JUST a nurse

Published

So I recently graduated, passed my NCLEX (yay!), and started my first job as a nurse. I've run into a few people (non-healthcare) who have asked me in these exact words 'So are you going on to become a doctor or are you just nursing it?'. Or I get asked 'why didn't you go on to become a doctor?' I feel like maybe it's just a lack of knowledge about everything nurses actually do, but it kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I'm not 'just nursing it'. I became a nurse because it's a calling. It's not just some job, it's a skilled profession that not everyone can do. Do any of you get asked this?

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

There is also a flip side to this: I hear nurses use it themselves at times ("I'm just the nurse"). It makes me cringe; I speak up when I hear it.

Sent from my iPhone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Never had anyone ask me why I became a nurse and not a MD. I never had the desire to be a MD, have been perfectly satisfied being a nurse. We are the backbone of healthcare, the wheel that grinds the mill, the ones who are the eyes and ears of the MD. Healthcare would not be possible without us!! "Just a Nurse", who can make all the difference in how a patient recovers!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yep we are the back bones of the healthcare, and for some reason, we are one of few that gets worst treatment. unfortunately nurses are dime a dozen, maybe that's why...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
No, I'm never asked why I didn't become a doctor. Many people automatically assume I'm a housekeeper, unit secretary, dietary aide or nursing assistant before expressing surprise at the fact that I'm an RN and the house supervisor.

However, I should mention that I'm an African-American female, so I belong to a racial/ethnic group that is associated with negative stereotypes regarding educational attainment and professional roles. Essentially, few (if any) people are going to ever openly wonder why I didn't become a physician.

This really makes me so sad and angry.

As far as stereotyping that I've witnessed goes, the male nurses get the "why didn't you become a doctor?" question more than the female nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.

Also, as I've been in my first nursing job ever the last few months, it has truly been eye-opening to recognize that the hospital truly is held together and kept running by the nursing staff. Don't get me wrong - our hospital it's work their tails off as well, but it's the nursing staff that really is the backbone of it all. I can't find any "just a nurse" about that whatsoever.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Ohh this irritates me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care.
There is also a flip side to this: I hear nurses use it themselves at times ("I'm just the nurse"). It makes me cringe; I speak up when I hear it.

Sent from my iPhone.

,

what do what do you say to them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

what do what do you say to them?

I nicely remind them of what they have accomplished and how important their role is and that they should feel honored to represent themselves as nurses.

Sent from my iPhone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I nicely remind them of what they have accomplished and how important their role is and that they should feel honored to represent themselves as nurses.

Sent from my iPhone.

being very fair and honest with you.. i would feel accomplished and "important in my role" as a NP, but never as a RN. we were fooled into thinking doing something autonomous at school, but in the real world, nothing more than machines following orders or doing routine things. there are things RNs can do autonomously but not much. I'm definitely going to NP school for the autonomy and accomplishment, but will i look back and say "i wish i had gone to medical school"... i hope not so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
being very fair and honest with you.. i would feel accomplished and "important in my role" as a NP, but never as a RN. we were fooled into thinking doing something autonomous at school, but in the real world, nothing more than machines following orders or doing routine things. there are things RNs can do autonomously but not much. I'm definitely going to NP school for the autonomy and accomplishment, but will i look back and say "i wish i had gone to medical school"... i hope not so.

wow, I have never felt that way. All professionals do routine tasks, engineers, architects, everyone. Autonomous or not, I have picked up on changes, caught stuff the MD missed, suggested alternatives, and am taken seriously by my docs when I have concerns.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
being very fair and honest with you.. i would feel accomplished and "important in my role" as a NP, but never as a RN. we were fooled into thinking doing something autonomous at school, but in the real world, nothing more than machines following orders or doing routine things. there are things RNs can do autonomously but not much. I'm definitely going to NP school for the autonomy and accomplishment, but will i look back and say "i wish i had gone to medical school"... i hope not so.

Honestly, you may not be happy as an NP either. If med school is your goal then shoot for that goal.

Sent from my iPhone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

One day, I had an intern ask me why I didn't go to med school. I asked him very sweetly, "Why didn't you go to nursing school?" and turned around to see and hear one of my favorite hospitalists gigglesnort in approval of my very pointed comeback. (He's not a fan of this crop of interns, by the way.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion