Long story short, my sister has decided that she wants to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She has a master's in psych, and believes this will be an easy thing to achieve, but she just simply doesn't want to clean poop.
I do assist with peri care, sometimes with a tech, and sometimes because the tech is with another patient. It's not the biggest part of my job and it is not the worst part of my job. It gives me a chance to assess skin issues, to change any bandages that may be on the coccyx, and to let the patient know that I'm there no matter what reason they need me.
I tried to explain this to her, and she just doesn't 'get it'. I get this idea that becoming an NP is practically the same as a MD to her, and that worries me. She'll learn, I suppose. I just hope that she will understand that assisting a patient at a time when they can't even go to the bathroom by themselves is not a bad thing. It's not horrible to help someone. It's what we do.
I'm just bothered by it. Thoughts...comments? Ways to make her understand? all appreciated.
Uhhhh, yes, Certified Nurse Midwives ARE nurse practitioners, just in a specificfield of focus!
Uhhhh, no, certified nurse midwives are certified nurse midwives, not nurse practitioners. Very different role, very different scope of practice. The point you may be trying to make is that both are advanced practice nurses. There are four advanced practice roles, CNM, CNS, NP, and CRNA, all with different, specific roles and scopes of practice. All are advanced practice nurses; they are not all nurse practitioners.
Uhhhh, no, certified nurse midwives are certified nurse midwives, not nurse practitioners. Very different role, very different scope of practice. The point you may be trying to make is that both are advanced practice nurses. There are four advanced practice roles, CNM, CNS, NP, and CRNA, all with different, specific roles and scopes of practice. All are advanced practice nurses; they are not all nurse practitioners.
Very true, sarose611!! As an OR nurse I work with CRNA's all the time and they specifically do NOT have the legal authority to furnish, only to administer drugs during surgery, as well as immediately before and after.
NP's on the other hand have the right to obtain DEA licensure and to prescribe. I'm not sure about the prescriptive authority for CNM's and CNS's, perhaps someone here can fill us in. CNM's, CRNA's, CNS's and NP's are all indeed APN's but the roles are quite different and distinct, and not interchangeable. Each has its own set of legal privledges and restrictions.
Sis has obviously not been successful in a career, even with a MS in psych. So she wants to breeze thru nursing school, then NP school, without having to actually do the required course work or job duties? Am I getting this right?
I am back from laughing so hard I choked.
Such and entitled person should not go into nursing. She obviously has no desire to actually care for people.
Please tell her to find another career, as nurses are caring people.
I wish her success in another field.
Oh please. Not wanting to clean up poop does not make her entitled, nor does it mean she "has no desire to actually care for people."
I got really tired of cleaning up poop in the ICU. I never have to do it now, and that doesn't upset me at all. It hasn't taken away my ability to feel and display compassion, and I'm still taking pretty good care of people, thank you very much.
I'd venture to say that most nurses dislike doing it. Of course, it's unavoidable in many specialties, so they carry on and get it done, and take special care to preserve the patient's dignity. But for someone who really really just doesn't want to be involved with that part of nursing, there are still plenty of roles that they can fill.
How many times on other threads have we talked about students quitting nursing school because of the first semester poop requirements?
Frankly, if you don't have a grasp of the humanity involved in managing poop, then maybe you shouldn't be writing prescriptions that can alter a person's life irreversibly.
And I know a lot of docs who will laugh harshly at an NP who wants to work days only. Won't happen. Sometimes all we can do is accept that the train from Chicago and the train from New York are on the same track and there's no stopping either of them.
rachel100639
66 Posts
No it doesn't. It is custodial work. It is unskilled work. If you think it is skilled...hmmm.