As a patient family member (who is also a nurse), I recently encountered an interesting situation. The nurse corrected the assumption she was the doctor by saying "Oh I'm not the doctor, I don't want that much responsibility"! Attitudes such as this one perpetuate the subservient mentality of many nurses today. We MUST start acting like the educated, experienced, capable professionals we are!
Recently my husband's grandmother was a patient in the ICU. I am frequently used as the medical translator in the family, this time wasn't any different. I had the opportunity to make a couple of observations I would like to share with you.
Before I continue, let me tell you a little about myself. I have worked in many areas of the hospital. L&D (as and OB tech), Ortho/Neuron MedSurg, ER, Trauma ICU, CVICU (all as an RN). I recently started graduate school in hopes of gaining more autonomy and advancing my education. I LOVE being a nurse. I love the way it blends science and compassion. I am PROUD to be a nurse. Except for one thing.....
I have always had a problem with the societal perception of nurses. I love the show Grey's Anatomy (despite its medical inaccuracies), but can't help noticing that there are no nurses in major roles. I see nurses as a whole represented as coffee-fetching secretaries. My family even says to me "I know you're not the doctor, but what do you think about this....?".
This perception, of course, does not jive with the fact that many nurses have a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Science, multiple additional certifications, years of experience, and have saved multiple patients from incompetent physicians.
This week, while observing the nurse caring for my family member, I realized a MAJOR part of the problem with the way nurses are perceived. My confused family member mistakenly called the nurse DOCTOR. The nurse replied...
"Oh, I'm not the doctor I couldn't handle that much responsibility".
EXCUSE ME?! Throughout our visit, she repeatedly dodged conversations, referred the family to the doctor with any questions, and generally made me feel ashamed about our profession. I realized that I have encountered that same attitude so many times in my fellow nurses. But WHY?? I once heard a nurse tell a physician who offered to help her clean a patient...
"Oh I'm sure you have more important things to do! This isn't your job."
This is just as much the physician's patient as yours, and if the job needs to be done for the good of the patient, why would you assume this meek, butt wiping maid position to the ALMIGHTY DOCTOR??
Let me start out by saying that I know all nurses are not created equally, but I think this is a mindset bred into many nurses from the beginning of our education. Instead of thinking "I am an educated, experienced caregiver who is more than capable of answering your questions. I shoulder a TON of responsibility every day I come to work." We are taught this...
"The doctor is GOD. The doctor is KING. You are JUST THE NURSE."
This thought is reaffirmed every time we allow a colleague's ideas to be dismissed by a rude attending, or when we don't speak up in family conferences, or when we say things like "Oh I'm not the doctor, that's too much responsibility". This inaccurate perception of the "pecking order" is not only offensive, but unsafe. This mindset is what makes you second guess yourself before calling that mean physician to report a critical value, or bring up an important concern. NO MORE!!!
I'm calling all nurses to WAKE UP!
Empower yourselves through education and experiences. Realize that you are not the secretary, the butt wiper, or the maid. You are smart, you are important, you are educated! Quit it with the subservient attitude and be the powerful PROFESSIONALS you should be. We are separate professionals, MDs are not your boss, they are your colleagues. Quit demeaning our own profession with your engrained lowly mindsets.
OK, rant over... feel free to comment, tell me what you think!!!
I don't have time to read through all the posts, unfortunately, but the OP must always bear in mind that there is a legal line which must not be crossed. Certain questions are the doctor's duty to answer, but I don't entirely agree with the phrasing used by the nurse she describes.
When there are no doctors around, the nurse carries a massive burden of responsibility, every bit as heavy as that carried by the doctors! Sure, ultimately the doctor is responsible for ensuring that the patient is correctly diagnosed and appropriate treatment prescribed, but if the medication is ineffective, or if the patient reacts adversely, who is responsible for observing, reporting and acting on it? In many cases the nurse picks up things the doctor doesn't even notice, even assuming the doctor is on the premises at the time.
No, our responsibilities are not the same as the MD's, but they are just as important, and in some aspects more so.
If other nurses wouldn't cut each other down and make each other feel like we are not educated we would have the confidence we need. I've been the victim of "nurses eat their young" and my confidence was shot enough to get out of the profession. I'm still trying to recover enough to get back in the game. I still feel like "just a nurse"
@Twinoaks: I completely agree that there is a huge problem with bullying in nursing. I am sorry your experiences led you to leave the profession.
However, I want to draw your attention to a quote commonly featured on this website "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"-Elanor Roosevelt. Keep this in mind when in situations where you feel put-down or left-out.
This is a completely different topic, but I also just want to add that I think some of the attitudes of older and more experienced nurses are necessary... to an extent. I have honestly blossomed from some of that tough love that caused me to try harder, study more, and never feel inferior again. It can be quite motivating in moderation.
:mad:We, as nurses, are highly educated professionals who should demand respect. Now physicians are hiring medical assistants to work with them and even give meds which they are not trained to do. They can't deal with the consequences of allergic reactions or adverse reactions from meds. If we as nurses don't recognize and value the power we hold, how can we expect others to respect and value our work?
Hmm if you replace the bolded words with hospital/NPs/physicians it sounds like an argument from another thread. But I digress...
Why do you see this as disrespect when nurses expand their scope of practice as well. If it's good for the goose...
I don't have time to read through all the posts, unfortunately, but the OP must always bear in mind that there is a legal line which must not be crossed. Certain questions are the doctor's duty to answer, but I don't entirely agree with the phrasing used by the nurse she describes.
Couldn't agree more. We don't know what the question was, which would put this in context. But, even if this was a question that should rightfully be answered by a physician, it was very poorly worded. Something along the lines of "That question could be better answered by your physician" would sound more professional.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I don't have time to read through all the posts, unfortunately, but the OP must always bear in mind that there is a legal line which must not be crossed. Certain questions are the doctor's duty to answer, but I don't entirely agree with the phrasing used by the nurse she describes.
When there are no doctors around, the nurse carries a massive burden of responsibility, every bit as heavy as that carried by the doctors! Sure, ultimately the doctor is responsible for ensuring that the patient is correctly diagnosed and appropriate treatment prescribed, but if the medication is ineffective, or if the patient reacts adversely, who is responsible for observing, reporting and acting on it? In many cases the nurse picks up things the doctor doesn't even notice, even assuming the doctor is on the premises at the time.
No, our responsibilities are not the same as the MD's, but they are just as important, and in some aspects more so.
I like your post. I just finished my second semester of nursing school. So far all of my nursing professors have been teaching us this way of thinking; we are definitely not just nurses! When I think of how much I learned and how hard I have worked so far, I know that once I am an RN, I can feel confident and know that I can help my patient. If there is something I am not sure of, I can tell the patient that I will find out for them.
I agree totally, and am lucky enough to work for a surgeon who constantly reminds his nurses how intelligent we are. Sometimes I get frustrated and tell him, I do NOT have MD behind my name. He kindly says that I UNDERESTIMATE myself, and that we all need to take the credit we deserve. Reading this post makes me appreciate working with an MD who loves to teach, and encourages us to practice independently.
Studies that I've read say that, of all occupations, a "nurse" is most trusted. So I never apologize for being a nurse. I've never wanted to be a doctor, but there is no need to share that information, NOR the reasons why, with a patient (especiallly one I've just met.) A patient who asks if I'm the Doctor is told simply, and pleasantly, "No I'm your nurse." What follows tells me more. Are they just trying place people in an unfamiliar environment? If both doctor and nurse wear scrubs, how are they to tell the differences? Do they have questions about what is going on or their procedure or diagnosis? Often I can clarify some things for them. Doctors don't always provide much information or an anxious patient may fail to absorb it. Sometimes I can simply reassure them (e.g."Yes, we do a lot of that kind of surgery here") I generally ask, "Do you have any more questions I might help you with".
I have absolutely no trouble suggesting they ask the doctor about anything that bothers them. I've even prefaced some things by saying, "of course, I'm not a doctor, but I would say..." It's not because I feel unable to answer questions. I just don't want anybody, patient, nurse, physician, family etc. to think I'm trying to "practice medicine". It's a little disclaimer I like to drop into the conversation because some patients or families seem to be just waiting to threaten a lawsuit if any thing displeases them. You'd be suprized at how distorted some things can seem to people after the fact.
I also do NOT know everything! It has nothing to do with my self image.
Maybe we can get a little "too" sensitive sometimes, too defensive.
If a nurse answered me with "I'm not the doctor, I'm your nurse, I work for a living" it would simply make me laugh. I would view this nurse as having a good sense of humor and it would put me at ease! We work with tragic, heart breaking situations some times. That doesn't mean we always have to take ourselves and each other so seriously.
I was getting to DC a pt, when her boyfriend asked a question about what the doc had been in saying; the pt said "don't ask her! she's just the nurse". I stood straight up from the BP cuff I'd been adjusting, looked her in the eye and said "I am a highly educated health professional, not 'Just A Nurse' ". I then turned to him and answered his question (accurately, I might add).
She looked embarrassed, but thanked me for the answer.
No, I'm not and don't want to be the MD. I fully respect the vastly longer amount of time they spend studying and the boards they have to pass (specialties). If I don't know an answer, I say so; and I go ask. That doesn't mean I don't understand diagnoses, and consequences, and what patient teaching to do for people.
Yes!! I totally agree!! I hate people who think that we nurses are stupid, like we spent 3-4 years in nursing school for nothing.
But I have to say, as much as I always do my best to stand strong and professional, and to educate the patients/family members, the current nursing trend is making it difficult for me to do so. The current trend is so "customer-service" oriented, we always get complained no matter what/how. Examples: 1) When I try to explain to the family member why we need to do turning or check BP hourly for the patient, the family member don't get it and later write in a complaint about us keep disturbing the patient. 2) Patient presses the call bell and asks to switch of the bathroom light while the caregiver/maid is sitting around in the room. If I don't do it, I get complained. 3) A GE patient presses the call bell and asks to pour the water from the jar into a glass for him. If I encourage him to do it himself, I get complained. 4) Dr forgot to review his patient until the evening when the nurse calls to remind him, he complains to the manager about the nurses not telling him early. 5) Family members asks about the patient's lab/scan reports. We show and tell them exactly what are being typed in the reports. Later they ask and question the Dr. The Dr blames the nurses for misinterpretation in front of the family and then later on comes and scolds the nurses for telling the reports to the family members. And then of course, complains about it to the manager. 6) So to play safe, when we say, "If you want to know more in-depth about your condition or the CT scan report, you can ask the Dr later when he comes", we are labelled as stupid, knowing nothing.
As u can see, when we get so many complaints, we are putting our career at risk. Do you really think that we nurses don't understand the patient's diagnoses and consequences??It's just that sometimes, it's not in our position to say/do so. As much as my nurse manager understands it, the upper management never will. To them, patients and Dr are their clients, and customers are always right.
GHGoonette, BSN, RN
1,249 Posts
I don't have time to read through all the posts, unfortunately, but the OP must always bear in mind that there is a legal line which must not be crossed. Certain questions are the doctor's duty to answer, but I don't entirely agree with the phrasing used by the nurse she describes.
When there are no doctors around, the nurse carries a massive burden of responsibility, every bit as heavy as that carried by the doctors! Sure, ultimately the doctor is responsible for ensuring that the patient is correctly diagnosed and appropriate treatment prescribed, but if the medication is ineffective, or if the patient reacts adversely, who is responsible for observing, reporting and acting on it? In many cases the nurse picks up things the doctor doesn't even notice, even assuming the doctor is on the premises at the time.
No, our responsibilities are not the same as the MD's, but they are just as important, and in some aspects more so.