I've been reading a lot of posts here lately about people complaining about nursing schools "churning out nurses", (if I hear that phrase one more time I might throw up in my mouth!) about bad staffing ratios, bad management, bad patients, bad families, bad jobs, bad economy, bad co-workers, bad docs, bad techs, bad hair days and so on ad nauseum.
To all of that, I have one response: Warning, this video is very not safe for work and has "naughty words" in it. If that offends you though, I suggest you harden up even further!
My point with this is that while I fully understand that people love, LOVE to complain endlessly about every little thing, it's easy to forget life's many beautiful things. It's also easy to forget that all the crap you're complaining so tirelessly about usually has a whole other side to it. I'm willing to bet for every "jerk" family member or manager you talk so much garbage about, they've got an equally angry story about this "horrible idiot" nurse they have to deal with. It certainly gives me food for thought when I realize that the people I may want to lash out at so frequently also have their own goals and problems.
What does this have to do with nursing? Everything.
For one, I myself am one of those new grads who was "churned" out according to a great deal of you who believe people like me are worth less than nothing, apparently. As if my schooling was somehow less of a nightmare than yours. And guess what? I actually have a job because I worked my tail off to get it, and spent a lot less time complaining about it on the internet. I honestly believe that we are largely in control of how we respond to what life deals to us, and the endless complaining I have seen on here has really gotten so bad lately that it seems like it's just largely noise when compared to signal.
A little optimism goes a long way. Optimistic people command respect. They don't wait or hope for it. Optimistic people work with their goals in mind, and find no comfort in a lifestyle of complaints and anger. Optimistic people are that way for a reason. There is nothing keeping you or anyone from doing whatever it is in life that you feel needs to be done. If you hate nursing, I mean REALLY hate it, then go find your happiness in life. Irrespective of how great an actor you think you are, you're taking it out on your patients and co-workers and everybody sees it. Don't be THAT guy / girl.
Anyway, as far as the youtube video goes, whenever I find myself getting too bummed out over some ridiculous detail or find myself complaining way more than my fair share, I remind myself to harden up and be the change I want to see. It's good advice for anyone in the world, regardless of their profession.
May I recommend the book "Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America" by Barbara Ehrenreich?
Isn't that the lady that went around taking minimum wage jobs and trying to live off minimum wage for 6 months, then wrote an earth-shattering book about how harrrrrd it is to live off minimum wage?
Isn't that the lady that went around taking minimum wage jobs and trying to live off minimum wage for 6 months, then wrote an earth-shattering book about how harrrrrd it is to live off minimum wage?
I will pass!
I think you're refering to "Nickle and Dimed," which I have not read, but was well received by critics. From what I understand, she was attempting to counteract the "too lazy to work" attitude held by a lot of people who assume that anyone can survive on minimum wage in this country. Sounds like you disagree with the idea that it's difficult to live on minimum wage.
I did find this interesting. From the wikipedia page about the book:
"Foremost, she attacks the notion that low-wage jobs require "unskilled" labor. The author, a journalist with a Ph.D. in cell biology, found manual labor taxing, uninteresting and degrading.
*She says that the work required incredible feats of stamina, focus, memory, quick thinking, and fast learning. Constant and repeated movement creates a risk of repetitive stress injury, pain must often be worked through to hold a job in a market with constant turnover;* and the days are filled with degrading and uninteresting tasks (e.g. toilet-cleaning and shirt-reordering). She also details several individuals in management roles who served mainly to interfere with worker productivity, force employees to undertake pointless tasks, and make the entire low-wage work experience even more miserable."
"She claims "personality" tests, questionnaires designed to weed out "incompatible" potential employees, and urine drug tests, increasingly common in the low wage market, deter potential applicants and violate liberties while having little tangible positive effect on work performance.
She reports that "help needed" signs don't necessarily indicate an opening; more often their purpose is to sustain a pool of applicants to safeguard against rapid turnover of employees. "
What "profession" does that description remind you of?
"Foremost, she attacks the notion that low-wage jobs require "unskilled" labor. The author, a journalist with a Ph.D. in cell biology, found manual labor taxing, uninteresting and degrading.
*She says that the work required incredible feats of stamina, focus, memory, quick thinking, and fast learning. Constant and repeated movement creates a risk of repetitive stress injury, pain must often be worked through to hold a job in a market with constant turnover;* and the days are filled with degrading and uninteresting tasks (e.g. toilet-cleaning and shirt-reordering). She also details several individuals in management roles who served mainly to interfere with worker productivity, force employees to undertake pointless tasks, and make the entire low-wage work experience even more miserable."
"She claims "personality" tests, questionnaires designed to weed out "incompatible" potential employees, and urine drug tests, increasingly common in the low wage market, deter potential applicants and violate liberties while having little tangible positive effect on work performance.
She reports that "help needed" signs don't necessarily indicate an opening; more often their purpose is to sustain a pool of applicants to safeguard against rapid turnover of employees. "
What "profession" does that description remind you of?
I think you're refering to "Nickle and Dimed," which I have not read, but was well received by critics. From what I understand, she was attempting to counteract the "too lazy to work" attitude held by a lot of people who assume that anyone can survive on minimum wage in this country. Sounds like you disagree with the idea that it's difficult to live on minimum wage.
No, I found it insulting to the average minimum wage worker that it's supposedly so surprising that they must work so hard for their money and that they can't get a whole lot done on minimum wage. I for one kinda knew that, but she wrote it as if she was simply mortified over all of it! I guess I don't come from as far up on the privilege ladder as she does, so it was sort of a snooze for me.
No, I found it insulting to the average minimum wage worker that it's supposedly so surprising that they must work so hard for their money and that they can't get a whole lot done on minimum wage. I for one kinda knew that, but she wrote it as if she was simply mortified over all of it! I guess I don't come from as far up on the privilege ladder as she does, so it was sort of a snooze for me.
The book wasn't aimed at minimum wage earners. It was aimed at those who don't have a clue what it's like to try and live off minimum wage.
That much is obvious from just reading about the book.
You must not enjoy books about the Great Depression, because, duh, life was hard then obviously, we don't need a book telling us that.
Or about the plight of Islamic women in oppressive countries, because duh, we already know it's hard for them, and it would be insulting to act surprised at what they have to endure.
Or about what it's like to be a minority in America, because, duh, they already know and they don't need a book telling them how hard their lives can be because they're already living it.
The purpose of this book and books like it, is to enlighten those who don't understand and those who only have a limited understanding. I have worked for minimum wage before. I have never had to support a family on minimum wage. Frankly, after reading about this book, I'd be interested in what it has to say.
For one, I myself am one of those new grads who was "churned" out according to a great deal of you who believe people like me are worth less than nothing, apparently. As if my schooling was somehow less of a nightmare than yours.
I'm new to the forum but have spent quite a lot of time reading it for the past several days. I don't dispute what you are saying, but I haven't seen any posts at all which reflect the sentiment that "people like (you) are worth less than nothing." I have, however, read a lot of posts which bemoan the fact that nursing schools are accepting nursing school students without giving them crucial information regarding the state of the nursing market right now. Then many of those new grads, eager and ambitious, go out to pound the pavement after graduation, only to find that there are very few jobs available relative to the number of candidates seeking employment.
If that is actually the case, then I understand the frustration being expressed here.
Congrats on getting your job; I'm sure you did work hard to get it and are quite deserving. Do understand that others, just as hard working and deserving, may not so lucky as you and feel at least the momentary urge to vent. Also, as a relatively new grad, you haven't been slugging it out in the trenches, feeling the stress of increasing patient loads which become dangerous, or other difficult working conditions for years and years. Your perspective my change as well after enduring years of disintegrating conditions and negative work environment. A little compassion for them goes a long way-also comes in handy in nursing when patients are feeling despair, fear, pain, etc. and also need to vent a little.
Good luck in your career. Also love the screen name.:)
The book wasn't aimed at minimum wage earners. It was aimed at those who don't have a clue what it's like to try and live off minimum wage.
That much is obvious from just reading about the book.
You must not enjoy books about the Great Depression, because, duh, life was hard then obviously, we don't need a book telling us that.
Or about the plight of Islamic women in oppressive countries, because duh, we already know it's hard for them, and it would be insulting to act surprised at what they have to endure.
Or about what it's like to be a minority in America, because, duh, they already know and they don't need a book telling them how hard their lives can be because they're already living it.
The purpose of this book and books like it, is to enlighten those who don't understand and those who only have a limited understanding. I have worked for minimum wage before. I have never had to support a family on minimum wage. Frankly, after reading about this book, I'd be interested in what it has to say.
Well in that case have fun reading it. I come from a middle ground, have worked such jobs and much better jobs, and I found her complaints akin to that of a 16 year old middle class teenager working her first "real job." Maybe America's blue bloods enjoyed reading about how the other half lives and needed some perspective on that from the shrill voice of a whiny entitled brat. I did not.
She also spent plenty of time in the book pointing out all the shortcuts taken by her fellow employees and how none of them wanted to work as hard as she did, but then again, that's not described inside the cover, is it?
I didn't enjoy the book, and wouldn't read another one by the same author. That's all I was saying. If you wish to make assumptions about me and attack me personally for it because you liked one of her books, knock yourself out. *shrug*
Well in that case have fun reading it. I come from a middle ground, have worked such jobs and much better jobs, and I found her complaints akin to that of a 16 year old middle class teenager working her first "real job." Maybe America's blue bloods enjoyed reading about how the other half lives and needed some perspective on that from the shrill voice of a whiny entitled brat. I did not.
She also spent plenty of time in the book pointing out all the shortcuts taken by her fellow employees and how none of them wanted to work as hard as she did, but then again, that's not described inside the cover, is it?
I didn't enjoy the book, and wouldn't read another one by the same author. That's all I was saying. If you wish to make assumptions about me and attack me personally for it because you liked one of her books, knock yourself out. *shrug*
I'm not attacking you personally, I'm saying I think you missed the point because you instead attack the author rather than idea. You've said next to nothing about the validity of the book, but have said a whole lot about the author. I was hoping to tease something more substantial out of you regarding the book, but sadly I see I'm only going to get juvenile assumptions and catty remarks that about the author's personality and background.
I'm not attacking you personally, I'm saying I think you missed the point because you instead attack the author rather than idea. You've said next to nothing about the validity of the book, but have said a whole lot about the author. I was hoping to tease something more substantial out of you regarding the book, but sadly I see I'm only going to get juvenile assumptions about the authors personality and background.
Sigh.
I don't have to make assumptions about her background; she sets them forth in the book. As for her personality, I think that comes out in writing, otherwise all books would sound the same. Personality is a matter of opinion. I have stated mine; it comes from reading the book. Not sure where yours comes from, but I must say you are awfully invested in it.
I don't have to make assumptions about her background; she sets them forth in the book. As for her personality, I think that comes out in writing, otherwise all books would sound the same. Personality is a matter of opinion. I have stated mine; it comes from reading the book. Not sure where yours comes from, but I must say you are awfully invested in it.
I was invested in learning a bit more about the book from someone who'd read it and having an intelligent discussion about the book. As usual I will have to stray from these forums to find it.
Thanks anyway though. My interest has been piqued, and I'll probably head down to the library to take a gander.
I was invested in learning a bit more about the book from someone who'd read it and having an intelligent discussion about the book. As usual I will have to stray from these forums to find it.
Thanks anyway though. My interest has been piqued, and I'll probably head down to the library to take a gander.
Oh cool, as long as you're not actually spending money on it. Otherwise I'd suggest not taking my word for it and checking out Amazon's user reviews of it before buying.
redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN
1,086 Posts
Isn't that the lady that went around taking minimum wage jobs and trying to live off minimum wage for 6 months, then wrote an earth-shattering book about how harrrrrd it is to live off minimum wage?
I will pass!