Posters that are not nurses

chadash · Feb 9, 2007

I am a non-nurse poster. I joined when I was excepted into a nursing program, but then was unable to attend. I remain a CNA. In hindsight, I am very glad.

The reason I have continued in allnurses despite my non-nurse status:

It is important for me to understand the responsibilities and stresses that nurse experiences if I am to be an adequate assistant.

This site provides alot of insight into the healthcare system: how can we work as a team? who does what and why?

You all have answered so many questions! I am understanding a bit better how to prioritize.

Though I lack the knowledge and education and do not have the heavy responsibilities that you all do, I do experience some of the same stress and concerns. I do experience the difficulties of a patient who is in pain, for instance, and though I can not give medications, I still struggle with their discomfort. I still feel the sadness of seeing someone die, or just get worse...

I have the same desire to see the patient be restored to health.

Hope this helps.

sddlnscp · Feb 9, 2007

yes that is part of the problem as well. i also think that some of it may be this.. this has been repeated so many times on this site already, it's ad nauseum. a lot of times the venting here is taken aout of context. i think sometimes we either scare or horrify the students/newbie nurses.
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[color=#483d8b]i don't know if we're viewed as these "angels" (thinking of a recent thread) or what but at the end of a shift, we are human like everyone else. heck, during the shift we're human;) . and yes, we are allowed to have emotions as a result of the job we do. if people want compassion and joy well that means sometimes there's going to be frustration and anger too. but we don't show the negative stuff to our pt's.
[color=#483d8b]we darn sure do more than wipe butts, play on the computer,sit at the nurse's station., and wipe brows
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[color=#483d8b]i'm all for fresh ideas from any newbie, i really am, but for the most part, i really do think it's an experience that needs to be experienced.

gosh, i hope i never say anything that sounds demeaning to you experienced nurses because i have the absolute most respect for all of you. if i do, please tell me so i can appologize right away because it would definitely be unintentional.

i don't know what i would do without the experienced nurses i have been fortunate enough to have had at clinical. i have been so lucky to have some absolutely fantastic nurses who have taught me so much and who i know i can turn to with questions when i have them.

i think that we, as the newcomers to the profession, need to show respect to the seasoned nurses. after all, you guys have "been there, done that" while we are experiencing it for the first time. i think we need to do that with not only the nurses, but all hospital personnel. i spent about an hour of my last clinical speaking with the r/t who was on the med/surg floor we were on. none of the other nurses wanted to spend any time listening to her because they thought what she had to say wasn't important to their job. i, on the other hand, asked a ton of questions and learned so much, it was incredible! she turned out to be a great teacher and she had me listen side-by-side with her to different lung sounds so that i would learn them in a "real" setting. it's too bad that people don't give respect to others very often any more. i am a gen-xer, but i still believe in respecting those who are older or have more experience and i believe in learning from them, not picking them appart or pretending to be superior (hahaha - that would be a joke). oh - respect is not just for those people either - we need to respect and help each other as students, but unfortunately i don't see much of that and it truly saddens me, it seems to be more competative instead. i don't understand that because i feel we are here for the same goal, but it doesn't change it any.

i feel so bad for nurses who are burned out because that's how i feel about my current job and i wish there was a way they could get out and do something that they like (which i state fairly often, only because i know how much more exhilirated i feel knowing i won't be stuck in my current job forever). it is so hard to get up every morning (or afternoon or night) and go to a job that you despise.

i just want to say that all of you are truly appreciated by me as a newcomer. i have learned so much from this site and though you guys do tend to frighten me with the venting, it hasn't stopped me. i am here now and i plan to be here for a long, long time. hopefully i will have a realistic view of nursing as well based on the experiences you have written about throughout my time here.

so, when you are feeling that nobody appreciates you and nobody respects you, just remember that i am here and i do. i don't know what i'd do without you guys and i am in awe of your competence and willingness to lead us.

thank you! :kiss hopefully i will make you all proud some day by being a great nurse and i will owe a huge portion of that to all of you.

kiki2 · Feb 9, 2007

Nothing is worse than a know it all because really they dont know it all. You sound like you have seen a wide range of things, I wouldn't discount anything you had to say. I am sure if It got right down to it you would have broader range of things to bring to the table. Dont let anyone put you down. You dont know who has the hardest job or anything unless you yourself have been in that career. Good luck and keep your chin up!:roll :roll

want2scuba · Feb 16, 2007

i'm going to keep this nice and polite i promise mods!:)
i'm just hoping that one of the smart student/new nurse posters can answer this.
i know that we have quite a few people on here that do not have the title nurse, either rn/lpn. we have some great, intelligent students,new nurses,cna's, techs, etc. most of them add a lot of interesting elements and variety to the posts and i enjoy reading them.
however, i really want to know something. i have noticed this with several other posters(not the above ones) on several occasions. why on earth would someone that is not a nurse think they could ever tell a nurse how to do their job? or think that limited clinical experience is enough to say they know what a nurse does?
i mean, i would never think of say, jumping in a thread telling ob nurses how they should do something or how they could do it better. i've never done ob (not counting school)
i guess this is just frustrating as it seems people think it's so easy to do this job! it's not, it has hard times, fun times, sad,break your heart in two times. but it's not a job that you can learn how to do in a few semesters of school. it takes years. fortunately, i think that most of our students here know that and respect that.
so, what's the thought on the ones that don't know? is it their egos? overconfidence?
i'm really interested in replies.

i am not a nurse. i'm not even in nursing school. i just finishing the last of my science prerequisites. i hope to take the pre-admission exam and get accepted into spring 2008 class.

i used to work at a hospital about 15 years ago. i loved the enviroment. i was a patient representative. before you roll your eyes, i had the nurses' and doctors' backs. i would spend hours with patients diffusing situations to make the patients feel like someone cared. the doctors and nurses then didn't have to waste their time trying to placate some patient instead of taking care of critical patients (not the whiners.)

one patient and his family were so angry because the nurse told them they could only have two visitors in at a time. i really felt sorry for the other patient. his one visitor didn't have a chair. they couldn't hear each other over this loud obnoxious bunch.

i was called to handle the situation. omg it was sickening. have you all ever noticed that people don't visit each other until someones in the hospital? i'm not talking about a serious illness like cancer either. this patient would have 10 to 15 visitors lounging around in his room. some were standing, some had taken the extra chair that belonged to the other patient, some were sitting on the bed, and some were sitting on the floor. how gross is that?

i tried to explain to them that their nurse was certainly not trying to be unreasonable, and they had to think of the comfort of the other patient as well. the yelled over and asked the other patient if they were bothering him. he said they weren't really bothering them. he was the type that did not want a confrontation.

i said that the nurse had given the instruction that there were only two visitors allowed in the room at a time. even that needed to taper as the patient needed a chance to rest.

this whole group got so mad at me and started yelling for their doctor. i walked out of the room, and who did i just happen to see down the hall? the man's doctor. i said, "steve, i am so going to owe you one. your patient and his family are out of control. the nurses can't even do their job." he said, "why don't you take me to them right now."

when steve (the doctor) walked in it was as god entered the room. everyone shut up. he asked, "has this young lady asked you to keep visitors to a maximum of two at a time." they all shook their head "yes."

he said, "i'll tell you what. since you are not happy with the care you are being provided with in this hospital, i can have urologist at another hospital take over your case immediately, and we can have you out of here tonight." he said that he would be right back; it would only make a few calls, and they they could sign the release papers. :chuckle

you talk about shocking the crap out of these people. one of the visitors even said in a very hushed voice to the doctor, "dr. vaught, you are going to take care of him aren't you? you won't let these "other" people hurt him."

who the heck were these other people? me and the nurses? yeah, i guess we would have like to kick their a$$es at about that time.

as soon as the doctor and i left the room and walked down the hall, we busted out laughing. i told him that i must be in the presence of greatness, and i appreciated him telling the patient he would keep an eye out on me and the evil nurses.

i know that was off your topic, but it made me think of that incident.

what is on your subject is that my husband is an er doctor. he said he was saying this not to hurt my feelings, but to give me an idea of what i was getting myself into.

he said he didn't really consider a nurse competent until he/she had at least 5 years' experience. he said that 10 years was when they started getting comfortable. he said the best nurses had 20 years experience.

he was telling me to give him one nurse with 15 to 20 years experience over 12 newly graduated nurses anyday.

to think he thinks like that is disheartening. he is the nicest doctor you'd ever want to meet. the nurses love him. all his nurses that work in the er have a lot of experience. he has their back, and gives them the respect a professional deserves. he said that when he was a young doctor, there were a lot of great nurses out there that really saved his butt.:roll

jill48, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2007

When you have your license and you come on hear with a problem, seeking advice, and some unit secretary or CNA tries to tell you what you did wrong. Everyone is so upset at the OP, but I totally understand what she means. She is not saying that only nurses should have the right to be on this forum, only that EVERYONE that uses the forum should refrain from stepping outside the realm of what they know and not overstep their boundaries.

twotrees2 · Feb 26, 2007

I am a non-nurse poster. I joined when I was excepted into a nursing program, but then was unable to attend. I remain a CNA. In hindsight, I am very glad.
The reason I have continued in allnurses despite my non-nurse status:
It is important for me to understand the responsibilities and stresses that nurse experiences if I am to be an adequate assistant.
This site provides alot of insight into the healthcare system: how can we work as a team? who does what and why?
You all have answered so many questions! I am understanding a bit better how to prioritize.
Though I lack the knowledge and education and do not have the heavy responsibilities that you all do, I do experience some of the same stress and concerns. I do experience the difficulties of a patient who is in pain, for instance, and though I can not give medications, I still struggle with their discomfort. I still feel the sadness of seeing someone die, or just get worse...
I have the same desire to see the patient be restored to health.
Hope this helps.

first off - a thank you for the job you do - without you we " nurses" couldnt do ours -

second - good for you for inspiring to learn and acknowledge the other side - ( though in my view there really is no sides unless you wish to count the corporates - them against us....)

third - wish there were more like you out there and more nurses who would turn and do the same looking to your "side"

with my aides and my unit clerk and my housekeepers, my residents and families, my doctors, and anyone in between - we are a team. i just handed in my resignation to go elswhere and ALL were disappointed , including me ( i am only leaving due to corporate issues )

really the only trouble i have ever had has always stemed from corporate and lack of backbone in management - and thats to bad - corporations run us like a factory and it cant be done and without management strong enough to fight for us we are never going to be "better" - hence off i go to hopefully greener pastures ( and yes i know its not always greener but it sure wont eb as BROWN as it is where i am now lol)

twotrees2 · Feb 26, 2007

I am not a nurse. I'm not even in nursing school. I just finishing the last of my science prerequisites. I hope to take the pre-admission exam and get accepted into Spring 2008 class.
I used to work at a hospital about 15 years ago. I loved the enviroment. I was a Patient Representative. Before you roll your eyes, I had the nurses' and doctors' backs. I would spend hours with patients diffusing situations to make the patients feel like someone cared. The doctors and nurses then didn't have to waste their time trying to placate some patient instead of taking care of critical patients (not the whiners.)
One patient and his family were so angry because the nurse told them they could only have two visitors in at a time. I really felt sorry for the other patient. His one visitor didn't have a chair. They couldn't hear each other over this loud obnoxious bunch.
I was called to handle the situation. OMG it was sickening. Have you all ever noticed that people don't visit each other until someones in the hospital? I'm not talking about a serious illness like cancer either. This patient would have 10 to 15 visitors lounging around in his room. Some were standing, some had taken the extra chair that belonged to the other patient, some were sitting on the bed, and some were sitting on the floor. How gross is that?
I tried to explain to them that their nurse was certainly not trying to be unreasonable, and they had to think of the comfort of the other patient as well. The yelled over and asked the other patient if they were bothering him. He said they weren't really bothering them. He was the type that did not want a confrontation.
I said that the nurse had given the instruction that there were only two visitors allowed in the room at a time. Even that needed to taper as the patient needed a chance to rest.
This whole group got so mad at me and started yelling for their doctor. I walked out of the room, and who did I just happen to see down the hall? The man's doctor. I said, "Steve, I am SO going to owe you one. Your patient and his family are out of control. The nurses can't even do their job." He said, "Why don't you take me to them right now."
When Steve (the doctor) walked in it was as God entered the room. Everyone shut up. He asked, "Has this young lady asked you to keep visitors to a maximum of two at a time." They all shook their head "yes."
He said, "I'll tell you what. Since you are not happy with the care you are being provided with in this hospital, I can have urologist at another hospital take over your case immediately, and we can have you out of here tonight." He said that he would be right back; it would only make a few calls, and they they could sign the release papers. :chuckle
You talk about shocking the crap out of these people. One of the visitors even said in a very hushed voice to the doctor, "Dr. Vaught, you are going to take care of him aren't you? You won't let these "other" people hurt him."
Who the heck were these other people? Me and the nurses? Yeah, I guess we would have like to kick their a$$es at about that time.
As soon as the doctor and I left the room and walked down the hall, we busted out laughing. I told him that I must be in the presence of greatness, and I appreciated him telling the patient he would keep an eye out on me and the evil nurses.
I know that was off your topic, but it made me think of that incident.
What is on your subject is that my husband is an ER doctor. He said he was saying this not to hurt my feelings, but to give me an idea of what I was getting myself into.
He said he didn't really consider a nurse competent until he/she had at least 5 years' experience. He said that 10 years was when they started getting comfortable. He said the best nurses had 20 years experience.
He was telling me to give him one nurse with 15 to 20 years experience over 12 newly graduated nurses anyday.
To think he thinks like that is disheartening. He is the nicest doctor you'd ever want to meet. The nurses love him. All his nurses that work in the ER have a lot of experience. He has their back, and gives them the respect a professional deserves. He said that when he was a young doctor, there were a lot of great nurses out there that really saved his butt.:roll

LOL now that would have been funny to watch. one of those priceless moments in time to recall that families face.

as for your hubby - kudos for him for haviung his nurses backs- i have one doc in particular that actually when found i was leaving hugged me and said she would miss me cause i was one of the few who actually watched out for her residents and my skills had caught a many early warning signs of trouble ( i work primarily dementia so them telling us something is wrong is next to nill lol) - she even offered and gave me her number for a reference!! of course i was shocked as not to many are THAT friendly and observant of the staff - they usually come and go wothout us even knowing they are there let alone "have our backs" - but then in LTC its not like we are with them daily maybe that makes the difference.

ann945n, RN · Feb 26, 2007

I suppose then allnurses.com should be renamed allnursesonlywithexperience.com since this OP would only like people to respond that are nurses but never students wow! I guess this could be summed up as closed minded that anyone other than a pre aproved reply is invalid in having any worthy opinions, sounds a bit like organized religion to me and not condusive to meaningful discussion

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2007

I suppose then allnurses.com should be renamed allnursesonlywithexperience.com since this OP would only like people to respond that are nurses but never students wow! I guess this could be summed up as closed minded that anyone other than a pre aproved reply is invalid in having any worthy opinions, sounds a bit like organized religion to me and not condusive to meaningful discussion

You completely misunderstood the post.

Allnurses.com has and always has been for ALL persons involved in nursing, including students, CNA's, ARNP's, CRNA's, and pre-nursing students.

The post was concerning non-nurses who judge nurses and tell them how to do their job.

It wasn't a post requesting that non-nurses not be allowed on this site.

No need to call names such as "closed-minded", as this doesn't foster the meaningful discussion you desire, but a back and forth argument.

The good thing about this site is that we try to respect one another's opinions wether we agree or not. This includes students who tell us how to do our jobs and includes the original poster who has a problem with that. We are all welcome to express ourselves here. :)

The day this site becomes an elistist organized religion is the day I leave.