i'll probably get flamed to the moon and back for this but..

dievotchka · Jan 17, 2014

I agree to the above. To each his own. Some people become what they have always wanted to be and some people stumble into or around professions. Nursing is a skill like any other job, compassion is an experience that is common in our profession because we deal with life which is the most precious possession of all life. Being compassionate as a nurse is not the same as being a compassionate person. To be honest, these days and age nurses get less and less time to spend bedside being compassionate and more time navigating the ever complex medical system. The skills necessary to maintain and use medical equipment coupled with the ever growing medical information index we are the last line of defense between that wrong med and the patient. As the above author mentioned, setting your heart on one career is just something some people can't do. For example, I know that I like science and problem solving from my BS in biophysics, I know I like working with lots of different people in a fast paced environment from my experience as a server for most of my college career, therefore when I graduated and was offered a base line research position the idea of sitting in a lab all day filling out paper work seemed worse then hell. Nursing on the other hand would satisfy all of my current desires for a job, I'm still young without a family, its a fast paced environment, I do a lot of problem solving and high level cognitive thinking, it pays well and I'm never bored. Can I see myself as a bedside nurse forever? No way. Too stressful on mind and body. Therefore, I always keep my options open.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Jan 17, 2014

Hmm, our transport service, and every other one I know of, both ground and air run with a medic / RN team. Our duties are pretty interchangeable most of the time. However the RN is the team leader and ultimately responsible for everything that happens. It is the RN who makes the call when the patient is stable enough to be put on the rig or helicopter, it is the RN who is responsible and has to explain when things don't go well.

And that may be true, however, a number of services do not have a transport RN. And at least in my state, it is the Medical Director that calls the shots.

I was as surprised as the next person that there are a number of Medics who believe themselves to be in a far greater role than perhaps intended. And important to note--this is what we are TAUGHT!! Never the less, a certification in pre-hospital care does not an MD make. So one's "medical practice" is limited by protocol, and Medical Direction.

I was absolutely following the OP's post until there was the I would rather titrate than make a bed comment. And a number of duties as a nurse involve personal care.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2014

I would just like to say one thing. As a new grad, the direction this post has traveled makes me very sad. I graduated at the top of my class, and apparently that is just not good enough for some of you. I thought my program was hard. I guess I am not as smart as I thought I was, since my ADN program was watered down, and all. I already feel like I am not good enough and I don't know enough as a new new nurse, but now apparently I was poorly educated, too.
That's all.

That is not what we are saying over all....there are good schools out there and you should be proud of your accomplishments! We all felt incompetent upon graduation. I couldn't imagine what made me thing I could be a nurse. I remember the overwhelming sense of panic when a patient wanted to speak to the nurse and I realized it was me!

The OP indiacted that expereinced nurses were less educated about science and nursing in general and that simply is NOT true. The are an increasing number of programs that are popping up everywhere that have a less than describable curriculum.

Madras · Jan 17, 2014

Well SAID, Esme.

Darn she really tugs my heart strings EVERYTIME! :inlove:

Madras · Jan 17, 2014

Yes you did....look at the title of your thread....i'll probably get flamed to the moon and back for this but..
I have mixed opinions. I think you need to WANT to be a nurse. Is that a calling....well maybe. Of course when I went to be a nurse...there was no "money" motivation as we were paid poorly...but we had a steady job. To say your are in nursing for the money because we get paid well is ok, however, I feel that you still need to LIKE what you are doing.
I see a common thread with the distaste of "all the fluff" and it is going to be a sexist comment...I notice that some males (and some younger nurses) are the ones most dissatisfied and talk about being in it for the money and have a distinct distaste of all the "fluff" and fuzzy stuff. I think that those who are in it only for the money can do a good job if they have a good work ethic...but as a supervisor and a patient, I can tell the difference between those that wait for the paycheck and those who REALLY LOVE what they do.
There are those who choose nursing as a second career because they WANT to be a nurse and those who choose nursing because they failed at something else or just couldn't find a job with their degree of choice....and I am sorry to say, for the most part, it shows at the bedside. While some can be technically competent and have patients like them is OK for some people.... it isn't my cup of tea.
As a life long critical care/emergency nurse I love the adrenaline just as much as the next guy....but I love making the bed neat and clean and making my patient comfortable. I shave my patients, fluff their pillow, brush their teeth....it makes them and me feel better. I take pride in the little things that I feel makes me a good nurse. But I can also forearm someone, stand down a gang member and take them down, place them in 4 point restraints, with just as much ease. But I LOVE what I do...I always have.
I don't think that because I love the fluff and I believe that to be a "good" nurse you have to like what you do....and like patients... that I lack the intelligence nor the wear with all to know how to calculate a drip, make split second decisions, and be a learned professional and an expert in my specialty. I don't view compassion nor empathy as a weakness. I don't sob at the bedside making me emotionally incapable to work...but I do feel sadness and at times have sought the solace of the restroom to shed a few tears. It doesn't make me any less of a professional or less of an expert in my field.
I bothers me when nurses have such disdain for the profession and state that the education is inferior somehow and watered down. That the tasks are menial and are not befitting a "profession". While I believe that there are serious flaws in the current curriculum in SOME programs and the education for the bedside nurse is being watered down to purposely favor "advanced degrees"....My micro/organic chemistry/gross anatomy were taken right along side of the med students....and we NOT watered versions of the real thing in my ASN program 35 years ago.
While I LOVE being a nurse....it doesn't mean that I don't think that some patients are jerks. Just because I love being a nurse doesn't mean I have to LOVE every patient...some people are just jerks. I think those who flame out had unrealistic expectations to begin with and the harsh reality of what nursing really is becomes too much to deal with. Have there been times I ahve hated a particular day? Sure. But I find solace in the little things that I can do to make my patients cared for...important. They make me feel good.
Nursing goes through this every few years...when the economy improves I believe that there will be another mass exodus of nurses. Those who stopped being at home Moms will return home. Those who went into nursing for the "pay" will bail at the first opportunity for pay away from nursing. All the new grads that can't find work will have moved on. Leaving another gaping hole. I have seen this a few times in nursing and will see it again.....and even thought nursing has tossed me aside because I am ill.
It is still the best job I ever had.

Oh Esme you make me want to act like a youngin' and wear a T-shirt to work everyday that says "TEAM ESME" on it!

but of course they would all just think I'm a huge Twilight fan :sarcastic:

PMFB-RN, RN · Jan 17, 2014

And that may be true, however, a number of services do not have a transport RN. And at least in my state, it is the Medical Director that calls the shots.

Our medical director calls the shots as well. However in any one run there are going to be judgment calls made by the team. The RN and medic are going to make these calls together, only an idiot would not take the advice / opinion of the very experienced medics into account. However it is the RN who is the team leader and must bear the responsibility of decisions made. We are a little unique in that due to the very rural nature of our catchment area there are times when the transport team can not be in contact with our base / medical control.

I was as surprised as the next person that there are a number of Medics who believe themselves to be in a far greater role than perhaps intended. And important to note--this is what we are TAUGHT!! Never the less, a certification in pre-hospital care does not an MD make. So one's "medical practice" is limited by protocol, and Medical Direction.

You are surprised? I think anyone who has spent much time working with medics would not be surprised by that. I only do transport on the very casual basis anymore but have to say that on our team at least, there is nothing but respect and cooperation between RNs and medics.

I was absolutely following the OP's post until there was the I would rather titrate than make a bed comment. And a number of duties as a nurse involve personal care.

I agree that the comment demonstrated a severe knowledge deficit about the roll of RNs.

elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 17, 2014

The OP indiacted that expereinced nurses were less educated about science and nursing in general and that simply is NOT true. The are an increasing number of programs that are popping up everywhere that have a less than describable curriculum.

when did i indicate this ? if it seems like i was demeaning the education of nursing, then this was truly not my intent. And i agree that programs are popping up everywhere that have less stellar curriculum. All i was saying was i dont really want to spend several classes going over the ethical terms, safety terms, legal terms. That doesn't mean im trashing nurses in general or the whole profession. But these are things id rather learn OJT, in an HR handbook when im on the floor, because lets face it, each dept and facility has their own policies anyway.

Some programs are better than others. Some students are better than others. We're not all the same people and we all won't work the same way. Some of us have different interests, perks, strong points and weak points. I just hate how we're looked at as a giant clump, and if anyone deviates from where we really place our values in this profession, we're demonized and scolded and "looking down on the profession and all of its educational greatness".

MandieeRN · Jan 17, 2014

does anyone else get tired of hearing (from other SNAs/hopefuls/vets) what we nurses are "suppose" to be like ?
i read through thread after thread of how if you're not "compassionate to the core" and "really into nursing" and all this other stuff, you won't do well in the program or as a nurse in general.
is it really that big of a deal that some use the profession as a fallback option, or as a way to get by while trying to pursue something they'd really wanna be doing, without having to work something that provides just above minimum wage to make ends meet ?
i often hear people being scolded because their "heart" isn't in nursing, and for taking a seat away from others who "really" want to be there. Are any of us less deserving because we went through the same prereqs as everyone else but were competitive enough to actually secure a seat ? Is this something i should apologize for ? Should we be barred from applying simply because we have different prospects for the horizon ? Say med school ? or a field outside of healthcare altogether ?
Is it wrong to consider this profession a job ? one in which i will do my best to do well as i would with any other endeavor ? I go in with an attitude to make sure all of my duties are done, everyone is accounted for, and everything is the way it should be from the time i arrive until the time i clock out. Does it make me a bad nurse that i don't cry with a patient when they're going through a hard time ? Please dont take this as an implication as me directing negative or rude comments towards the patient. I'm attentive, and consoling, but i'd rather not have my emotions tie me up in knots to the point where i start to make clinical errors, which in the end is truly the most important thing to me.
Don't mind me, just my Tuesday morning rant for the day. I'm curious to see who else feels like this. I know im the minority but i can't be the only one

I love that you are so honest. Good for you! I don't think people should treat you any different than a nurse who has always wanted to be one:) you worked just as hard! :) best of luck to you!

Alnitak7 · Jan 19, 2014

What irritates me is when groups of people get together with the attitude that No one cares except for us.

They know how to efficiently block the way for people who would like to be helpful and don't know how to

"push their way in," or how to approach a situation.

TraumaSurfer · Jan 19, 2014

All i was saying was i dont really want to spend several classes going over the ethical terms, safety terms, legal terms.

That seems to be the consensus in EMS. Could that be why there are so many injuries due to a lack of safety awareness such as seatbelts, Code 3 driving, overall vehicle driving and scene safety? Could it also be part of the criticism in the studies for infection control awareness in EMS or even hand washing? Could this be why DNRs are so miss understood and there is no agreement on how or when to do spinal immobilization? Could this be why a basic understanding of cultural differences and a lack of respect for religious beliefs are so prevalent in EMS? Could this be why many in EMS is not big on QA processes which indicate areas of deficiency? Could this be why EMS loves to blame patients or just about anything or anyone else rather than being held accountable? Is this why EMS loves to use the word "lawsuit" so loosely even though very, very few Paramedics have ever been directly sued to a loss or held directly accountable. That includes the big ones in your area by the private ambulance company.

You might think these classes are useless because EMS has for a long time thought them to be bullcrap. But, the more responsibility you get, the more you will expect to be held accountable for your actions. You will not be able to hide under the umbrella of sovereign immunity. Good Sam laws or ignorance of the safety and legal mandates. When you become an RN, you will no longer be able to just drop off at the ER and let the nurse take care of the paper work you don't want to do.

elijahvegas, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jan 20, 2014

That seems to be the consensus in EMS. Could that be why there are so many injuries due to a lack of safety awareness such as seatbelts, Code 3 driving, overall vehicle driving and scene safety? Could it also be part of the criticism in the studies for infection control awareness in EMS or even hand washing? Could this be why DNRs are so miss understood and there is no agreement on how or when to do spinal immobilization? Could this be why a basic understanding of cultural differences and a lack of respect for religious beliefs are so prevalent in EMS? Could this be why many in EMS is not big on QA processes which indicate areas of deficiency? Could this be why EMS loves to blame patients or just about anything or anyone else rather than being held accountable? Is this why EMS loves to use the word "lawsuit" so loosely even though very, very few Paramedics have ever been directly sued to a loss or held directly accountable. That includes the big ones in your area by the private ambulance company.
You might think these classes are useless because EMS has for a long time thought them to be bullcrap. But, the more responsibility you get, the more you will expect to be held accountable for your actions. You will not be able to hide under the umbrella of sovereign immunity. Good Sam laws or ignorance of the safety and legal mandates. When you become an RN, you will no longer be able to just drop off at the ER and let the nurse take care of the paper work you don't want to do.

I can't tell of you're deliberately missing the point of everything I say, or you actually believe what you're trying to get across

If you think knowing the difference between slander and libel is what makes or breaks a nurse, medic, or anything other healthcare professional I think we are in mutual agreement that were glad not to be working with each other.

But I do enjoy the generalization placed on ems throughout these forums. It's completely unfathomable why a cna or lpn would say something like this...no one in my class could possibly agree with me, right? But since he's a medic, Oh Well, that explains everything.

Aurora77 · Jan 20, 2014

You sound like me. So maybe you should be an ER nurse. Or ICU? It takes all kinds....there is a place for you in nursing! lots of places in fact![/quote']who do you think makes the beds, does the baths or deals with incontinence in ICU?