First, for all that don't know, I am a Hispanic RN.
Now......
Went to my dentist yesterday. At the end of my visit I asked the hyginenist something about my dental care. She was going to go into great detail, so I stopped her to save time and said, " I am familiar with XYZ, I work in healthcare ".
The conversation went something like this:
Dental H: "Really?, (total disbelief) in what area of healthcare?"
Me: " I am a R.N"
Dental H: " Are you a diploma, 2-year RN? My niece is a four-year RN".
Me:" I have a BSN".
Dental H: "Hmmm. At first, when you said you were a nurse , I thought you were only a nursing assistant".
Me: My face: :stone
Me: (sarcastically) " I can certainly understand why mybeing a registered nurse is sooooo hard for you to believe"...
and here's your sign......
...a "I am a stupid person"sign.
Has anyone mistaken you for the cleaning lady/man, asked for the RN of patient so-and-so when, in fact,you are the RN in charge of pt. soandso?
I usually let stupid comments go ....but this, THIS, I had to share.
A patient once thought I was a CNA because I answered her call light and took her to the bathroom. When I told her I was the house supervisor, she was surprised and said an RN had never taken her to the bathroom before. :uhoh21:
That is like some RN's who refuse to give baths, wash hair, brush teeth simply because they think that those nursing activities are now beneath them.
As a Nurse Manager that routinely assists staff in patient care activities I have had both patients and staff members amazed that I "will do that type of work". To me it is sad that some nurses and nurses in management/administration "won't" do patient care because they think it is beneath them....what they end up missing is the only real part of nursing that is gratifying.......
Yep. The CNA's practically fall all over themselves with shock and pleasant surprise when I float to the floor because I take my own vital signs, help my own patients to the bathroom, etc.. It kills me how many nurses sit on their butts and refuse to do that kind of stuff.
I have noticed myself being an RPN that returned to school at 32 and just been in the field for 2 years now, that the majority of folks already "know everything" so I don't give their comments much thought.
I'm Hispanic and an RN-BSN, and there was this one time I went into my patient's room, and respiratory therapist was in there and said, "can you please come back and clean up later," I was in SHOCKED, not only that but very, very upset.:angryfire:angryfire I then said to her, "oh no, this is my patient, I'm his nurse." She was so embarrassed she did not know what to say, later that day, she came up to me and apologized a million times, and said that she did not mean to offend me, but believe me she did, I told her that she should ask next time who I am before assuming things.
First, for all that don't know, I am a Hispanic RN.
Now......
Went to my dentist yesterday. At the end of my visit I asked the hyginenist something about my dental care. She was going to go into great detail, so I stopped her to save time and said, " I am familiar with XYZ, I work in healthcare ".
The conversation went something like this:
Dental H: "Really?, (total disbelief) in what area of healthcare?"
Me: " I am a R.N"
Dental H: " Are you a diploma, 2-year RN? My niece is a four-year RN".
Me:" I have a BSN".
Dental H: "Hmmm. At first, when you said you were a nurse , I thought you were only a nursing assistant".
Me: My face: :stone
Me: (sarcastically) " I can certainly understand why mybeing a registered nurse is sooooo hard for you to believe"...
and here's your sign......
...a "I am a stupid person"sign.
Has anyone mistaken you for the cleaning lady/man, asked for the RN of patient so-and-so when, in fact,you are the RN in charge of pt. soandso?
I usually let stupid comments go ....but this, THIS, I had to share.
I'm Hispanic and an RN-BSN, and there was this one time I went into my patient's room, and respiratory therapist was in there and said, "can you please come back and clean up later," I was in SHOCKED, not only that but very, very upset.:angryfire:angryfire I then said to her, "oh no, this is my patient, I'm his nurse." She was so embarrassed she did not know what to say, later that day, she came up to me and apologized a million times, and said that she did not mean to offend me, but believe me she did, I told her that she should ask next time who I am before assuming things.
I was suprised to learn that they make over 60 thousand $ a year working 3 days a week here in Colorado.
I live in Australia for 2 years and of course my English is not perfect. Because I'm white people assume I'm australian but once I open my mouth they just think I'm stupid....they explain simple thinks over and over again using baby language and ask STUPID questions, one asked me if people in my country use forks and knifes...
I think the key to this is not to assume that we know what the person who has offended us is thinking. The best way to deal with this is to ask them why they said that. People have a variety of experiences that influence what they say and how they say it. Some people are rude or arrogant or may have tattoos or are model gorgeous or remind others of someone they either like or don't like -maybe this person has been only been exposed to gray haired RNs, who the heck knows what was going on in her mind when she said what she said ? I do think it's best not to take things personally-and not to make assumptions about what someone else is thinking.
the majority of nurses on the floor are newly graduates, and she wasn't very old herself, the thing i dont understand is how could she confused me for a housekeeper, when i was wearing scrubs and had a stethescope around my neck, she didnt even look at what i was wearing or at my name tag, i guess she right away assumed i was a housekeeper and said what she said or else she would have not come back to me and apologized for offending me, she knew what she said, but i just brushed it off my back.
I think the key to this is not to assume that we know what the person who has offended us is thinking. The best way to deal with this is to ask them why they said that. People have a variety of experiences that influence what they say and how they say it. Some people are rude or arrogant or may have tattoos or are model gorgeous or remind others of someone they either like or don't like -maybe this person has been only been exposed to gray haired RNs, who the heck knows what was going on in her mind when she said what she said ? I do think it's best not to take things personally-and not to make assumptions about what someone else is thinking.
I am short and dumpy and about 100 pounds overweight. I have a rather slovenly appearance, not stinky but just dumpy looking (call it self depracating if you want, but it's the truth). I have been mistaken for cleaning lady, laundry lady, CNA...everything but a nurse. A lot of times strangers will come up to me and ask to speak to the nurse. I kind of enjoy the looks on their faces when I tell them I am the nurse.
Jo Anne -OLD
79 Posts
That is like some RN's who refuse to give baths, wash hair, brush teeth simply because they think that those nursing activities are now beneath them.
I work with a few of them unfortunately.