Noticing a trend here

[AngelfireRN]

Forgive me....I'm kinda bored and when I get bored I dwell on things.

I have been noticing a trend on the boards lately, and I don't like it.

Part of what I love about this site is the fact that you can come here, post thread about what bothers you, and talk about it, get feedback, have people of a like mind get mad right along with you, etc.

And then there are "them".

We all know of which I speak.

Those high-and mighty, self-righteous, know-it-alls that have to come on to every vent thread I have ever seen and tell us that we sound mean, we have offended them, they hope they never have us as a nurse, etc. Then there are those that try to tell you what you SHOULD think , how you SHOULD feel, and what you SHOULD do.

Seems to be getting worse. The splenda packet thread comes to mind more vividly than others, those of you that have read that one will know what I mean.

And another thing I have noticed, it's mostly non-nurses, pre-nurses (that must be new, or else we don't have that where I live, because I have never heard of a pre-nurse before here), or student nurses that want to start the rumpus.

My questions are:

1) Why? Do they just thrive on causing controversy? Gotta hand it to them, though, they're persistent. They hang on and will NOT leave.

2) Can we not do something about them? When they hijack a thread, can we mute them? I know we can report them to the mods, but beyond that, can we band together and do something else?

3) This site is called allNURSES. I fail to see why non-nurses would want to be here. I'll defend their right to be here with my last breath, it's a free country, but my hubby can't stand to hear me talk about some of the things I do without getting queasy. What kind of kick could a layperson get out of this site? The things we talk about usually would make no sense to a layperson, unless they have acquantances or family in the medical field, or have spent a lot of time around the field.

Has anyone else noticed the increase in this trend, or is it just me? If so, does it bother you? Just curious. Thanks.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

I was a very proud and frequent poster here, for those that remember me...and I have seen the change since the 'times of old' (LOL). and I must say....the rules have gotten much tighter (and I surely know the reasons why and haven't complained much at all)...and that the nurse persona perpetuating the stereotypical self-sacrificing nurse is at an all time high in responce to anyones post that can be construded as a vent....

Why do we come here...not only to get info, talk to other nurses so we can remember we are not alone in our thoughts/feelings...but also to vent. A very important tool in a world that sees nurses still as a woman dominated field...one where subservience and sympathy at all cost reigns...

I came into nursing as ME! A great gal with a mind for medical (which was a suprise to me really) who thought...hey, maybe I can make a difference...if not, just make patients feel better than what I have been shown as a patient/patient's loved one.

I do vent from time to time....so do we all...and I feel very limited in fear of ticking someone else off by speaking my mind! I do that at work folks...not in MY time!

[squeakykitty]

This is a good place to swap stories and vent. I was thinking about starting a thread called "When good threads go bad", but AngelfireRN beat me to it.

I think if someone is new here and is not a nurse yet, a good thing to do is to try to understand the vent threads before they post their opinion. It is possible to disagree with someone without calling them names, or making accusations about their caring or professionalisn.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Now a question, what is a layperson? I am a non) or pre-nurse however you want to call it, are you simply talking about the MA's and such who gripe and complain when they are not even RN's? or as a whole with non-medical persons? please be more clear. It doesnt sound you like you dislike the entire non RN faculty who post here and I will be the first to admit I see griping instead of asking questions simply to gripe. I fell bad because one bad person reflect poor views upon the others. I guess i felt the need to speak up as a soon to be RN who loves the thought, care, gross/awesome procedures, and everything else the RN world has to offer.

no hate

much love

peace out

mose-

Mose-

Let me clarify. By "layperson" I mean someone like my husband, who thinks you can liposuction out cellulitis. Someone with NO medical knowledge whatsoever who comes on here and bashes us for what we think and how we vent when they have no earthly what we go through.

Congrats on your chosen career. I would most definitely not call you a layperson. You are in the field, as a student. My problem is with non-medical people who are not in the field whatsoever and/or who have no medical knowledge who come on here and bash us, when they have no idea what really goes on.

I hope that helps clear that part up.

As to the griping, sometimes that's just what we need to do.

[smk1, LPN]

I think the site is very valuable to those thinking of going in to nursing or are just starting the prerequisite coursework. I started as a pre-nursing student here back in 2002, registered in 2003 and just graduated/passed NCLEX and started my first job as an RN. Allnurses helped a lot. However, I rarely if ever took part in debates over proper nursing practice etc... as a prenursing student and was very cautious even as a student nurse. It isn't appropriate. I sometimes think a disclaimer should appear at the top of threads that are labeled "VENT". Just a reminder to posters to not jump down the throat of someone who just needs to blow off some steam. Overall I think the board is well moderated and while flamefests are closed down, most healthy debates go on untouched. I don't like the idea of getting clannish and banishing students and RT's, and MD/DO's and EMT's etc... I think their input is valuable and sometimes it helps to have an opinion from someone with a different set of rules and regulations to follow.

[hotmama2be]

In response to your little spat about this site, I must say people like you seem to want to discourage people like me from coming on this site to accumilate information for my future career endeaver . I love this site and find it extemely resourceful even the venting about patients and what not has benefited me . I see this as nurses on this site need to be a little more open to the fact that there are other people in this world besides themselves who share a interest in the medical field and are educating themselves in school to obtain there nursing degrees. Is there something wrong with that ? I find it benefical to include everybody on this site and keep in mind you yourself were a pre- nursing student once trying to gather as much information as possible to become a sucessful nurse. I am not trying to be political or start anything I just felt someone like me needed to share there opinion on this issue.

[RN1982]

That's not what she is trying to do or say.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I don't mind a difference of opinion.

If you vent, you might get a soft- hugs- everything is fine, poor you, I understand response. Some people will give advice and tell you to get over it, stop complaining, here is what you can do about it response. I call these "mom" and "dad" responses.

Having a bit of both responses makes a thread more interesting.

I do understand about the self-rightoeous responses. I remind myself about how I used to say "when I am a nurse..." and "when I am a parent..." and smile.

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

Well, that didn't take long.

Seriously, hotmama, I was not aware that I had a "spat". I made an observation about noticing a trend. I have no problem with using the site to gather info. Where the rubber meets the road for me is when non-medical people chastise those of us that are already practicing in the field for what we think, when we vent our feelings here.

No one said anything about limiting the site to only nurses or medical people. I advocated for having it open, if you will read my OP. My problem was with people bashing the posters on vent threads for venting, saying horrible things about them. Nothing was ever said about non-nurses or non-medical individuals using the site for other purposes.

[jmgrn65, RN]

In response to your little spat about this site, I must say people like you seem to want to discourage people like me from coming on this site to accumilate information for my future career endeaver . I love this site and find it extemely resourceful even the venting about patients and what not has benefited me . I see this as nurses on this site need to be a little more open to the fact that there are other people in this world besides themselves who share a interest in the medical field and are educating themselves in school to obtain there nursing degrees. Is there something wrong with that ? I find it benefical to include everybody on this site and keep in mind you yourself were a pre- nursing student once trying to gather as much information as possible to become a sucessful nurse. I am not trying to be political or start anything I just felt someone like me needed to share there opinion on this issue.

I believe this is an example of what angelfire is talking about.

Did you even read the first post?

[Jabramac]

In response to your little spat about this site, I must say people like you seem to want to discourage people like me from coming on this site to accumilate information for my future career endeaver . I love this site and find it extemely resourceful even the venting about patients and what not has benefited me . I see this as nurses on this site need to be a little more open to the fact that there are other people in this world besides themselves who share a interest in the medical field and are educating themselves in school to obtain there nursing degrees. Is there something wrong with that ? I find it benefical to include everybody on this site and keep in mind you yourself were a pre- nursing student once trying to gather as much information as possible to become a sucessful nurse. I am not trying to be political or start anything I just felt someone like me needed to share there opinion on this issue.

:banghead::banghead:

[RN1982]

some people just don't get it.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I believe this is an example of what angelfire is talking about.

Did you even read the first post?

some people just don't get it.

Can't speak for that poster, but probably responding to "And another thing I have noticed, it's mostly non-nurses, pre-nurses (that must be new, or else we don't have that where I live, because I have never heard of a pre-nurse before here), or student nurses that want to start the rumpus........This site is called allNURSES. I fail to see why non-nurses would want to be here. .

We should allow this person to express themselves, even if off tangent a bit.

Let's let it go. The op has responded. :)