This morning I read a Facebook post by Allnurses: "I firmly believe that 'too stupid to live' should be a diagnosis."
This post is receiving 'likes' and 'shares'.
I'd "like" to take this opportunity to not just passively read such a post, but really consider the message.
Is this post a favorable representation of the nursing profession?
Do we want to encourage this type of thinking among our peers?
Is this how some view our fellow human beings who have entrusted their care to us?
Is this really about nursing arrogance?
May I counter such thinking? (I love to read the definition of a word to be reminded of its full beauty)
Humility - acknowledging that acheivement results from the investment of others in my life
Meekness - Yiedling my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve
Self control - rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right
Altruism - unselfish regard to the welfare of others
Empathy - The ability to share and understand the feelings of another
Compassion - investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others
Advocate - the act of pleading, supporting or recommending
and then..... there is basic Kindness
Such a post does not leave me in judgement of the patient, but the nurse.
"The world is put back by the death of every one who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts to conventionality." - Florence Nightingale
I'm going to find some more of these posts. It's long past lunch and I'm hungry. Cookies sound wonderful! I'll grab some fluffy bunny posts...mmm...bunny.
It hurt the sensitivities of some visitors to the page as they didn't find the humor to be "nursing appropriate"...or something. Political correctness FTW!
I googled "meek" and the wikipedia page on it wasn't as bad as the others. According to the wikipedia page, it means that the person is "humble, teachable, patient under suffering, long suffering" and I think those are really important. We need to remain humble and teachable. Both of these go hand in hand and prevent arrogance and stubbornness which can both hurt a patient. Patience under suffering is important for when your patient or the family is screaming at you, or people seem to be pushing every single button that you have. The ability to be long suffering is critical for when you feel overworked and under appreciated and yet still can have compassion for someone who takes their anger out on you.
But I agree that aside from wikipedia, most of the definitions that I've read about "meekness" including the one the OP used, is not something that I would personally make a priority. Being submissive doesn't work if you need to advocate for your patient. Being docile isn't going to be efficient if your patient starts coding and you need to speak up about a concern that you see. Being long suffering can hurt in the long run if that means the nurse isn't taking care of him/herself and therefore experiences burnout. Putting everyone else's interest above your own, and the constant and disproportional sacrificing of self can eventually lead to resentment.
I would prefer words such as compassionate, level headed, strong, team player, listener, perceptive, leader, dependable, thick skinned, willingness to self-sacrifice when needed... etc. All these qualities can have the same positive effect that meekness can have.
Also, I quoted your post because the last part of your comment made me laugh pretty hard lol
The meekness discussion was interesting though.
I didn't know anything about the meek except that they shall inherit the earth, presumably when it's a pile of garbage.
Meek? Yeah no. My first nursing job involved a riot shield, spit hood and 8-16 hours/day of dodging flying excrement and punches in a max security facility for the criminally insane. I don't consider not being 'meek' being arrogant, I call it "not ending up permanently disabled". My right and my staff's right not to be assaulted is always and forever going to be more important than a patient's desire to hit me. I still have compassion and empathy - otherwise I wouldn't work in this area, but you can still be compassionate, empathetic and advocate for your patients while also being assertive and maintaining your own personal rights.
Meek? Yeah no. My first nursing job involved a riot shield, spit hood and 8-16 hours/day of dodging flying excrement and punches in a max security facility for the criminally insane. I don't consider not being 'meek' being arrogant, I call it "not ending up permanently disabled". My right and my staff's right not to be assaulted is always and forever going to be more important than a patient's desire to hit me. I still have compassion and empathy - otherwise I wouldn't work in this area, but you can still be compassionate, empathetic and advocate for your patients while also being assertive and maintaining your own personal rights.
My hat is off to you and others who willingly work in these kinds of environments. GOD bless all of you. It really does put the whole "meek" think into perspective. If Jesus would have been one of your nurses the New Testament might have a few more chapters.
Exactly my thoughts, BluEyes! I can't afford to be. Everything else fits perfectly, but "meek" isn't an acceptable quality. "Meek" doesn't stand up and speak out. "Meek" quietly holds the status quo, and does not rock the boat.
Furthermore, "meek" doesn't fight for what is right for both patients AND the nursing profession. So, no. Never MEEK.
I agree. I don't like the arrogant types. Some people have too good of a life / have had it too easy... to empathize with others. And that. is. ANNYOING.
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FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN
2,320 Posts
"Too stupid to live" should not have been posted on facebook. Not just because its discompassionate but also because it's not funny.
Stupid people have a right to live. I'm smarter than everyone I know and I still let y'all live.
That was a little funny. But only slightly more funny. Observe my humility.