Ignores my being an RN

Published

:uhoh3: I attend a very small church. Included in the congregation are two CNAs and myself. I have been an RN for 20+years. Our pastor and his wife are retired missionaries and our pastor's wife teaches the adult Sunday School class and is also the president of the women's missionary society. It is often that she comes upon a medical question or concern and will ask one of the two CNAs about it. She will even ask another woman who has no medical or nursing background whatsoever. But, she will never ask me. Occassionally, outside of church, she will ask me something "because you are a nurse" but seems to pointedly ignore me in church. She will make a big show of asking the CNAs who usually say they don't know but even then will not ask my opinion. Yesterday, she invited several of us for dinner after the morning service. While at dinner, she was asking another woman about her compression hose and mentioned that her hose slide down and bunch up just below her knee. She then stated "that isn't good" and asked another woman who has no background in the health field to look at the woman's hose and asked her what should be done; I was never asked. I have to admit I feel a little hurt. Am I making a big thing of this or should I just overlook it?
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Hmmm...I would feel snubbed too. Solely based on what you described, I think she is being passive aggressive. I would usually say, "Talk it out with her and let her know what you are feeling," but I am not sure that she would be receptive to that. It is difficult to say for sure without knowing more background. This is a toughie.

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Ignore it and be grateful she isn't asking you - my mother-in-law would rather get her info off QVC than ask me about her diabetes.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Ignore it and be grateful she isn't asking you - my mother-in-law would rather get her info off QVC than ask me about her diabetes.

My sister is 28 wks, and constantly asks me pregnancy/childbirth/complications questions. Hello, I work at a SNF. 80 y/o women don't turn up pregnant too often. Call your flippin' OB.

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Specializes in acute care med/surg, LTC, orthopedics.
My sister is 28 wks, and constantly asks me pregnancy/childbirth/complications questions. Hello, I work at a SNF. 80 y/o women don't turn up pregnant too often. Call your flippin' OB.

Irregardless of where you're currently working, surely you have SOME knowledge to share based on your nursing education at the very least?

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:up:

I guess I'm a bit outspoken, because as soon as one of the CNA's say "I don't know", I would immediately but in and give the correct response to the question. Even if they give an answer, I would still interject.

I have some concerns myself in church. There are several nurses, including one CRNA at my church. I'm a career changer and will be getting my BSN. It has already been stated that if there are emergencies during service, the CRNA is in charge with the assistance of one other RN. My concern is some of the RNs work some Sundays, and if there's an emergency will I get acknowledged as a nurse to assist? My church is small too, and we do put on Health Fairs as part of our community involvement so everyone knows who's in the medical field.

You may be acknowledged as a nurse to watch."You will be" is a process of being, it does not a nurse already make you.

But I'm sure your fellow parishioners will be nice and acknowledge you.:up:

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This just made me laugh. Sounds like quite the power play there at the church. The CRNA can go for it. I work enough, on my day off, I'll be in charge of calling 911.

Wow, what power play?You have a CRNA and you have an RN, and the call was made according to advanced degree. What power play is in this?I fail to see it.

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Is it all possible that she's trying to respect you, rather than snub you?

I think it's commonly known that doctors (and to a lesser extent nurses) get hit up for free advice in social situations... maybe she figures that you get asked for advice all the time, and she doesn't want to be another person bothering you (or encourage other church members to bother you).

And conversely, maybe she thinks that the CNAs don't normally get a lot of credit for their knowledge, and is asking them publicly as a gesture of respect for their expertise.

Just a theory. I think you should bring it up with her if it really concerns you. But leaving it alone is probably also an excellent option.

Eureka, another perspective:yeah:

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.

I would ignore, and be happy she isn't bothering you. I have only been a nurse for about a year, but its already started...all the questions. My family, people at my church, my neighbors, even my sons friends parents will come ring my bell or call with questions. When I am home I want to not deal with it. Plus a good deal of the time the people in question are asking me things that I cannot answer. Things that require blood tests, throat swabs, and medical testing to answer. I end up telling them they need to go visit their Dr, and I think they feel I am putting them off, but its what they need to do.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Wow, what power play?You have a CRNA and you have an RN, and the call was made according to advanced degree. What power play is in this?I fail to see it.

Independent of titles, I'm a preacher's kid. I've been in church a loooooonnnnngggg time. I recognize the politics.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Irregardless of where you're currently working, surely you have SOME knowledge to share based on your nursing education at the very least?

Not enough to stake my sister or niece's well being on.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Irregardless of where you're currently working, surely you have SOME knowledge to share based on your nursing education at the very least?

Not enough to stake my sister's or niece's well being on.

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