Knowledgeable vs. Caring Nurse

[maab]

In my philosophy class today, we talked about a hypothetical issue about nursing. It got me thinking about what the real definition of caring is.

In the hyppothetical example, there is a nurse who is very knowledgable and knows that she is responsible for both the well-being of her patients but also the overall well-being of public health in her society. However, she is not a person who you would call "caring." So the supervisor ends up firing her for this very reason without explanation.

Do you think this is ethical? Why or why not?

[LilyBlue]

Unless she is rude or absuive, it is unethical. I don't really care if my nurse is miss squishy-huggy-flower-kitten nurse. I want her to be factual, smart, and efficient.

[Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN]

If you can't breathe, would you rather I fluffed your pillow and got you a sandwich, or suctioned the mucous plug out of your trach using sterile technique? Ditto to what LilyBlue says.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I care enough to be knowledgeable.

[Atheos]

When you go to the ER bleeding to death...

Do you want the knowledgeable nurse and doctor or the 'nice' ones?

That solves that...

As to the question, there is nothing unethical about terminating because they aren't up to your standards as a boss. Even if they are silly and subjective standards. Nothing illegal or unethical about it.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Black and white isn't always the answer.

[LilyBlue]

When you go to the ER bleeding to death...

Do you want the knowledgeable nurse and doctor or the 'nice' ones?

That solves that...

As to the question, there is nothing unethical about terminating because they aren't up to your standards as a boss. Even if they are silly and subjective standards. Nothing illegal or unethical about it.

Actually, that is not quite true. You can indeed get in trouble for firing people for your little silly or subjective standards, such as your employee being too fat, too dark, too pregnant, too old, etc.

[Atheos]

Black and white isn't always the answer.

Yeah it is. Ever notice people say things like this but then provide no clear cut answer?

If it's your child...

Do you want the knowledgeable, effective, good nurse or the caring, nice, sweet, not quite so good one?

That's assuming you can't get one that is both of course.

Solves that one.

Actually, that is not quite true. You can indeed get in trouble for firing people for your little silly or subjective standards, such as your employee being too fat, too dark, too pregnant, too old, etc.

I didn't think I would have to mention 'protected classes' as they are obvious.

Ok, with the exception of race, gender, religion, skin color, blah blah blah they CAN fire you.

If they don't like your hair they can fire you. At-Will Employment laws guarantee it.

OF course, I would agree that firing the knowledgeable nurse is dumb to say the least, it isn't unethical.

[GOMER42]

any idiot can hold someone's hand

[llg, PhD, RN]

I care enough to be knowledgeable.

I agree. But I would also add ... "I am knowledgeable enough to understand that caring is also important."

I don't think you can have true greatness in one without at least a reasonable amount of the other. The truly caring nurse cares enough to know what she is doing. The truly knowledgeable nurse knows that caring is also an important element in the provision of health care.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

Yeah it is. Ever notice people say things like this but then provide no clear cut answer?

If it's your child...

Do you want the knowledgeable, effective, good nurse or the caring, nice, sweet, not quite so good one?

That's assuming you can't get one that is both of course.

Solves that one.

I didn't think I would have to mention 'protected classes' as they are obvious.

Ok, with the exception of race, gender, religion, skin color, blah blah blah they CAN fire you.

If they don't like your hair they can fire you. At-Will Employment laws guarantee it.

OF course, I would agree that firing the knowledgeable nurse is dumb to say the least, it isn't unethical.

The reason I didn't provide a complete response is because I am on my way to work, and I needed time to think of a concise response to the ever abounding misconception that a nurse is either "competent" or "nice" which, I believe is rarely every so cut and dry.

I am going to go out on a limb and assume the teacher was attempting to garner a conversation on "Nurse A is very knowledgeable, but is a total "b" to her patients". I don't think this was intended to be about these so called "fluffy hippy" nurses vs. competent.

I take a lot of offense to having caring = incompetent.

I will most likely edit this post later.

Tait

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

I agree. But I would also add ... "I am knowledgeable enough to understand that caring is also important."

I don't think you can have true greatness in one without at least a reasonable amount of the other. The truly caring nurse cares enough to know what she is doing. The truly knowledgeable nurse knows that caring is also an important element in the provision of health care.

I love this reply.