I just posted the following photo on our allnurses.com facebook page... and someone left the following message:
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Nurses are great but they aren't heroes. Heroes rush into life threatening situations without regard for their own safety. Heroes wear dog tags or badges. That's right, heroes include the members of our military, police officers, firefighters and EMTs. Drs and Nurses are after the fact and provide care from a position of safety. They are not heroes!
Military for a paycheck? You ever see a military paycheck. They do it for a lot of reasons but please not for a paycheck. How about the solders that never see a battle. That fight a war of nerves the ones that are in the silos on top of enough nuclear power to vaporize the world, the ones sailing around the world trying to keep the waters safe, how about the cost guard rescue. Yeah they do it for a paycheck.
Civilians sicken me.
Do you know how arrogant it is to be "sickened" because someone doesn't think you're a hero? Think about that one.
People do most professions for "a lot of reasons" but one of those reasons is definitely a paycheck and one that makes all the risk factors worth the job.
Would they do the same exact job if there wasn't compensation? uh, no.
Of course everyone needs to have money to live, but that's why it's called a job and not a heroic act.
Do you know how arrogant it is to be "sickened" because someone doesn't think you're a hero? Think about that one.
Touche, minny....touche.
I also appreciated the poster (jdoug?) who points out about donating blood, teachers working in unsafe areas, whistleblowers...they too then, would be heroes.
A "hero" is one of those words that should be reserved for the truly extraordinary...
And fear it may be one of those overused words that eventually lose its power and meaning.
There are so many other positive descriptors in reference to nsg.
Let's leave heroism to those who who save lives, when not obligated to do so.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Fumanchuesday said:
"Heroes wear dog tags or badges."
I am required by my employer to wear an ID badge
So does the guy flipping burgers at McDonalds. Are you REALLY going to use that as an argument?
I don't consider doctors or nurses heroes. I consider them people doing jobs. I know that when we happen to save a life, the person on the receiving end considers us heroes.
I bet if you asked a cop or firefighter, they probably don't consider themselves heroes, either. They probably consider themselves people doing jobs, too. Same with the military. That's kind of the thing with heroes. They don't go around being heroes all the time. They just have heroic moments. Mostly they just go around doing their job, which is probably mostly pretty mundane.
I do this work from my heart. Not to earn some title or status as "hero." It's a job. I care for patients and use skills to keep them healthy. If other people want to attach the "hero" label to that, they have the WRONG idea about what nursing is. You don't do this work to win medals, be popular, or be revered. You do it for other people's well-being, and that's IT. If you come into this with any concept of personal gain, you will burn out fast. EMTs, paramedics, military people, firefighters and cops are heroes. I don't go to work in a bulletproof vest, and don't rush into fires, and don't shoot bad guys. Give me a break, I can't stand that "hero" crap.
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.
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All I ever hear is that the military is the hardest job or police officers. While I don't discredit their hard work and sacrifices in any way, I'd like to see them do my job for 1 day hahahaha. Nobody throws us parades, either.
They do.
The military has doctors and nurses...
Try doing 'your job' while dodging bullets or while bombs are exploding or while you're trying to render aid to other servicemen and yes - NON-AMERICAN CIVILIANS, then we'll talk....
I mention civilians with good reason,
some on here act as though we just go overseas like mindless automatons killing people on an 'order'. It's ridiculous. I can't stand these 'outsiders looking in' who throw their opinions around about when they've no idea what being in the military is all about.
They've never been deployed, never swore to defend, never swore to protect and serve, never ventured into to any of these violent areas, yet they've all the opinions in the world about those who do....
I don't buy into any of this "hero" talk. I come from a military family and I even find that to be silly most of the time.
If a "hero" is someone who dodges bullets while they work then I deserve a medal for chopping wood when my drunk grandpa would start shooting off rounds thinking I was stealing his firewood.
A hero is decided by perception -- if someone perceives me as a hero, then I am one. It can't be generalized to or against any one profession.
I do not, and never have bought the "Everyone of XXXXX job is a hero" Not all soldiers are outstanding people, not all police officers are protecting and serving, and certainly all nurses are not angelic heros in scrubs.
Every job has its risks. Doing your job that you signed on for, and handling the surprises that pop up does not make you special, it just makes you competent enough to earn your paycheck.
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minnymi
246 Posts
Do you know how arrogant it is to be "sickened" because someone doesn't think you're a hero? Think about that one.
People do most professions for "a lot of reasons" but one of those reasons is definitely a paycheck and one that makes all the risk factors worth the job.
Would they do the same exact job if there wasn't compensation? uh, no.
Of course everyone needs to have money to live, but that's why it's called a job and not a heroic act.