"I would help you out with a job if I could.."

Published

-------- A Short Rant --------

Hello everyone,

First off, I am a new RN (been working for about 2 1/2 months) in a dermatology practice. I'm one of seven other nurses that work under two MD's.

Anyway, today while in a room with a pt (who is an RN) the doc was telling me what kind of supplies he would need me to get to set up for a procedure we were doing. So the pt asks me if I'm new and I tell her yes and tell her how long I've been there. She asked when I graduated, I told her last May. She then asks me, "didn't you want to start in a hospital?" And the answer was yes, I did want to work in a hospital first and tried to find a job in acute care for three months before a friend (also an RN at the practice) recommended me for the position. I am actually very happy in my position, all the nurses/receptionists/docs are great and I have no complaints. So I told her all that and she says to me, "gosh I wish I could help you out with a job if I could" - HELLO? I HAVE ONE! That I like, that I've said that I enjoy doing! She also then asked me I had found any job prospects in the hospital for work.. I just smile and say "Well, thank you".

I felt like this patient and many other people have made me feel like I am less of a nurse because I work in an office, especially an office in dermatology, rather than acute care. I get that the acuity is not there and we do not handle the same things as other nurses in the hospital/nursing homes/rehabs and so on, but I am still a nurse!

Office-setting nurses or nurses in other roles, have you ever felt this way?

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

I'm not an office nurse, but sadly nurses have developed a caste system when it comes to employment. If you don't work in a hospital then you aren't a 'real' nurse. Maybe you couldn't handle it so you took an office job.

Of course the hospital itself has a pecking order. It seems that ED and ICU battle it out for top dog. Everyone one else are 'just' a med/surg nurse, GI, nurse...etc.. you get the gist.

Sad eh? And people wonder why we aren't respected. We don't even respect ourselves!

Good luck and enjoy your profession. :)

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Thank you for the reply, tokmom. You hit the nail right on the head!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I was lucky enough to start in an acute hospital, but later on worked in quite a few offices and clinics. Yes, I felt that way. Nobody actually questioned me about it, thank God. Anyway, I loved dermatology.

No experience is ever wasted, either. Years after I went back to bedside care (in home care), one of my patients had what everyone (including his doctor) thought was an abrasion on the edge of his ear they seemed perfectly happy to treat with neosporin for weeks on end. I decided to get a magnifying glass and light and saw the central ulcer and pearly edge characteristic of basal cell carcinoma, so I got them a referral. You never know.

So many areas of nursing are categorized by other nurses as "not real nursing" it becomes almost humorous. You learn to let it roll off. Think how lucky you are to enjoy your job. That is such a rarity these days. Best wishes. :)

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

I work in Long term care and have for 25+ years. Many would consider me at the bottom of the pecking order and of no real value as a nurse. (Heck I even had a hospital recruiter out right say this several years ago when I attempted to submit my resume at a job fair. She refused to even take it!).

But you know what...it took some time to come to the realization but this is who I am. I am a LTC nurse. I own it. I wear it proudly. I may not make much difference to a stuffy ole recruiter but I have made a difference in the lives of thousands of residents and family members in the last 25+ years. So who really matters here? Who really cares that I don't operate high tech, state of the art equipment every day. Who decided this was the definition of a nurse anyways?

Love what you do. Make a difference in others lives. Learn to be the best you can be in your practice. Learn to blow off the nay-sayers.

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

My hat is off to any LTC nurse. I did that for a few months as an LPN. You have zero back up when S*** hits the fan. No way did I want to do that again, lol. Give me a RRT.:lol2:

littlecane RN: Thanks. Spoken from experience. I could have worked anywhere in a hospital, but chose to be 'just' a med-surg nurse. :D

BTW, I would love to work in a derm clinic. OMG, I love boils and pus! I'd be pushing the doc out of the way, so I could have first crack at squeezing lol.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
BTW, I would love to work in a derm clinic. OMG, I love boils and pus! I'd be pushing the doc out of the way, so I could have first crack at squeezing lol.

1. Thanks for the kind words. :)

2. Love, love, love the squeezing of the boils and pus!!! Those big ones that have 3, 4 or even 5 heads in them ....the ones that you'd better stand to the side and not straight in front of.. are the best and they are all mine. Maybe I should have worked in derm. too. LOL

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

undoubtedly, one is a nurse no matter where you practice. furthermore, if you're happy with your present position don't give it another thought and answer those who don't care to listen, the way the southern nurses taught me... "bless your heart, i already have a job which i like" enough said they get the point.:D

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

Huh.... and all my instructors are talking about how GREAT nursing is because there are SO MANY OPTIONS that are available to you in nursing.

This reminds me of the old standard "working mom vs stay-at-home-mom" or "breastfeeding vs formula-feeding" arguments/discussions. Moms are moms, shouldn't we all stick together regardless of our employment or nipple status? Same goes for nursing... if it says "RN" on your nametag, does anything else really matter? :rolleyes:

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I would rather be an employed LTC nurse, considered to be at the bottom of the nursing dog pile, than to be an unemployed hospital nurse, who gets rejection emails to online employment applications. Just let these people have their opinions, they are entitled to them, and cash your paycheck with a song on your lips and a lilt to your step. The world still turns.

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Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse, Ambulatory Care.

Sounds like a great practice with 7 nurses for 2 MD's. I know derm gets super busy at times but it sounds like you've got a great team. Screw the hospital, I'd take YOUR job any day :)

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I graduated in 09 and started in a family practice office, I loved it but the pay was HORRIBLE! I am now in LTC which I love but it can be stressful (whoever thinks LTC is a cake walk should try it!).

If I could go back to and office with the pay I am getting now, I would!

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