for another one. It was this snotty old woman behind the counter, and she was being downright rude and argumentive. To make a long story short, I ended up telling her off in a loud booming voice and telling her where she could put that discount card. I noticed her demeanor changed when she saw me get angry but I still called the manager when I got home.
And I'm writing a letter today, too.
I went from a quiet, bumbling, good-natured person to Annie Wilkes in the blink of an eye...and I don't regret it.

one of the very few things good about getting older.......

rngolfer53 · Mar 26, 2009

LOL, I'm getting used to being ostracized at family gatherings. There are two other nurses, and when the three of us start talking shop, pretty soon everyone else has turned green and moved away into another room.

At Easter, I'm sure they're going to make us eat by ourselves in the garage, with maybe the dog for company. Dogs don't get grossed out easily, either. :chuckle

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I am a soft-spoken lady, and I have become more assertive.

Nursing is only part of the reason.

Becoming a parent of kids who would dominate all situations if given the chance is the other part, and just being less afraid of what people think of me is the last part. The last part comes with age and confidence.

Delirious · Mar 26, 2009

I hear what you're saying Jo Dirt. I wonder if it's because we get walked all over by our patient's at work knowing that we are not allowed to say anything back to them. So....when we are out of that environment and someone steps on us...all of those pent up frustrations just start spewing out. I've had a patient for the past 4 nights who hasn't slept in spite of his receiving Xanax and Benadryl at bedtime. He has been on his callbell every 10-15 minutes each and every night and has worn me and the other staff out---not to mention that he is on the far end of the hallway. And I can't just tell him to stop ringing the blasted callbell. I've tried everything suggested...promising him I'd be back to check on him in an hour, telling him I needed to go chart, whatever. He called me in 4 times tonight to fluff his pillows for crying out loud. So yes, when someone outside of the hospital environment steps on me I SNAP! :banghead:

Boog'sCRRN246, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I don't know if being a nurse has made me more assertive or if it's the fact that I'm sick of being treated like crap everywhere I go. I've gotten more free meals and discounts than I can count based on the fact that someone was rude and I had to speak up. I mean, really, if you can't treat people nicely, don't take a job involving customer service!

fuzzywuzzy, CNA · Mar 26, 2009

I would never tell off a cashier. They get paid minimum wage to deal with all kinds of horrible, unreasonable people all day. If one of them is being rude to me I finish the transaction and move on with my day. Customers who carry on and make a scene disgust me.

This is just my opinion. If she was rude and argumentative, you had a right to get angry and assert yourself. I know that cashiers are supposed to be nicey-nice all the time- it's part of their job. But I've stood in line behind too many people who immediately start acting like 2-year-olds when they don't get what they want. I've also been on the receiving end of that. A lot of people seem to think that because you have a menial job that you're worthless as a person- especially men (in my experience). I'm shy and soft-spoken. I was a clerk until I was 21 and one of the worst parts of the job was dealing with men for whom politeness was not enough. I was supposed to be perky and flirt with them. I don't flirt with anyone! I don't even know how. But they would get in my face. They think that they're entitled to whatever they want. You're not only supposed to ring up their stuff and give them their change- you have to make them feel like they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's dumb. Well I went off on a tangent but IMO flipping out on a cashier is not something to be proud of.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

LOL, I'm getting used to being ostracized at family gatherings. There are two other nurses, and when the three of us start talking shop, pretty soon everyone else has turned green and moved away into another room.
At Easter, I'm sure they're going to make us eat by ourselves in the garage, with maybe the dog for company. Dogs don't get grossed out easily, either. :chuckle

:chuckle:smokin::chuckle:smokin: Too bloody Funny! But, sadly a reality! When two or more nurses are gathered beware.... ;=)

morte, LPN, LVN · Mar 26, 2009

I would never tell off a cashier. They get paid minimum wage to deal with all kinds of horrible, unreasonable people all day. If one of them is being rude to me I finish the transaction and move on with my day. Customers who carry on and make a scene disgust me.
This is just my opinion. If she was rude and argumentative, you had a right to get angry and assert yourself. I know that cashiers are supposed to be nicey-nice all the time- it's part of their job. But I've stood in line behind too many people who immediately start acting like 2-year-olds when they don't get what they want. I've also been on the receiving end of that. A lot of people seem to think that because you have a menial job that you're worthless as a person- especially men (in my experience). I'm shy and soft-spoken. I was a clerk until I was 21 and one of the worst parts of the job was dealing with men for whom politeness was not enough. I was supposed to be perky and flirt with them. I don't flirt with anyone! I don't even know how. But they would get in my face. They think that they're entitled to whatever they want. You're not only supposed to ring up their stuff and give them their change- you have to make them feel like they're the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's dumb. Well I went off on a tangent but IMO flipping out on a cashier is not something to be proud of.

i dont think this was a cashier (in the OP), but the person behind the CUSTOMER SERVICE counter......

lpnflorida · Mar 26, 2009

My father was in the grocery business all of my life until he died. If ever I even thought to be rude to someone in the grocery store it would haunt me. Have I ever complained to a manager over a rude person who waited on me or worked in the store? Yes, of course to me that is a better of way of dealing with it, as opposed to blowing up in public looking like a donkey's behind to everyone around.

Mother in law was a waitress, again I will not chatise them. Will I send something back which is not suitable to eat. Yes, but I don't yell about it, or make a scene.

I almost forgot to answer your question. Have being a nurse made me tougher? Working psych for 20 year prior made me more discerning I feel. It helped me to realize the importance of picking and choosing my battles. It gave me the freedom to be me, sometimes being me means keeping my mouth shut and sometimes to open it up.

Valerie Salva, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I would never tell off a cashier. They get paid minimum wage to deal with all kinds of horrible, unreasonable people all day. If one of them is being rude to me I finish the transaction and move on with my day. Customers who carry on and make a scene disgust me.

Some cashiers are union, and make more than RNs do- I happen to know one.

There's no excuse for them to be rude.

To the OP;

Yes, nursing has made me more assertive and generally tougher.