makingitright

Dear me...I have not commented here in a while, but this subject right here just seem to nag at me and rile me up and so I must put in my two cents worth. The very idea of discriminating against someone because of a personal choice is ludicrous to me. The very idea that you would call someone who smokes a hypocrite is even more so. So are you saying that it is a given that people who do not smoke make better nurses? Seriously? And you know this how? Took a survey did you? So tell me then we begin with kicking smokers out of the nursing programs, who would go next? Someone who is fat, somebody who has a eccentric way of dress, someone you observe eats with their mouth open (annoying I know but...), someone you do not find particularly attractive or perhaps someone who's voice you do not find pleasant? I mean the possibilities are endless. There are people who should be kept out of nursing school for various reasons, but something as superfluous and nonsensical as smoking does not qualify. Valid reasons include a lack of compassion, lack of care, not being able to display empathy towards others, money hungry, in it for the title only, those who do not have the natural vocation for the craft, those are the people who should be weeded out, those are relevant causes to keep someone out of the profession. I have enumerated each of those because it not about my personal feelings, it is not about being subjectively positioned in one way or another, but it is because it is a known fact that people who do not display those key elements give the worst care and are a nightmare to work with. Sigh...I am non smoker, and despite the fact that I loathe the smell of cigarettes, I could never say do not allow this person in because I hate the fact that they smoke. The reason why? It's because those are my personal feelings and has nothing to do with the care that person or those people could provide a patient with. This profession is not an easy one. It takes real heart to be a good nurse. Let's focus on that the heart of the nursing student, their intentions, intellectual capabilities and other such important aspects of the burgeoning student, for those qualities do matter and very much. In closing there are numerous arguments that you could use to write a good paper, but this one in my humble opinion isn't one of them and to tell you the truth it comes of as a little trite, more than a little prejudiced and very much misinformed.

If you were to look up the definition of the word profession, clearly you would see that there is no question that nursing is a profession. As to CNA being a profession, I would dare to say that it is. We are educated, trained and are compensated for our efforts. There is not question that CNA's are professionals no matter what anyone may say. Autonomy and flexibility have very little to do with professionalism, but I must hint at the fact that there are many CNA's who are independent contractors. Such CNA have been able to afford to set the time and place where they choose to work. And if you and others do not know let me inform you that their various organizations who cater only to CNA's, the web is our playground and therefore it allows us to pick and choose which organizations we wish to be apart of. We are not the poor little darlings of the nursing world you know. The interesting part of this whole dialogue is this, that this debate has gone from a registered nurse complaining that non nurses are taking on a role that they have no business taking, to the validity of our roles as a whole. Here we have people questioning our purpose as CNA'a and our education, our license and even our contributions. This is ridiculous! There are people in all professions and not to mention walks of life that claim to be something they are not, although it is wrong, it is something that happens all of the time. There is nothing new under the sun. Take up your anger with those that deserve it and respect those of us who respect ourselves. Some of the best RN's and health managers that I have come across in my years of nursing have worked as NA's and CNA's before going back to school and finishing. And I would have to say that they happned to be the most compassionate and caring people you could ever meet. In my opinion it takes a lot more than just a license or degree to make a good nurse, it bloody well takes heart. And some people are sadly lacking in that department.

Your post made me feel good and made me smile. I will take your advice I can promise you that. Thank you so much for your wise words. If I am honest can I tell you that I feel to hug you right now.

Maybe it could be that the rant rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it is as simple as that. Or then again maybe perhaps it is the fact that I have heard such arguments before and I can mentally record each time a nurse has tried to disrespect me by using their education and position to try to make me feel small. Or then again perhaps it is the idea of someone saying if you do not agree with me, don't post here unless you are like them. I am not like anyone else yet, I am part of the whole. I am a nurse, I am not and RN or an LVN, but I nurse and take care of sick people and help people every single day. This is what I have chosen to do with my life and I love everything that nursing is and represents. With saying that I must say this as well, it is challenge to mantain one's professional dignity and render the best care one can whilst dealing with such superfluous nonsense. This site is called Allnurses for Godsake, not the RN's den! That means to say every person who plays an active part in nursing has a voice. I do not hesitate to use mine when I deem it necessary and will always continue to do as long as I live and breathe.

Ok, let me say this I am CNA and I am aware of my limitations as such. I for one would never claim a title that I am not entitled to have within my scope of practice. For with a title comes responsibilities and with responsibility comes liability any person with a brain would not jeopardize themselves by needing to resort to using a title that they have not earned. Personally speaking, when I consider my own educational goals I know just how foolhardy it would be for me to do so and I would not dare risk it. Now let me say this, surely you could not think to start a thread such as this and not expect some backlash. I mean your anger and frustration are written all over my screen at the moment and to tell you the truth I find it very unbecoming indeed. I have not decided as of yet if I should be offended or not. As I said before that I do not do this, but I do not know what has annoyed me more if it is your holier than thou attitude or the fact that you have basically dared a person not to respond to you. You cannot say I respect these people and follow that up with the vitriol you have let loose on here. I understand that you have worked hard to be where you are and that you are proud of that, I can appreciate that but still... Now you say the offending parties are your friends and some are your co workers? With the co workers it is a little iffy of course it is, but surely they teach leadership and how to deal with difficult situations at the University. As you have articulated yourself so well here, why not use such a resourceful gift to educate them and set them straight? As to your friends, why not speak to them with the truth? Be a good friend and let them know that the cons of using a title that they have not earned and let them no exactly what could happen to them if they continue to do so. You do not need to be a savior for everyone, but, since this subject is a bone of contention for you use all that education you worked so hard for in other words put it to good use and help them help themselves. You wrote that nurses cannot call themselves doctor and you are wrong about that. There are many nurses who hold PhD and Doctorates tell me what do you call them? What would be their title then? The MD's are upset that these nurses who too have worked their butts off can now deign to share such a title with them. Which seems nonsensical to me because when you look into other professions people earn their PhD and are called doctor, so then it leaves me to conclude that it is about ego. It is about I put in this time and this person did not and so who are they to when if they would research they would see that nurses who earn their PhD's and DNP's are not trying to take anything from them, but just wish to be at the top of their field. So it is not even about the well being of patients any more, it all comes down to prestige and titles. How uplifting, it makes me want to go right out and be the best that I can be. I am working hard to become a member of this type of bureaucracy it makes me feel all warm and tingly inside...not. In times like these I have to remember why I love nursing so much and why I have decided against all to take this path.

The world is full of mean people and one has to learn to defend oneself from such people. The most important thing here is the wellbeing of your patient. Secondly, you cannot leave yourself open to be accused of negligence and such. You did the right thing by reporting these people, and if they try to get heavy, stand your ground respectfully. Trust that management will handle it and if they do not, check to see what the grievence protocol is. This is not about being a snitch, you are not going tit for tat by the looks of things, stop being so hard on yourself. You have worked hard to get where you are, you cannot allow anyone to mess that up for you. This is just my two cents. Please take care!

Hell yes! Even if I never go too far on it, it is a beautiful thing. I have been thinking about this forever. I would love a lilac or pink colored one.

It is true when they say the spirit is strong, even though sometimes the body is weak. Your resilience here is so commendable, truth is I feel to just give you a hug right now. If I had the money I would give it to you myself. Take care!

I tend to wash them in hot water and I also like to add a little pinesol to the water or some other desinfectant. I do not like to take any chances.

My take on this anecdote is this, I do not believe that the person who started this thread was making fun of the patient. I think it was of a way to deal with the situation. Personally, I have seen many sad things and I have also seen many funny things as well. My own not so great moments...I have stepped in poop and almost dived face first into it. I have had poop thrown at me, been cursed at, slapped, kicked, pinched I have seen and experienced it all. I have had moments when I just want to cry, but crying is not an option so...you smile to yourself, you might even laugh and you get on with it. I have had a couple experiences when someone was dying and did not want me in the room because of my skin color. I have also had people who would not let me go because they want me to just sit there and hold their hand. I have found that anyone, at any time can become sick and unable to take care of themselves, no one is excluded from this not young or old. That is not a funny matter, it is just the way life is sometimes.

Right now I am working part time and I am looking for another job that will give me benefits and such while I go to school. I shall be working two jobs for the time being, that will work for me right now. I have been working per diem jobs for so long and have not had any health insurance it seems like forever. I cannot keep on living like this. I pray that I will get a good paying job we good benefits, I need it. I pray that you will too.

LOL OMG, how awful!!

I am going to be thirty five this year. I have always known what I wanted to do with my life. I have always always wanted to be a nurse.There are many nurses in the family, grew up with them as friends to the family, not to mention my own grandmother wanted to be one. She would have made a great nurse, but, she chose to put her family ahead of her own dreams. Nursing is in my blood. It is going to take me some time to get to where I want to be, but I am doing all that is necessary to make it. Look, we are not twenty five years old. You could not pay me to be twenty five again, with the same mindset and lack of knowledge. The naivete that comes along with youth is only dispeled by living, and most of us by this age have lived and experienced life a little, if not much. It is wonderful to know what you really want, to not be stuck in mediocrity. Working towards a goal is uplifting and it fuels the need to be something more, to contribute something more. I know so many people who are stuck, miserable as hell and hate everyone and most of all unwilling to even make a slight change. Sometimes that is all it takes, is adjusting your view and the willingness to just try something new. We are not living in the age where if you are thirty, unmarried or what have you, you are considered pass your prime. Women our age and much older are living fabulously, there are so many choices. It almost makes me giddy with pleasure just thinking about it. Life is for the living and well my advice to all is live your life and live it well. To the dickens with anyone who tells you or makes you feel like being you is not enough! I am thankful to be approaching 35 and I feel wonderful!

Yes, these things do happen. But my policy has always been and still is to mind my own business and do my own thing. As to me...I haven't, I could have, but I did not. Anything is possible, just not with a Dr though, what egomaniacs they are.

Great information! Thank you so much for this!!