I couldn't do your job !

Published

Specializes in LTC.

i'm a student and i work in healthcare... while at work today i was taking care of someones sick child who was vomited at my workplace, ok its my job to take care of children who are sick at school. so the parent comes in and looks at the vomit in the trash and says " i couldn't do your job". thats the first i've ever heard someone make a comment like that to me. granted i haven't been in health care long, but still.

so my question is : do people find that being a nurse is " gross" or a " dirty job". i'll be a nurse in about 5 months ( hopefully), so i was just curious. what she said really didn't upset me i just want to know if these i the comments i'll continue to hear especially when people find out i'm a nurse. thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surge, Private Duty Peds.

just one of the many phrases you will hear as a nurse?

i usually reply " what is your job? oh, i couldn't do that!:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have worked hospice in the past, and a lot of people have told me they couldn't do that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I recently talked to someone I graduated highschool with, we hadn't talked in over 16 years. She is an elementary school teacher, and I am a nurse. I told her there was nooo way I could be an elementary school teacher,, and she told me there's nooo way she could be a nurse! SO, I guess we were meant to be nurses, just like she was meant to be a teacher..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used to have people say that to me all the time when I worked pediatric oncology/bmt. It used to make me chuckle to myself because what it seemed like they were saying was they were too sensitive and compassionate to work with dying children, while I obviously was not. I am sure that is not how they meant it, but it did seem inadvertantly insulting.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.

Job Security!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think a lot of the public perceive nursing as a dirty job.

Actually when I look at that show Dirty Jobs I quite often think my job is dirtier than some of them they show.

By the way Laney, I think I have made a similar comment to someone I knew who worked in peds but I really didn't mean it that way. I meant I admired them for it, not that I was too sensitive to do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Absolutely the public perceive nursing as a "dirty job"...I mean how many times have you heard "Oh, I don't wanna be a nurse, I don't want to wipe bums all day". People have no IDEA what nursing is all about. That's why it's up to us new grads to get out there and change the perceptions of the public.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I decided to go into psych nursing and since then have gotten almost 100% sideways glances and "why would you want to do that" remarks. To be honest it really bothered me at first but after I thought about it I realized their are quite a few jobs out there that I could never in a million years see myself being happy doing (even certain nursing specialties... not naming which ones :imbar)BUT Im so glad someone else loves it because they are important jobs.

Part of the problem (in my opinion) is people feel like they can tell their nurse pretty much anything with little or no judgement because we are nice caring nonjudgemental people (little do they know.....:rotfl:) and forget that sometimes those kind of comments really arnt appropriate. Love what you do because it makes you happy and pitty those who cant see the beauty and joy that nursing can bring. Congrats on almost finishing!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My sister in law has made the comment several times "Oh, I couldn't be a nurse, I don't want to wipe peoples butts all day long!" She once made that comment at my nephew's birthday party in front of a bunch of her friends. I asked her, with as serious a face as I could muster, if she actually made her nurses wipe her butt the several times she's been a patient. She didn't look too happy with my response, but oddly enough, she's never made that comment again! :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.
My sister in law has made the comment several times "Oh, I couldn't be a nurse, I don't want to wipe peoples butts all day long!" She once made that comment at my nephew's birthday party in front of a bunch of her friends. I asked her, with as serious a face as I could muster, if she actually made her nurses wipe her butt the several times she's been a patient. She didn't look too happy with my response, but oddly enough, she's never made that comment again! :rolleyes:

THAT IS CLASSIC, I AM SOO GOING TO STEAL THAT!!! :yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
I decided to go into psych nursing and since then have gotten almost 100% sideways glances and "why would you want to do that" remarks. To be honest it really bothered me at first but after I thought about it I realized their are quite a few jobs out there that I could never in a million years see myself being happy doing (even certain nursing specialties... not naming which ones :imbar)BUT Im so glad someone else loves it because they are important jobs.

Part of the problem (in my opinion) is people feel like they can tell their nurse pretty much anything with little or no judgement because we are nice caring nonjudgemental people (little do they know.....:rotfl:) and forget that sometimes those kind of comments really arnt appropriate. Love what you do because it makes you happy and pitty those who cant see the beauty and joy that nursing can bring. Congrats on almost finishing!!!

Well said ! Thanks... I really like my job( most of the time), and I really love nursing so I'm in it for the long run.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion