How to deal with hate as a Nurse since we are getting special treatment during this time?

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Specializes in ACE.

By the way Happy Nurses week!.

So basically I am a Nurse at my community Hospital and we have cases we used to be on outbreak but now its under control and stuff.

Patients, random people I meet at the grocery store they complain to me as they don't have jobs anymore telling me I am "lucky" to have a job. But how is it my fault that I am not unemployed? This one lady at Wal-Mart was like "my day care is closed due to Covid 19 but the Government is giving Hospitals money but not my daycare". Then I met a mutual friend who is a janitor at a mall saying that he is unemployed and struggling to pay bills but healthcare workers are lucky to pay their bills.

Then its like essential employees like grocery store workers, meat plants, and gas station workers saying why healthcare workers get pandemic pay and they don't. Always telling us how lucky we are, and I am like I am dealing directly with Covid patients what can I do? I Never asked the Government for more money.

I have been living in Canada since I was 4 years old in 2001 I am 22, moved from the Philippines but basically grew up here felt like I was born here, since 2013 I was working and not one day in this country since then have I ever been unemployed or caused a burden on the Government by taking their employment insurance program. So whats with the hate against Nurses/Healthcare workers? Are they just mad that they have no jobs?

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

Well, it doesnt sound like hate to me. There are many people who are financially hurting and as they say, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Sounds like they are simply stating the facts as they see it. I would just correct any misconceptions (if it really bothers you) and move on with your day. I wouldnt take it personally. How do random people even know what you do for a living? I tend not to worry too much about what other people think, especially those who know zero or very little about me/my life. Just bc someone is pointing out the good part of your job doesnt mean it is hateful. They are only looking at the good part bc they are hurting. Let it go and you will be a happier person for it.

Happy Nurses week to you too!

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Specializes in ACE.
Just now, Daisy4RN said:

Well, it doesnt sound like hate to me. There are many people who are financially hurting and as they say, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Sounds like they are simply stating the facts as they see it. I would just correct any misconceptions (if it really bothers you) and move on with your day. I wouldnt take it personally. How do random people even know what you do for a living? I tend not to worry too much about what other people think, especially those who know zero or very little about me/my life. Just bc someone is pointing out the good part of your job doesnt mean it is hateful. They are only looking at the good part bc they are hurting. Let it go and you will be a happier person for it.

Happy Nurses week to you too!

You are right! I think maybe I should mind my own business and all. But it does bother me. I have been a Nurse for almost a year but been in school with it since 2016, so that's 4 years of Nursing, and while it may seem little to them, being a Nurse and helping others has been my life's work, so that's probably why it bothers me. I hold the name "Registered Nurse" and everything inexorably tide to it very seriously.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
2 minutes ago, DribbleKing97 said:

You are right! I think maybe I should mind my own business and all. But it does bother me. I have been a Nurse for almost a year but been in school with it since 2016, so that's 4 years of Nursing, and while it may seem little to them, being a Nurse and helping others has been my life's work, so that's probably why it bothers me. I hold the name "Registered Nurse" and everything inexorably tide to it very seriously.

Most nurses work hard to become a nurse, work hard as a nurse, and take it very seriously. I guess I just dont see (from what u posted) that any of those people are saying anything detrimental about nurses, just the opposite IMO. They say you are lucky to be working, isn't that true? The hospital isn't giving you money as an individual, that is the misconception that I would clear up (if you really want to). Either way, I wouldnt let it get to you, life's too short to worry about what people think.

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

1. I think people are very overwhelmed financially right now. I read somewhere where the unemployment is as high as the Great Depression. I am grateful to have a job.....

2. On the other hand, I think sometimes people only see us as having a job.... don’t necessarily see all the risks that come with it.

3. I would love to know where people are making pandemic pay. I work with covid patients and deal with work exposures but do not have any higher pay.

4. Honestly I have seen the opposite reactions for the most part. I feel like most of my community have been very gracious, kind, and thankful towards healthcare workers.

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Specializes in ACE.
17 minutes ago, speedynurse said:

1. I think people are very overwhelmed financially right now. I read somewhere where the unemployment is as high as the Great Depression. I am grateful to have a job.....

2. On the other hand, I think sometimes people only see us as having a job.... don’t necessarily see all the risks that come with it.

3. I would love to know where people are making pandemic pay. I work with covid patients and deal with work exposures but do not have any higher pay.

4. Honestly I have seen the opposite reactions for the most part. I feel like most of my community have been very gracious, kind, and thankful towards healthcare workers.

That is good. People around me just seem to think I am "lucky" to have a job. It's not my fault they are unemployed.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
15 minutes ago, speedynurse said:

1. I think people are very overwhelmed financially right now. I read somewhere where the unemployment is as high as the Great Depression. I am grateful to have a job.....

2. On the other hand, I think sometimes people only see us as having a job.... don’t necessarily see all the risks that come with it.

3. I would love to know where people are making pandemic pay. I work with covid patients and deal with work exposures but do not have any higher pay.

4. Honestly I have seen the opposite reactions for the most part. I feel like most of my community have been very gracious, kind, and thankful towards healthcare workers.

I feel the same. Most of the people who know what I do and extremely gracious and thankful that we nurses are on the job and helping with all people effected. that being said random people I meet on the street don't know what I do. I have never been much of a badge waver. I was somewhat embarrassed to be expedited to the front of the line at Costco because I had my badge on after work. I don't get hazard pay either - I work with psych patients many of them homeless and sick when they come in. In fact even when I work with seriously dangerous patients I don't get hazard pay.

Hppy

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Specializes in ACE.
1 minute ago, hppygr8ful said:

I feel the same. Most of the people who know what I do and extremely gracious and thankful that we nurses are on the job and helping with all people effected. that being said random people I meet on the street don't know what I do. I have never been much of a badge waver. I was somewhat embarrassed to be expedited to the front of the line at Costco because I had my badge on after work. I don't get hazard pay either - I work with psych patients many of them homeless and sick when they come in. In fact even when I work with seriously dangerous patients I don't get hazard pay.

Hppy

Thank you for the work you do!

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2 hours ago, DribbleKing97 said:

That is good. People around me just seem to think I am "lucky" to have a job. It's not my fault they are unemployed.

Interesting, because I hear more of the opposite in my area. People working full time are often making less than people who've been furloughed or laid off. Qualifying for unemployment qualifies you for an additional $600 payment weekly. Some people are actually better off financially ...at least until the extra $600 payments stop at the end of July.

If I understand everything correctly, I'll be making about $350 weekly more than I did when I actually had to get out of bed and go someplace. That's about a $29 per hour raise. I'll know for sure after my first payment, I guess. It seems too good to be true, but people are sure angry about something, so maybe it is true.

Of course, I expect to have a job to go back to eventually. I'd probably be more stressed if I were less certain about that.

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If I ran into you as a patient let’s say. I would say the same. I am lucky to have a job. I say that to myself daily.

I tell my husband I am grateful to have a job. I don’t think emotionally I would take it well not having a job. I know a lot of health care workers in my hospital are not working. I think daily how grateful I am to have a job. I do think of the unemployed.

How are these people blaming you for their unemployment?

I re-read the post twice thinking maybe I missed something. Sounds like people not working talking about what’s going on in their life now.

Happy Nurses Week?

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
7 hours ago, DribbleKing97 said:

That is good. People around me just seem to think I am "lucky" to have a job. It's not my fault they are unemployed.

Can you blame them?

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Specializes in ACE.
3 hours ago, Here.I.Stand said:

Can you blame them?

Yes. If they want to be employed they should find a job that is essential. I took up Nursing, and one of the reasons was job security, and I know not one day in this country till I retire will I ever be unemployed.

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