My best friend puts down being a nurse

[mindfulnursingbabe]

Every time I have a conversation with my best friend or her family about any nursing aspect or my job as a nursing assistant in med-surg (we obviously all know what my job duties are) all she ever has to say is that she "can never be a nurse" and for reasons like having to deal with other people's bodily fluids and not wanting to wipe someone's ass and that she will never do it. I don't know how to feel about this. It seems to me that she thinks all nurses do is wipe asses (l o l). I'm going to nursing school but once I work for a year or two as a nurse I do plan on applying to medical school for MY own personal reasons. However, it just bothers me that she thinks this way. I understand some people aren't apt to bodily fluids and really can't handle it but I just feel like anytime I talk about the profession that's all she has to say and it really upsets me. She wants to go to PA school but wouldn't she have to at least experience direct patient care?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I wipe a lot of orifices... for those who can't do so for themselves. When I first got into this field, peoples comments bothered me, too.

But I used to think...what if it was my mom or my dear grandma? I'd want someone to help me/them if I/they couldn't do so for my/themselves.

Now, as an RN, I wipe a lot of tooshies...people who are sick need help. I do not mind helping people who can't help themselves. Period.

Plus, I receive a nice paycheck for doing so.

I don't even care what others say about it. I get paid a decent wage to help these people.

It's an honor. Lest, as they say, go I.

[hillyhills]

Honestly, screw everyone's opinion but your own. Nurses are literally the backbone of the hospital & do WAAY more than wipe peoples asses.

I've gotten that whole "all you're going to do is clean up pee & poop" or "nurses don't do anything" so many times before & all I do is laugh because they're so clueless.

There's so many different types & levels of nurses too. Generalizing ALL nurses is pretty idiotic of ANYONE to do.

I work in a hospital & they're always running around from patient to patient. I work with inpatients & pre-/post-op. Never seen them just "wipe up" after people. In fact, we have round-the-clock cleaners going around.

I don't want to dictate your friendships since this is your best friend, but you really need to get her to shut her mouth on things she doesn't know. It's ignorant & rude for a FRIEND to do.

[FutureNeonatalNurse]

Wasting my time? I'm doing quite the opposite, actually.

-Getting my BSN in 3 years over a biology degree that will take 5

-Minoring in Advanced Chem/Physics WHILE I'm a nursing major so by the time I graduate with my BSN I will have all pre-requisites for med-school completed

-Taking a $2400 MCAT preparation course that is highly used by pre-med students

-I will work as a nurse while I'm in med-school whether it's per diem or part-time and if I can handle full-time then so be it - my time will not be wasted

-I will always have my nursing license and a job if needed

My path is my own path, worry about your own

No wonder your friend looks down on you, she is obviously jealous. I wish you the best!

[meconiumhappens]

Maybe you're reading too much into it? I AM a nurse but now that I'm doing my DNP I look forward to not having to do bed baths anymore (and likely when you are a doctor you will feel the same way). I would of course still lend a hand though if I was needed. Doesn't mean I didn't perform them with the utmost compassion and care back when I did though. And when people say they work in the ICU I also say "oh I could never do that." because it is not an area of nursing I like. When people say they want to be a doctor I also say "oh I could never do that" because med school is horrendous and the quality of life for MDs is also sometimes horrendous. Don't let peoples' words carry so much weight. If she's a good friend then just be honest with her. Tell her how it makes you feel.

To the other point that was brought up, my significant other and best friend are both med students (4th year and 2nd year, respectively) so between them I know a lot of med students and have seen the journey from 1st through 4th year . There is no way you will be able to work during med school if you want to succeed. You need to eat, sleep, and breathe medicine. I suggest following one of the earlier posters and, if you really care about working as a nurse, take time off to work as an rn for a few years and then go back to med school. It should help your application anyway. But absolutely get rid of the idea that it's possible to go to med school and work as a nurse at the same time.