I am coming back to this forum, after being away for many years, to communicate this message to you:
Are you kidding me? Why is this profession on "blast" everywhere? Every Instagram post has some covid/nursing/hero quote within it. Nurses are now dancing all over tik tok? Do you think this is cool? Do you think this is what professionalism is about? It is to the point where I am almost ashamed of being a nurse; our traditional nurse leaders are rolling over in their graves. Have humility, stop talking bad / complaining about how awful your jobs are. You came into this profession, probably for the $ and cause every other post on facebook influenced you. This is all part of the agenda: flood hospitals with nurses to drive down wages, make working conditions worse, and pay less. Basic supply/demand strategy used by all corporations to make their workers replaceable). There are plenty of good nurses out there, I am sure. I am just disgusted by the profession's turn: Nurses are shaking all their goods for social media; nurses have no respect for their patients and do nothing but talk chit. I am nothing like most of you, I am ashamed of you, have some respect. Be humble, stop fishing for attention on social media.
Agreed- the OP seems like it comes from a place of bitterness - and also from a time when it was “taboo” to talk about our feelings - when we had to be stoic, put our heads down be so serious and work. Are some nurses on social media inappropriate? Of course - should we be ashamed of the whole profession? No!
And I’m sorry but what the hell is wrong with crying!? Do you not realize that the profession of nursing deals with the whole spectrum of HUMAN emotion? this means we as humans also need to decompress and if that means crying then so be it - is that means looking at hilarious nursing memes because nurses are the only ones who can relate to one another and find the same stuff funny so then be it! During COVID we have beared witness to absolutely devastating tragic circumstances- people f’ing dying alone - who is very likely at their side? A NURSE - That is not something to be ashamed of - it is something to be proud of - did it ever occur to that perhaps these nurses showing videos of crying or their N95 marks to their face weren’t just seeking personal gratification with a personal “narcissistic” agenda? but maybe, just maybe they did so to wake the public (their friends/family) the F UP to the dangers/tragedies harsh realities associated with COVID. Yes nursing is hard, no it’s not the only hard job. But we are humans caring for other humans - no need to be cruel and “ashamed”. Oh and don’t assume we all entered into for the “lucrative” pay because I’m sure many of us can agree I have seen and smelled some things that No amount of money can pay me enough to stay if I didn’t genuinely love being a nurse ( most of the time :))
What's wrong with stoicism? We live in an age where expressing emotions is highly encouraged, but few people master emotional intelligence in this society, and nursing in particular. People are quick to react with emotions rather than reason nowadays that the cancel culture and being conveniently outraged is the fad du jour. Emotional intelligence is underrated.
Pretty much all hospitals have a social media site.
This is true. My hospital there is no, ZERO, posting about the hospital on any social media site ( I assume the ones that hospital does not run). I don't get how some companies expect employees to post on a company's social media platform when all post from employees will just tell the emperor that his new outfit looks fantastic.
What's wrong with stoicism? We live in an age where expressing emotions is highly encouraged, but few people master emotional intelligence in this society, and nursing in particular. People are quick to react with emotions rather than reason nowadays that the cancel culture and being conveniently outraged is the fad du jour. Emotional intelligence is underrated.
I'm actually reading books about stoicism, a very interesting philosophy that's been practiced for ages. The statement I bolded is probably the smartest thing I've read in this thread to date.
I don't get how some companies expect employees to post on a company's social media platform when all post from employees will just tell the emperor that his new outfit looks fantastic.
What's wrong with stoicism? We live in an age where expressing emotions is highly encouraged, but few people master emotional intelligence in this society, and nursing in particular. People are quick to react with emotions rather than reason nowadays that the cancel culture and being conveniently outraged is the fad du jour. Emotional intelligence is underrated.
I don't know that stoicism OR quick emotional reactions show emotional intelligence. I always figured EI meant being aware of your emotions, knowing what prompted them, and remaining in control of your behavior.
What's wrong with stoicism? We live in an age where expressing emotions is highly encouraged, but few people master emotional intelligence in this society, and nursing in particular. People are quick to react with emotions rather than reason nowadays that the cancel culture and being conveniently outraged is the fad du jour. Emotional intelligence is underrated.
This pandemic has placed many frontline workers under enormous amounts of stress for a prolonged period of time. I personally have no use for social media, but people cope with stress in different ways. Having and expressing emotions is in all likelihood healthy in certain situations. Whatever people do to help deal with the stress, as long as it doesn’t harm them or someone else, is fine by me. If stoicism works for you. Good. But it might not be the solution for everyone.
I'm actually reading books about stoicism, a very interesting philosophy that's been practiced for ages. The statement I bolded is probably the smartest thing I've read in this thread to date.
Thank you for the kind words. May I ask you which book/s?
I don't know that stoicism OR quick emotional reactions show emotional intelligence. I always figured EI meant being aware of your emotions, knowing what prompted them, and remaining in control of your behavior.
Using your understanding, nurses who cannot control their behavior, manifested by the grotesque display of emotions while holding a camera recording these emotional outbursts lack a significant degree of EI.
This pandemic has placed many frontline workers under enormous amounts of stress for a prolonged period of time. I personally have no use for social media, but people cope with stress in different ways. Having and expessing emotions is in all likelihood healthy in certain situations. Whatever people do to help deal with the stress, as long as it doesn’t harm them or someone else, is fine by me. If stoicism works for you. Good. But it might not be the solution for everyone.
I have no issue with someone expressing (or not) their emotions in a manner that is appropriate and professional. Some of the nurses on social media have other motives beyond expression of grief or frustration. There is a component of compulsive attention seeking that is utterly ridiculous.
I have no issue with someone expressing (or not) their emotions in a manner that is appropriate and professional. Some of the nurses on social media have other motives beyond expression of grief or frustration. There is a component of compulsive attention seeking that is utterly ridiculous.
But what is the ”appropriate” way to express grief? Involving a maximum of three facial muscles? No wailing or sobbing? When does the display of grief stop being ”appropriate” and becomes ”grotesque”? Look, I’m Scandinavian and ex-law enforcement as well. Both these things might explain why I usually have a facial expression that’s about as lively as that of the Sphinx of Giza’s when faced with stress or threats. Not sure that makes me very admirable.
The definition of stoic is ”a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining”. I’m not convinced that is always such a great thing.
As I said, I don’t use any social media. It became a thing when I was still in my previous career and posting about personal stuff online didn’t seem like a very smart move, so I never developed the habit. I’m sure that there are some who post who are extreme, craving attention in an unhealthy manner and perhaps even unbalanced, but that can’t be all of them? I’m sure it can also be helpful for some to simply blow off steam. And none of us have to watch unless we choose to.
But what is the ”appropriate” way to express grief? Involving a maximum of three facial muscles? No wailing or sobbing? When does the display of grief stop being ”appropriate” and becomes ”grotesque”? Look, I’m Scandinavian and ex-law enforcement as well. Both these things might explain why I usually have a facial expression that’s about as lively as that of the Sphinx of Giza’s when faced with stress or threats. Not sure that makes me very admirable.
The definition of stoic is ”a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining”. I’m not convinced that is always such a great thing.
As I said, I don’t use any social media. It became a thing when I was still in my previous career and posting about personal stuff online didn’t seem like a very smart move, so I never developed the habit. I’m sure that there are some who post who are extreme, craving attention in an unhealthy manner and perhaps even unbalanced, but that can’t be all of them? I’m sure it can also be helpful for some to simply blow off steam. And none of us have to watch unless we choose to.
I hope you are being facetious with the rhetorical questions. Nonetheless, there is a gaping chasm between appropriate and grotesque display of emotions. The latter is further compounded by the insatiable need to conveniently record oneself. I said some, not all. That should should answer your last question.
Thank you for the kind words. May I ask you which book/s?
Mind you, today's definition of "stoic" bears little resemblance to that classic school of thought. Currently I am reading "How to think like a Roman Emperor"
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What's wrong with stoicism? We live in an age where expressing emotions is highly encouraged, but few people master emotional intelligence in this society, and nursing in particular. People are quick to react with emotions rather than reason nowadays that the cancel culture and being conveniently outraged is the fad du jour. Emotional intelligence is underrated.