Regardless of your stance on this issue, I want to thank everyone for their input. Like I said, this was my first posting (and probably last) and I was wondering how the members of this site would respond. Predictably, many readers missed sarcasm and took select phrases personally, so sorry about that (but not really). I'd like to address some responses I came across. First, a couple readers (i.e. Sasquatch) wrote that the title is the only thing not broken in the field - this has a nice ring to it but I don't buy it. Much of the field is not broken - I love my job and love the nursing field. In fact, there's nobody prouder than me to wake up everyday and do what I do. I just personally think the name-of-what-I-do has had more of an impact than you think. Change the name, and, for example, you'll see more men in the field,- YES IT'S SAD AND YES THERE ARE PROUD MALE NURSES WHO DON'T CARE, but I do think it's reality. Think about it, if you're a high school boy thinking about a future career, you'll stay quiet about telling your friends your desire to nurse for a living. Add ignorant parents and friends and you're probably going to shy away from this career and YES it is sad-it's terrible. But, you can't blame these kids - they are 16, 17 (whatever) and insecure - but they still might make excellent nurses given time to mature. All I'm saying is you need to think about future generations and not yourself - sure WE are proud to be called nurses because we know what it's about, but kids drooling over Grey's Anatomy do not. That will never change, and the public's view of nursing supported by the media is more important than you think - do some research before you comment. It's almost 2010 and we're still seeing jokes about nurses in movies and offensive nursing roles on tv. Alot of people watch tv - alot. So, I was suggesting a name change - let Hollywood have their Nancy Nurses, we can have something accurate...Bad idea? Maybe (apparently) but oh well, it's a discussion board after all. A reader actually tried to argue with me by announcing that not ALL nurses have years of education but merely undergo 1 year of training...?? - why would you even...wait...you know what, no comment.
Someone suggested that Doctors change their name because their field has also changed - "hahaha" - but, see, there is a difference; They obviously would keep their name because doctors have always been and continue to be respected everywhere, while nurses get ****** on.
I don't know why we struggle in nursing, it's probably more than the name, but it's a suggestion for my fellow nurses to think about next time they feel disrespected. And, whoever thinks they are making plenty of money between juggling patients/wiping asses/saving lives/seeing death/emotionally draining families - - I suggest once again doing some salary research and you'd be surprised what you SHOULD be making - you're worth more (same goes for LNA/CNA/LPN/RN). That said, I know WE ARE FORTUNATE in this economy to be doing as well as we are. Also, I'm aware there are more pressing issues in the world, but I chose not to discuss those here, is that okay? This has been a curiosity of mine for years, so I googled Allnurses.com and wrote about it. Period. Adios friends, and from the bottom of my heart, good luck at work tomorrow, because we are all in this together.
Haha - easy Sasquatch, thanks for pulling a line out of context. I think you missed the point. My sarcasm has nothing to do with your skills; please try to imagine the big picture. This was the first time I've ever gone on one of these things and my goal is to elevate nursing, because I respect it. Let's go after eachother like we are already notorious for doing.
Our profession deserves an accurate title; we have earned it. Regardless of gender, it is time for a change. "Nurse" is an archaic, irrelevant and inaccurate label which mocks the modern professional standard we represent. We are board-certified clinicians who have endured years of competitive education combined with strenuous clinical training.
The argument that we need to support this title for tradition's sake is weak. This field has come so far and changed so much that what we do would literally be unrecognizable to nurses fifty years ago - nevermind Florence Nightingale. True, nurses are caring figures who share special relationships with the sick, but I was taught much more than that in school and I am responsible for MUCH more than that at work. The sad part is that we are responsible for medical knowledge but our responsibility comes with few rights. We are usually the first providers to see lab results and we "respectfully suggest" drugs and treatments to the physician. In the hospital, we are the first to see changes in a patient's condition, and with ACLS training, who runs codes? Do you think Florence Nightingale knows the algorithm to treat PEA or V-fib arrest? No, she would probably suggest opening a window. So, men and women, alike, deserve a name with absolutely no reference to breastfeeding or trashy porn. This issue may be a joke to you, but many believe it affects their honor; and their salary.
Regardless of your stance on this issue, I want to thank everyone for their input. Like I said, this was my first posting (and probably last) and I was wondering how the members of this site would respond. Predictably, many readers missed sarcasm and took select phrases personally, so sorry about that (but not really). I'd like to address some responses I came across. First, a couple readers (i.e. Sasquatch) wrote that the title is the only thing not broken in the field - this has a nice ring to it but I don't buy it. Much of the field is not broken - I love my job and love the nursing field. In fact, there's nobody prouder than me to wake up everyday and do what I do. I just personally think the name-of-what-I-do has had more of an impact than you think. Change the name, and, for example, you'll see more men in the field,- YES IT'S SAD AND YES THERE ARE PROUD MALE NURSES WHO DON'T CARE, but I do think it's reality. Think about it, if you're a high school boy thinking about a future career, you'll stay quiet about telling your friends your desire to nurse for a living. Add ignorant parents and friends and you're probably going to shy away from this career and YES it is sad-it's terrible. But, you can't blame these kids - they are 16, 17 (whatever) and insecure - but they still might make excellent nurses given time to mature. All I'm saying is you need to think about future generations and not yourself - sure WE are proud to be called nurses because we know what it's about, but kids drooling over Grey's Anatomy do not. That will never change, and the public's view of nursing supported by the media is more important than you think - do some research before you comment. It's almost 2010 and we're still seeing jokes about nurses in movies and offensive nursing roles on tv. Alot of people watch tv - alot. So, I was suggesting a name change - let Hollywood have their Nancy Nurses, we can have something accurate...Bad idea? Maybe (apparently) but oh well, it's a discussion board after all. A reader actually tried to argue with me by announcing that not ALL nurses have years of education but merely undergo 1 year of training...?? - why would you even...wait...you know what, no comment.
Someone suggested that Doctors change their name because their field has also changed - "hahaha" - but, see, there is a difference; They obviously would keep their name because doctors have always been and continue to be respected everywhere, while nurses get ****** on.
I don't know why we struggle in nursing, it's probably more than the name, but it's a suggestion for my fellow nurses to think about next time they feel disrespected. And, whoever thinks they are making plenty of money between juggling patients/wiping asses/saving lives/seeing death/emotionally draining families - - I suggest once again doing some salary research and you'd be surprised what you SHOULD be making - you're worth more (same goes for LNA/CNA/LPN/RN). That said, I know WE ARE FORTUNATE in this economy to be doing as well as we are. Also, I'm aware there are more pressing issues in the world, but I chose not to discuss those here, is that okay? This has been a curiosity of mine for years, so I googled Allnurses.com and wrote about it. Period. Adios friends, and from the bottom of my heart, good luck at work tomorrow, because we are all in this together.
Haha - easy Sasquatch, thanks for pulling a line out of context. I think you missed the point. My sarcasm has nothing to do with your skills; please try to imagine the big picture. This was the first time I've ever gone on one of these things and my goal is to elevate nursing, because I respect it. Let's go after eachother like we are already notorious for doing.
Our profession deserves an accurate title; we have earned it. Regardless of gender, it is time for a change. "Nurse" is an archaic, irrelevant and inaccurate label which mocks the modern professional standard we represent. We are board-certified clinicians who have endured years of competitive education combined with strenuous clinical training.
The argument that we need to support this title for tradition's sake is weak. This field has come so far and changed so much that what we do would literally be unrecognizable to nurses fifty years ago - nevermind Florence Nightingale. True, nurses are caring figures who share special relationships with the sick, but I was taught much more than that in school and I am responsible for MUCH more than that at work. The sad part is that we are responsible for medical knowledge but our responsibility comes with few rights. We are usually the first providers to see lab results and we "respectfully suggest" drugs and treatments to the physician. In the hospital, we are the first to see changes in a patient's condition, and with ACLS training, who runs codes? Do you think Florence Nightingale knows the algorithm to treat PEA or V-fib arrest? No, she would probably suggest opening a window. So, men and women, alike, deserve a name with absolutely no reference to breastfeeding or trashy porn. This issue may be a joke to you, but many believe it affects their honor; and their salary.