are there nurses who ACTUALLY care ?

[seriouslyserious, LPN]

After a couple of months of volunteer time in the ER, I declined a near 6-figure promotion (another field) to reenter the classroom. I spent my weekends there instead of getting plastered at bars or clubs. Corporate America's unethical work culture burnt me out. I picked up 3000 miles ago, acquired a couple of loans, and here I am. A Nursing Student in my first semester.

I had the worse experience in class. We had a group presentation due and my group members voted to cut MY presentation short (an hour before the presentation), in fear of breaching the time limit (for the sake of their OWN grade). My minutes basically went to seconds of senseless broken English.

déjà vu Corporate America? I spoke to my professor afterwards and was told not to sweat it.

During orientation, the presenters/faculty emphasized a "comradery" only nurses encompass that no other profession/professional possess.

I understand we are students, but people never (hardly) change. I have dealt with this state of mind before; in and out of the hospital. 1 made me take a wheelchair from an elderly lady. Maybe I am comparing apples to oranges... But I find it hard to believe one can hang a classmate out to dry (under my circumstances) and expect to provide quality care. At the moment, I feel I am mistake in my belief that nurses have a genuine interest in people and their well being.

SIDE NOTES:

Their "reason" to shorten my segment was "you have no idea what you are presenting."

I am in a cohort of 4.0 students that "know everything" so I am the idiot. I find it ironic (a bit funny, actually), they delegate (the most difficult topics) actual medicine/medical practice to me, even though I come off as a person who does the minimum to pass.

I have a 90%, at the moment.

[tokebi]

"my belief that all nurses have a genuine interest in people and their well being."

Really? all nurses, 100%? Seriously, of course there's bound to be exceptions! I would never assume such thing, but I suspect greater percentage of nurses do care about people's well being than in professionals of "corporate america."

Go blow your steam off, shrug it off, and then look around you again. Surely you've experienced positive things too?

[seriouslyserious, LPN]

i did not reread what i wrote... i deleted "all" yeah... just irritated... cannot wait until the semester is over. i know/nor care this will not get too many replies, as it is a touchy subject.

[tokebi]

I can understand the irritation. There are some fiercely competitive people out there who would do anything to get ahead, and nursing school is no exception. Don't mind them, just do the minimum to maintain professional relationship with them, and focus on what you set out to do. I assure you you'll meet plenty wonderful nurses along the way of school and professional career that will more than make up for your current disappointment. :)

[nursel56]

It sounds like you're blaming nursing because of the perceived sacrifices you made to join the ranks. All I can say is that yes there are nurses who ACTUALLY give a . . . .but that as far as personality goes you will find the same types everywhere. Your viewpoint is a tiny circle of illumination of a very large map. Your group presentation is but a foreshadowing. Best to learn to let it roll off if you decide to stay despite things not being as you expected. In any case if you feel it's that bad you can be the nurse you had hoped other people would be and provide a positive example for all of us.

[MoopleRN]

I'm not sure just what the point of your OP is. I'm assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that it's a vent, which we all do from time to time. If your "group presentation/members" voted to cut your presentation, how could it be for the sake of their own grade when your grade is included in the group? And I don't understand how your (reduced) minutes became "senseless broken English". Overall, I get the impression that's it's difficult for you to be in a student role/critiqued after declining a "near 6-figure promotion". Your professor told you not to sweat it. Sounds like good advice to me.

There IS a camaraderie in nursing for most nurses but I don't believe it's exclusive to nursing. There are also cliques in nursing... and nursing school. Perhaps you're finding that out? Best of luck to you.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

What exactly is the point of your rambling post and what does it have to do with whether nurses care or not.

Many of us choose nursing as what we wish to do, based on beliefs and experiences. What you chose to leave behind, is your business and has no bearing on this situation. Many of us left behind good and bad life situations .....that has no bearing on how we will/should be treated in nursing. And to dwell on why we believe our personal sacrifice means more, serves to just annoy others and push them away.

I suspect that if your part of the presentation is anything like your post, that your group members had good reason to cut you short. That they did it at the last minute, though was rude. Did y'all do a practice weel ahead of time, so that these issues could be worked out?

Try not to take it too personally, and ask them how you could have improved things so that the time limit and presentation worked together.

One of the points of group projects is to see how well y'all work TOGETHER when required to do so. We do not get to choose our coworkers but must find a way to do so for safe care of the pt. If one frequently finds themselves clashing with those they must work with, something needs to change. And if one or two people tell you something it may be their problem, but if many say the same thing, one needs to take a good look at oneself.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Hope you feel better soon.

A lot of our workplaces fall under the category of "corporate work cultures" in healthcare. Be prepared for the shock of the familiar.

[Happy2beICU-RN]

Absolutely most nurses care. Obviously there are some of the less enthusiastic nurses out there somewhere but you will have that with any profession.

It seems though, that you are not speaking about nurses. You are talking about nursing students. There is a difference. And you will see that by the end of nursing school, your cohort will be MUCH smaller than it is now. Nursing school has this funny way about weeding out.

So my advice would be to try to find some people within your cohort with whom you can relate to and try to form some bonds. It really does make nursing school much more bearable when you have someone to help you get through the days. As in life, you will never get along with everyone all the time, so chalk this up to you having the chance to see those people for who they are and steer clear of them for future projects if possible.

Best of luck to you :)

[beeker]

Your post screams of righteous indignation and "holier than thou". Perhaps your section just needed to be shorter. Don't sweat the small stuff. If your ego gets in the way now, you are going to have a hard time in the field, it only gets harder. You made a point to mention that you declined a six figure salary and that you didn't spend your time getting wasted in bar as if this should make what you have to say more important than everyone else. What was your grade on the presentation? Was it that bad?

[seriouslyserious, LPN]

nursel56 since i am a student, my exposure is minimal. generalizing somewhat... i know, i know.

MoopleRN yes i am venting. we were given a maximum time limit... they used all/most of it. what was trying to illustrate was... if you do not speak during a presentation, you did not present at all. i spoke, hardly.

caroladybelle my point was to correlate "hanging me out to dry" vs "quality patient care" ... from my example of "taking a wheelchair from a patient, because my nurse did not want to go to the lobby to get another, out of laziness"... it was from a moral/ethics standpoint... i guess i could ignore those chapters in my book. sorry, if it was unclear to you.

there was no practice, except half and hour before. i know it sounds retarded, but it is what it is. given my content, i was in for a long night. i spent an entire day preparing.

when i bombed my 1st test... i took it upon myself to study harder. what did my classmates do? they blamed the professor... some students from another semester actual went to the dean and my professor was asked to take time off for a bit. first semester back.

if i would have known this was going to happen, i would have presented myself. it is easier to change oneself than others. Gandhi said (i think) "be the change you want to see in the world."

RNperdiem starting to figure it out.

Happy2beICU-RN i am speaking about personalities in general... people do not(or hardly) change. we will see what happens this time around in school. i do hope i can meet a couple of decent people.

beeker professor said, "i gave everybody 100%". yeah... i was just venting.

[Heart2015FNP]

I understand how you feel. You realized your calling and made that sacrifice to follow you passion for caring. Honestly, nursing school can be brutal and it does not reflect the professional at all. Even though you are dealing with overachievers, they will have the difficult time adjusting upon graduation. Most of the "book smart" nurses are the ones miserable because they strive perfection when they need just need critical thinking with care. My advice....don't let them corrupt you. It gets better after graduation and YES we care just as much as you do. Good luck!