No respect...or...our profession's public image sucks

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2009

My favorite.

I spend several hours calling MD X about critical changes in pt.

I get blown off repeatedly.

Pt arrests - me and my coworkers do CPR, the ER MD gets there late from being run ragged - and we resuscitate the pt. Pt goes to ICU.

Dr. X gets awoken from his comfort sleep at home to be notified of arrest and transfer to critical care. Dr. calls specialist and then goes back to sleep in his nice cozy bed.

Two weks later, pt transferred back to floor.

And family says, "Dr. X SAVED HIS LIFE".

Congrats, MD X, that was really effective sleeping that you did that night.

SDA3694 · Aug 4, 2009

I know that must have been frustrating. I think when the general public thinks of nurses ....they ONLY think "care taker" which is ONE side of it but by far not the only thing nurses are good for. I hope this image of nursing changes in the future. When I did my preceptorship in ICU, I saw alot of nurses save the doctor from making mistakes...(to be honest it kind-of shocked me too...I dont know why).

Spatialized · Aug 7, 2009

Our image too often is formed based on the twisted stereotypes portrayed in the popular media. Sexy nurses, pillow fluffers and doctor's handmaidens is the image shown to the world and they all believe it (well, not all of them, but a good majority do!) Until the lay public actually begins to truly understand what it is we do, the level of knowledge and professionalism required to work and thrive in our environment, they will still perceive us as such. And with those people who believe in such a twisted way, you could have said the exact same thing the doc said and they would not have believed it without the white coat of "authority". It sucks, plain and simple.

We can attempt to correct this mis-assumption, but sometimes it's just not worth the breath it would take. I hear though, it is frustrating and it makes you want to bang your head against the wall, but think about it this way: maybe they absorbed all of what you said and the doctor confirmed it for them. It was your teaching that laid the groundwork of their understanding and the doc confirmed it for them.

Keep your head up!

Tom

JobsearchingRN · Aug 8, 2009

ok here it goes. Guys teaching, listening , and giving them support. Theyll be back and a big thanks to you. Its the best feeling. Keep up the good work it will pay in the end

sonnyluv · Aug 31, 2009

When my shift was done i went home frustrated (again) by this lack of respect for our profession. It wasn't directed at me personally, or (conciously) nursing in general...But (i think) it was an obvious mis-guided appreciation for who we are and what we (and Doctors!) do...and a major source of nurse-frustration (at least with me).
Am i burned out? Yep.
Oversensitive? Probably
Am i resentful of Doctors? Public 'image'? Nursing?My life/career choices?
Enough of the venting...i gotta go do this again tomorrow...

You're not burned out! You are a human being working your heiney off and due to cultural norms, media representation, lack of knowledge on the general publics part you don't get the credit you deserve. This has got to be in the top three reasons nurses leave the field. Especially L&D nurses. The nurse who helped my wife and I deliver our baby was awesome. The doctor showed up an hour after being paged and vacuumed out my little son. She took a quick look at the kid and then literally left without saying a word. We thanked our nurse so profusely, hugged her, she was in tears, so grateful.

Look, we are surrounded by other professionals who have more education, more degrees, and often a lack of modesty.

Doctors see nothing wrong with A) Reminding everyone of the work they do and B) Taking credit for it. (And C: demanding they get paid for it)

It's somehow ingrained in nurses to not feel worthy of the credit we deserve or even to stand up and say "I deserve some crdit here!"

How can you politely remind a family that you are skilled, knowledgeable, and caring for them in their time of need, more than the Doc? Impossible and probably selfish.

Keep in mind there are good nurses and bad nurses, too. Some R.N.'s don't have a very large base of learning to work with nor are they interested in continuing to expand knowledge and grow. I also think there are more medical assistants calling themselves nurses then ever before.

But I agree with another poster, they WILL remember you, and they will be grateful. But I know how you feel, they just don't understand how much of the machine you are actually operating.

monicastha · Sep 4, 2009

yea......i also feel the same

JustMe · Sep 10, 2009

Your frustration is very evident and understandable. That's why we--all nurses--need to support and respect each other. Coz no one else will. Not the patients, not their families, not the docs and not management. All of us needs to pledge each day to do the very best job we can, give kudos to each other every day, and forget the rest. We'll all live longer.

Just my :twocents:

S.Corder, RN · Sep 10, 2009

I think back over these past 40 years since I started this game. Very few times has the nurse gotten the credit the way he/she should. Over the years, respect for what we do has been chipped away to where it is nearly non-existant now. Will it change in the future, sure, but nor for the better. 40 years ago we were proud, hard working, caring and willing to go that extra mile for anyone at anytime. Now, we are chatel merchandise, owned by the facilities that we work for and seldom given the credit we deserve. When we do, there is a hidden agenda. They (administration) are setting us up for something. Before I lost my job, I called an MD to get orders on a new admission. He actually hung up on me! I called him back and was told very firmly that he would be in -in the morning and not to bother him. I hung up and just screamed. The next morning I am being reprimanded by my DON for not respecting the MD. The world of healthcare has gone crazy. We are but players in a game that we cannot control nor are able to change. All we can do is to do our best for our patients, as you did, and go home knowing that you tried. If you know in your heart that you did the best you could, then know that you are one of the good guys that God will bless. If you give up trying and just do the mechanics of nursing, which many do, you will miss the blessing of knowing that your patient was trully cared for on my shift. Please do not be someone who is just there for the paycheck.