I hate it when people say this...

Rapheal · Jan 4, 2004

Last week I had a new admit tell me that his sister is a nurse and has the typical nurse "%itch attitude". I had just met him and was kind of floored by that remark.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

Just once, I'd like to hear someone say "I could never be a nurse. I'm just too stupid."

Now THAT would be refreshing. :lol2:

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Jan 4, 2004

All the time. The lines I really hate are, "Oh, I could NEVER do what you do---all that blood and guts, ewww....." and "Did you become a nurse so you could marry a doctor?"

I know it's just public ignorance about what we really do, but it amazes me that anyone could possibly believe kids wake up one morning and say to themselves, "Hey, I want to be a nurse when I grow up so I can play with blood and guts all day!!" Doesn't it occur to folks that the blood, guts, puke, pee, poop, and other bodily secretions are only a small part of what we deal with in the course of an average shift? And as for marrying a doctor: I wouldn't want to be with someone who works longer hours than I do, who often isn't there mentally even when his body is occupying the sofa, and whose student loan burden, when added to my own, is so great that we'd NEVER get out of debt.

I mean, would you say to your auto mechanic, "Ugh, I don't know how you can stand to be around all that motor oil"? Or gush to your accountant about how glamorous it must be to handle pencils and push paper around all day? Gimme a BREAK! :rolleyes:

sharann, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

My dad has had a great respect for nurses especially since he was hospitalized a few years ago for surgery. He calls it "The noble profession"....Corny yes, nice for sure.

Big Bab's · Jan 4, 2004

The one that I hate the most is when a parent brings their child to the office and says "If you're not good that nurse will give a big shot!!!".....Nothing like scaring the kid to death for NO reason!!....Parents like this make me just wanna slap 'em up side the head!!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2004

"I could never be a nurse, all you do is empty bedpands." Had a good friend say that a while back. I just smiled, inwardly rolling my eyes. No clue.

ainz · Jan 4, 2004

I hated it when people said "so, you're a male nurse huh?" Or "nursing must be a stepping stone for you while you go to medical school." And the greatest cliche-like communication to us "male" nurses are the covert suggestive remarks that we must be gay.

hmccartn · Jan 4, 2004

Here's one I've heard a lot while in school, "You're so smart/doing so well, why dont you go to med school" AAAAAAARGHHHH...

nervousnurse, ASN · Jan 4, 2004

Hi, I'm a newbie....... Nice to "meet" all of you!

I have to respond to this! I had a friend recently say to me "I don't know WHY people go into nursing when they know how STRESSFUL it is-"........(her tone implied that ALL nurses are just dumb to go into this profession!)

(My response) "Um......I thought I told you several times that even though it's hard, I LOVED working in a busy hospital, helping my patients, and that nursing was like a calling to me and ALL I ever wanted to do?" :devil:

I have since learned that sometimes, only fellow nurses understand, and there is no use trying to explain it to anyone else..... :cool:

tymomrn · Jan 4, 2004

I work MICU base, taking medic calls, so I deal with them all the time. It's amazing how they say about CHFers " All you have to do is put in the foley. We did all the REAL work!" They truley have no idea what nurses do.

Dave ARNP · Jan 4, 2004

I couldn't be a nurse. If I were going to work in this field I'd want to REALLY do something and become a doctor.

And my favorite.

I wouldn't be a NP. I'd be a real doctor.

What do I do? Play one on TV?

Dave