This is MY vent for the day. If you are a person who thinks that becoming a nurse is the quick-fix to your personal situation, please realize that being a nurse requires more than intelligence (it CERTAINLY DOES), and ability to get good grades.
You have to care.
And I mean A LOT.
I'm tired of reading threads about people with or without advanced degrees trying to "speed through" so that they can get to the "top" specialties without even THINKING about their impact on the lives of people.
I don't hear the "I want to be a good nurse."
All I hear is "HOW FAST CAN I BE A CRNA??????? or NP????"
I agree with the OP 100%. I've seen the good, technical nurses that are good at their job but don't care about the patient (who was my 4 month old son at the time) and even though they are "good" at their jobs, I would never want them again. I want the nurse that will take the time to CARE about my son...to make sure that he gets his pain meds ON TIME after surgery. The nurse who will let me ask questions that I need to know. The nurse that comes in and TALKS to my son like he is a real person and not just checks on the machine. I would rather have the nurse that INTRODUCES themselves to me (because that takes about 2 seconds). I had a great nurse once and she is my role model for when I start training for nursing in Jan. I think that it is about knowledge but it's just as much caring for the patient. Just my .02 cents from the mommy of a cleft lip/palate kiddo.
Not everyone is in nursing for "patient-care" and I know that sounds bad but it really isn't.. No one loves EVERY aspect of their career and they don't have to.. There's many reasons to enter the nursing profession.. and who's to say that someone who has a "bubbly" personality, or someone who loves patient care is better suited for the profession.. Some people choose nursing for the skills and education.. And others want minimal beside patient contact (OR nurses).. I don't see anything wrong with that
I agree with the OP 100%. I've seen the good, technical nurses that are good at their job but don't care about the patient (who was my 4 month old son at the time) and even though they are "good" at their jobs, I would never want them again. I want the nurse that will take the time to CARE about my son...to make sure that he gets his pain meds ON TIME after surgery. The nurse who will let me ask questions that I need to know. The nurse that comes in and TALKS to my son like he is a real person and not just checks on the machine. I would rather have the nurse that INTRODUCES themselves to me (because that takes about 2 seconds). I had a great nurse once and she is my role model for when I start training for nursing in Jan. I think that it is about knowledge but it's just as much caring for the patient. Just my .02 cents from the mommy of a cleft lip/palate kiddo.
Hmmm sometimes the nurses that come in and talk to their patients are not the ones who are going to get the meds given on time because they spend far too much time talking....
Stop the presses and let's get something straight.
1. I have over 17 years of experience in hardcore nursing that includes trauma and some very, very, very sick people.
And this is relevant to my post how?
2. NOT ONCE did I think I could just go forward (I am prepping for CRNA/NP) that patient care was never a priority. IT IS ALWAYS going to be and I note the difference between those who give a **** and those who just see numbers.
I don't think 17 years of experience gives you the right to judge others or the ability to read their minds.
3. NOT ONCE did I even mention the word HATE in my OP.
No, you expressed it. That's what I was addressing.
"but if I wanted to help people, I'd want more people to be interested in healthcare than less"...
What the heck does that mean????? THAT ANY "BODY" is better than No "BODY"--we need good people.
That means that if you were being sincere and not just bitter, you'd recognize that if you really cared, you'd be more inclined to help spark people's interest than turn people away. Let me know if I was not clear.
This nation already has an overabundance of nurses now who can't even find jobs. Trust me, when you talk to them, they are humbled. Perhaps you need that experience yourself.
No I will not trust you... Moreover, the market for nurses is far better than for most other careers.
If you don't look at this career as a PEOPLE thing you are IN TROUBLE--beyond books and theory.
OK. You seem like a real people person. I can see how necessary it really is. Are you this nice with your patients?
I had a nurse told me that she was outright bitter that some people could get their BSN in anywhere from 11-16 months when she had to work so hard to get her ADN. My question is are some nurses really BITTER because someone else achieved much more than they did in a much shorter than they did?
Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.
I've met several of these same types, who are gung-ho about heading straight to Director of Nursing. Want to hear a good one? One of these guys told me he didn't plan to do any patient care . . . was planning to go from new grad to nurse manager, then after working as nurse manager for a year or so, become Director of Nursing!!
I told him, sounds like a great plan! Go for it!
And these are exactly the types of RNs I DETEST to work with, and would rather have AWAY from patient care!
Can't tell you how many messes I have cleaned up or helped them out of because they lack compassion and competence!ugh!
blackheartednurse Can you please describe innapropriate types.....and plus who are you to decide who should become nurses? Do you have a patent on Nursing?
I had a nurse told me that she was outright bitter that some people could get their BSN in anywhere from 11-16 months when she had to work so hard to get her ADN. My question is are some nurses really BITTER because someone else achieved much more than they did in a much shorter than they did?
I don't think that it has anything to do with being jealous or bitter that someone achieved a bsn in that time frame but more to do with the fact that it takes TIME to learn how to be a good, competent nurse. I couldn't imagine learning all I needed to know in that short amount of time. When you try to cram in too much info in too short a time, your brain will not retain as much.
And I totally agree with the OP vent, nursing is a profession that you don't just jump into blindly for the money or just to get a degree quickly because "the job market is good". Anyone considering this career should be prepared to get $h** on and often. I read the thread that set Jo off (started by amoslieber) and not once did amoslieber say that he/she wanted to go into nursing to HELP people. Sorry, I know it sounds cheesy, but there has to be some sort of wanting-to-help-people attitude to survive this profession, unless you're just a paper pusher. And in my opinion, most administrators couldn't give a damn about nurses at the bedside, all they care about is money, which is why we have the problems we do. Nuff said.
amoslieber doesn't have to give you her reason for wanting to be a nurse......quite frankly it is not your concern. She asked a specific question and everyone assumed she wanted to be a nurse for monetary reasons and power just because she didn't mention she wanted to help people...please.I have a piece of advice for you just be the best nurse you can be and be a positive influence and the rest will find their way, if nursing is not for them then they will eventually figure it out.
I agree with the OP 100%. I've seen the good, technical nurses that are good at their job but don't care about the patient (who was my 4 month old son at the time) and even though they are "good" at their jobs, I would never want them again. I want the nurse that will take the time to CARE about my son...to make sure that he gets his pain meds ON TIME after surgery. The nurse who will let me ask questions that I need to know. The nurse that comes in and TALKS to my son like he is a real person and not just checks on the machine. I would rather have the nurse that INTRODUCES themselves to me (because that takes about 2 seconds). I had a great nurse once and she is my role model for when I start training for nursing in Jan. I think that it is about knowledge but it's just as much caring for the patient. Just my .02 cents from the mommy of a cleft lip/palate kiddo.
I beg to differ. Those nurses who were good at their jobs, but who did not get pain meds to your son on time were not 'good'.
CBsMommy
825 Posts
I agree with the OP 100%. I've seen the good, technical nurses that are good at their job but don't care about the patient (who was my 4 month old son at the time) and even though they are "good" at their jobs, I would never want them again. I want the nurse that will take the time to CARE about my son...to make sure that he gets his pain meds ON TIME after surgery. The nurse who will let me ask questions that I need to know. The nurse that comes in and TALKS to my son like he is a real person and not just checks on the machine. I would rather have the nurse that INTRODUCES themselves to me (because that takes about 2 seconds). I had a great nurse once and she is my role model for when I start training for nursing in Jan. I think that it is about knowledge but it's just as much caring for the patient. Just my .02 cents from the mommy of a cleft lip/palate kiddo.