I have read many posts on here about nurses putting up with long hours, lack of appreciation, no raises, disrespectful treatment by administration, infighting, and all those other negatives that some people associate with the nursing profession. I personally know of nurses who are great at advocating for their patients and standing up to hardheaded doctors in order to enforce patient rights, but they won't stand up for themselves when they have a problem with management. Instead, they will complain to co-workers in the breakroom.
Does anyone think that nursing school sets us up for this kind of treatment? We are taught from day one that we are advocates for our patients, but many students wouldn't dare voice a difference of opinion or stand up for themselves to instructors who let personality differences get in the way of the learning experience. Students are just expected to take it, go with the flow, don't stand out as being different or difficult. As a result, they complain to others and let resentment simmer instead of addressing the problem.
I'm not saying nursing school is a horrible experience or that instructors aren't valuable--I have a lot of respect for the tough job that instructors have. It just seems like we're asking for problems when we expose students to years of "don't rock the boat" and then send them out into the wonderful world of nursing to fend for themselves.
You know, the more I read about the experience of the average nursing student, the more it reminds me of the military. They break you and reshape you into their mold. Nursing school (especially the first year) sounds an awful lot like boot camp...humiliation, lock-step conformity, etc.
Did the military thing too. Boot camp was a lot more fun than nursing school. I actually enjoyed that.
virmm1, LPN
94 Posts
Did the military thing too. Boot camp was a lot more fun than nursing school. I actually enjoyed that.