Most Annoying Nursing Stereotype

Nurses General Nursing

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What is the most annoying stereotype that you have directly come across. We all know the naughty nurse one. I'm talking more along the lines of, what have you personally had to deal with?

Mine: Well, if you were smarter wouldn't you have become a doctor? :madface:

Well, I didn't become a doctor because I understand that they have to devote more time

and effort into a job than I would like to. To me, a job is a job. Life is what happens when

you're NOT at work. I don't want my whole life to revolve around work. I would like to take

vacations and not be on call, have kids and actually RAISE them. THAT, you idiot, is why

I did not decide to become a doctor. ARGH!

Specializes in Psychiatric.
I have to admit I still get hit with "Your an LPN? When are you going back to school to become a REAL Nurse???" Hello!! I'm already a "REAL" Nurse.

Amen to that!!! I'm an LVN and hear it from my family ALL the time. I am going to school part-time to get my RN, BUT that doesn't mean I'm not a nurse right now!

The other ones... if a man walks into a room in scrubs, he must be the doctor. Also, all male nurses MUST be gay.

The thing my family IS good about, they do not bother me about going to Med School.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Home health.

During nursing school I worked with a lady that thought because i was going to nursing school that meant i could cure anything. Whenever my husband got sick with the flu or cold she would tell me i was obviously a ****** nurse or my husband wouldn't get sick. ummm seriously?? I can't magically make someone not be sick.

And people giving me a list of symptoms or diseases and expecting me to know what causes it or how to make it better.

Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.
Sexy nurse....that whole skimpy tight white dress and heels thing...irritates me.

Also, just because I am getting my BSN and taking a health assessment class, doesn't mean I want to assess you . every . second . of . the . day! (I'm looking at you mom!)

Just to throw this out there...I was trying to eat today and my mom comes up and says "Hey...how would you chart this?" and shows me my brothers Jtube dressing, with is just...yuck. I made a face and said "Mom...I am trying to eat!" She goes "God Shannon...you're a nurse!"

Yesterday alone, she wanted me to assess her lung sounds, her throat, and her eyes...:lol2: God this class is killing me! :lol2:

Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.
During nursing school I worked with a lady that thought because i was going to nursing school that meant i could cure anything. Whenever my husband got sick with the flu or cold she would tell me i was obviously a ****** nurse or my husband wouldn't get sick. ummm seriously?? I can't magically make someone not be sick.

And people giving me a list of symptoms or diseases and expecting me to know what causes it or how to make it better.

I like the ppl that think you learned the power of levitation in school...No I can't pick your 240 pound, dead weight butt up and put you on a bedside commode. Your options are now 1. bedpan or 2. lift...if you don't like those options, I guess I'll be rolling you and cleaning up poo cause I can't pick you up! If I could I wouldn't be a nurse I would be a professional body builder! Gah!

Specializes in MDS RNAC, LTC, Psych, LTAC.
"Prostitutes" Sorry to offend anyone but that's wot my ex husband said to me when i told him I wanted to hace a career in nursing, " All they do is run after doctors and wreck homes, they lie, saying their doing nite shift when they're actually having affairs with doctors...you'll have to decide your marriage or nursing?? Needless to say I've been qualified 4 years now & and enjoying my career..haven't met any doctors that are willing to "pay for my services" yet but hey maybe my move to australia this year will bring in the "punters"!!!

On the brighter side, Im the "go to" for all ailments in the world including palstic surgery, tropical disease bowel/bladder problems......don't they know that I'm a psychiatric nurse??????

Aussie ,

Actually in America in the early days of nursing the first nurses were prositutes as in the Victorian times they were the only women who would touch and take care of other's bodies. I have had men tell me they think nurses have sex with patients and I say well you need to watch better quality entertainment LOL..... . I got divorced during my nursing school time but I believe it was because my husband of 20 years wasnt the center of attention any more he left me for another woman but its ok I have had alot of fun being single last eight years... good for you... have fun in Australia I would love to go there some day...:lol2:

Specializes in Cardiac, Adolescent/Child Mental Health.
has no one resented the "compassionate, angelic" stereotype that comes with nsg?

i.hate.it.

no, dear pt, i am not especially pleased that you haven't given me a moment's peace for the entire12 hrs.

no, dear pt, i am not here to mediate for your loud, obnoxious parents/others.

no, dear pt, i am not going to ask the dr for a 300% increase in your dilaudid. hell, i'm lucky i can understand what you're demanding me to do...you're slurring, with incomplete sentences...hey you, wake up!

i repeat, i am NOT compassionate or angelic, and have little to no mercy for you.

you have sucked the life out of me today and i want to crawl home.

however, you won't have a clue that i'd love to wring your neck right about now.

because i'm a nurse, and i am professional.

leslie

This. So much of this.

Specializes in floor to ICU.

Haven't read all the threads, sorry.

"Angel of Mercy" stereotype bugs me. For me this doesn't take into account the critical thinking skills, autonomy or knowledge needed to become a nurse.

Specializes in -.

Not really a stereotype, but having my whole family rush to me whenever anything medical related comes up. instead of seeing a doctor or using common sense..

For Example..

FAMILY MEMBER: I have a headache, should I have a panadol ?

ME: You've been taking Panadol for headaches for 10+ years, why are you suddenly asking ?

FAMILY MEMBER: Well now your a nurse I thought I better ask you if I should take one.

:confused:

Also...people saying "Ohhh I could never do what you do...oh your so brave !" when you tell them you are a nurse. Sure, it is nice to be appreicated but I don't like people fawning over me and calling me a saint and an angel etc because of my job. People always make a big deal about it like Im singlehandly saving the world and I can do no wrong. That really annoys me.

Specializes in School Nursing.
Also...people saying "Ohhh I could never do what you do...oh your so brave !" when you tell them you are a nurse. Sure, it is nice to be appreicated but I don't like people fawning over me and calling me a saint and an angel etc because of my job. People always make a big deal about it like Im singlehandly saving the world and I can do no wrong. That really annoys me.

I absolutely hate the "I could never do what you do" comments. How am I supposed to respond? "Yeah, you're right, you probably couldn't". Lol. There is no right response to that comment!

I have been kicking around the idea of (down the road) going for my MSN as a nurse practitioner. Whenever I tell people that NP can have their own clinic, write scripts, etc., there is this mentality that a NP wasn't smart enough to go to med school and that a NP with a clinic is an absurd and dangerous idea--that they are under-qualified.

...Also, the stereotype that nurses are female, a doctor's helper, glorified butt-wiper, pill passer and BP taker.

Also...people saying "Ohhh I could never do what you do...oh your so brave !" when you tell them you are a nurse. Sure, it is nice to be appreicated but I don't like people fawning over me and calling me a saint and an angel etc because of my job. People always make a big deal about it like Im singlehandly saving the world and I can do no wrong. That really annoys me.

We complain that we don't get respect for our profession, then we complain when we do?

Wow, some of you are really hard to please.

I know I'm no saint, but I totally appreciate when someone expresses respect and gratitude for what we do, even if it is couched in hyperbole. They mean well and it sure beats being insulted.

I had to educate a pt recently that I am not 'just a nurse' as he had said to me. I educated the pt that I went to University for 4 yrs and based on my assessment skills that pt will get narcotics as pt was requesting.

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