Nursing Stereotypes and a Dumb Society

[abbaking]

I have noticed a few nursing stereotypes lately from patients, visitors and even my own friends (some of then are also nurses). Its very annoying

Stereotypes include:

1. A nurse is a nurse is a nurse

2. Angel's of mercy

3. Naughty Nurse (Please, my fellow sisters - FIGHT THIS ONE - This is the worst, in my opinion)

4. Un-educated, misinformed handmaiden

5. All purpose hospital slave

6. Men in nursing are all gay

Perhaps I never paid much attention, but recently I have noticed alot of this. We, as a profession, need some realistic PR.

I went out for coffee with a friend of mine. I was describing my hectic shift with post-op's, documentation and new admits. In all a very busy and routine shift. My friend works in retail. No matter how much I told her of the hard physical, mental and emotional labor involved - she seemed to downplay my job. "It can't be that hard - You work night shift, all the patients are asleep", "Two patients in ICU is easy- what are you complaining for", or "All you have to do is follow what the doctor says and it will be fine".

Makes me mad!!!

Just my

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

One reason that I really dislike the whole "angel of mercy" thing is that I am a human being, flawed, with years of education and experience under my belt. I sweat, pee, bleed, have feelings, and a family. Angels are genderless, created beings with no feelings, can work hours without complaint or need for silly things like meals or bathroom privileges and have no need to spend time with their families. No thanks, I'm no angel.

And neither am I...

But I don't really bother with what people think of me as long as I am professional. I have a very defined line with patients, communicate straightforwardly and fairly--I don't hold hands and caress (until it is a child then I go 1000 million, katrillion mama instincts all the way)--just not me to do it. I have been accused of being solidly "stoic" and somewhat "blunt."

How angelic is that?

I've never been accused of being sweet and merciful. Empathy and appropriately kind, yes, but icky Nightingalish? EW.

People find comfort in that more than anything--at least from my experiences.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

this may be a different kind of 'stereotype', but i have had nursing students (who work at the hospital in cna-like jobs) tell me this. there are apparently other students in their classes who say "when i'm an rn, i won't have to clean poopy pts., messes, change beds, etc. the cna's will do all that". i'm 'justavolunteer' and sometimes the nurse or cna needs another 'somebody' to help with at least turning the pt. sometimes the 'somebody' is me! if i can get dragged in as a volunteer, the nurses are definitely going to be involved.

that's a whole different topic altogether, and one that i could discuss at length. but a whole different topic.

[SandraCVRN]

Oh, and I think what probably creates the biggest issue is they see us sitting down, when we are charting. I don't think anyone understands the concept that we are not sitting down playing on a computer, talking on the phone and doodling. We are talking to the doctor, ordering labs or trying to get lab results on that computer and the doodles are us backing up everything we have done!

I was with a pt and their family in pre-op holding the other morning and I started to text the surgeon to let him know the pt was available (last minute sign-off/any questions/etc) when I realized they probably thought I was just texting anyone while I was there talking with them (which was what they were thinking). I then explained to them most of our surgeons prefer a text that way if they are doing rounds etc they can just look down at their phone and not have to answer a call.

[HealthShepherd]

When I finished nursing school (in 2007), I was startled to discover that my stepfather thought I had spent the last 2 years living in a hospital. Literally living there, not just hyperbole for doing a lot of clinical time.

[marlboroking]

Patients see nurses like people see servers at a restaurant. Then when they need pain medicine all of a sudden we are the doctor. Example: Patient comes to the hospital and asks us if we can have pain medicine before seeing the doctor.

CNA's see nurses as those who are overpaid and hardly do anywork. But when a certain situation arises, all of a sudden we are the nurse and the expert.

[erwigg]

just a pt arrive just over 30 mins early- during our lunch break and I had just back. his appt is at 1.30 he checked in at 1257pm he is hitting the door with his injuried hand demanding to be seen "cause I've been waiting 45 mins for my appt." " its been 8 weeks since the injury this should have been healed 6 weeks after the injury somebody isn't doing their job I want to know why for both"

"you should know what's going on sinc you don't see anybody else execpt 3 or 5 people a month and somehow that keeps you busy alll month"

nice- no convince this guy of reality

[massrn116]

We know what we do and we are good at it. Enough said. PS Anyone watch Nurse Jackie, she is not good for nursing. Although, I would like to have her lunch breaks:lol2:

[kf15]

Hey I feel the same way but none of us who made it this far should think much about what the typical (uninformed) American believes an RN does. We're surrounded w/ idiots who fight AGAINST insurance reform and who blindly believe what corporate paid entertainers say on Faux News.

I started overnites as team lead RN in corrections right off of passing Nclex and I do far more, independently and properly, than the large group of "experienced" Rns and Lpns on dayshift do. I have to, I'm alone!

Unfortunately there is no glory in this niche either, I'm barely even recognized by my mgmt; due to the lousy work environment in hospitals I'm in no rush to work there, even tho it would be more rewarding and challenging.

I like to dazzle the simpletons w/ just rushing some medical speak past them quickly, makes their heads spin!

[kf15]

No, personally I hate virtually all medical shows, it's just not entertaining to watch the fantasy crap version of western medicine, when you're immersed in the reality so much..... I like my time away, forget about it.

PS Anyone watch Nurse Jackie, she is not good for nursing. Although, I would like to have her lunch breaks:lol2:

[SWS RN, ASN, RN]

I simply lack the training to fix..... "STUPID". I refuse to allow myself the headache in any attempt to rectify the situation.

It's that simple. I've worked heart transplant and 15 years ICU, my mother still thinks I walk around with a clip board, getting up from my chair for doctors and dispensing pills in paper cups. From that..... I've got nothing.

I once had a crashing pt. was running 16 channels of drips, running my fool butt off, and the son asked.... "shouldn't you call a doctor?" to do what buddy, tell me to go faster? Like they would know how to help. GEEEEEEZE!

Boy, been there and done that...maybe the doctor could come in and cheer...or "coach" from the sidelines like a basketball game...

s

[MMayo]

I got to say that as a guy, I have found my place in the world and it is in nursing. i don't have many of the problems with nursing as many do. I don't mention the word nursing in public, where lots of sterotypes come up with the other person's ignorance. You can't blame people outright. Look at how the media presents nursing. We are never mentioned in any of the MD shows. When nurses do come up, it is usually as a sterotype. Even the "nurse" shows play up the sterotypes. The only half decent show about hospital work , "E.R.", has lapsed into the dust bin of m3edia history.

I want to propose a radical idea. Nearly ever job in America has changed its job title to fit into a more nuetral tone of being politcally correct. Perhaps dropping the title of "nurse" might start to revamp the public image as well as the internal discrepancies. I know that this is treading over sacred territory of the great history of nursing and its good will. Nurses are working as clincial technicians that we are given credit for than as simpleton handmaids. A new job title might the begiining to re-image the work of a nurse. Remeber that a measuses has been droped for some years now for the more genuine massage therapists. When was the last time you asked for a stewardess on an airplane?

[Claritee]

I want to propose a radical idea. Nearly ever job in America has changed its job title to fit into a more nuetral tone of being politcally correct. Perhaps dropping the title of "nurse" might start to revamp the public image as well as the internal discrepancies. I know that this is treading over sacred territory of the great history of nursing and its good will. Nurses are working as clincial technicians that we are given credit for than as simpleton handmaids. A new job title might the begiining to re-image the work of a nurse. Remeber that a measuses has been droped for some years now for the more genuine massage therapists. When was the last time you asked for a stewardess on an airplane?

Wow... kinda like from secretary to executive assistant, huh. Interesting... Do you have any suggestions?