"I Narcanned Your Honor Student"

RNrhythm, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2017

I am not going to comment on the bumper-sticker because of the week I had, but I often think about the relationship between pain and humor. It seems like all humor is rooted in pain.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Jun 30, 2017

In your free time look up Gallows Humor, otherwise known as black humor. Although this type of humor is seen as dark or inappropriate it is how healthcare workers deal and cope with some of the terrible things we see.

Don't take it personally or be offended by it, you to will more than likely experience this in the workplace as a nurse and will eventually have a dark sense of humor yourself.

Annie

Flare, ASN, BSN · Jun 30, 2017

i work a side job that brings me into that world, but requires absolutely none of my nursing muscles. (i know, we never really go off duty, but honestly, that's not what i'm there for). I have seen young people that I can tell have come from an affluent background by the way they talk and dress and carry themselves who have been reduced to the lowest rung due to their addictions. It really makes me sad for them and hopeful that they can get the help they need. (not just them - all the people i come in contact with. Addiction is not just a disease, it's a curse)

I think the idea of a sticker / meme like that - while i'm not one for bumper stickers, but i am one for dark humor, is maybe just maybe a wake up call that the straight a cheer leader / captain of the team is not immune to being chained to a steel table in the booking room of the local pd unable to string two words together, having narcan squirted up their nose and then wondering who they're going to call because they burned all their bridges last time they got arrested.

JKL33 · Jun 30, 2017

OP - Why are you assuming that someone is taking humor in this situation? You know what they say about assuming, right?
Did you ever think that maybe the person(s) who created this did so to make the statement that *nobody* is immune from an overdose? It can be anyone from any walk of life including a straight A student.

Ha, ha...not so much. If that's the message meant to be conveyed, it could've just said something along the lines of "Honor Students Get Narcan, Too", or some such thing that had a more PSA feel to it and didn't involve what "I" did to "your" honor student. No, this is a direct "tit-for-tat", or "Oh yeah? Well ______!" response. Fairly childish...so I guess it's cool if that's how one wants to represent one's profession.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Jun 30, 2017

I agree that it's more of a jab at the TMI bumper stickers people use than a judgment on honors students who use drugs. As far as whether this is humor, eh, I've heard better jokes. But, I will say that being able to laugh at some of the things I see doesn't mean I don't have compassion for my patients or want to help them. I can find certain details of a situation to be amusing without forgetting that I'm trying to save a human life and spirit and conducting myself as such.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2017

Personally I just think it's stupid in that "Everybody look at me, I'm a Rockstar" kind of way. It's actually more about the braggadocio of the person wearing it than the problem of either overdoses or honor students, which I guess I just don't find attractive or impressive. Same reason I wouldn't be caught dead wearing or carrying anything with any "nursing" slogans on it ("Would you rather speak to the doctor or the ***NURSE*** who knows what's going on?"). What is hilarious is the number of times I've seen people wearing these and, well, they haven't quite actually made it to Rockstar status yet.
ETA: I have a family, and it includes honor students. I don't need any shirts, tote bags or bumper stickers representing those facts either. All stupid.

This.

**emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN** · Jun 30, 2017

Ha, ha...not so much. If that's the message meant to be conveyed, it could've just said something along the lines of "Honor Students Get Narcan, Too", or some such thing that had a more PSA feel to it and didn't involve what "I" did to "your" honor student. No, this is a direct "tit-for-tat", or "Oh yeah? Well ______!" response. Fairly childish...so I guess it's cool if that's how one wants to represent one's profession.

I wouldn't wear or tote any kind of bumper sticker, slogan, or anything like that so I guess I didn't look at it that way.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jun 30, 2017

When you become a nurse, you will understand.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 30, 2017

After browsing Reddit today, I came across something that troubled me deeply. This is not the first time I have seen something of this nature displayed. Once I seen an EMT with a VERY similar quote on a t-shirt. Being in nursing school has allowed me to open up and become compassionate about many things.
Why would someone take humour in this situation?

Why would someone think it's funny? Because sometimes, you either laugh or you cry. Dark humor is a coping mechanism in healthcare. Laughing at the same inappropriate (in the non-healthcare world) things helps to bond you with your colleagues and promotes team building.

Dark humor, black humor or health care humor doesn't make you less compassionate -- it helps even the most compassionate among us to tolerate situations that would otherwise burn us out. When you're a nurse, hopefully you'll get it.

macawake, MSN · Jun 30, 2017

Ha, ha...not so much. If that's the message meant to be conveyed, it could've just said something along the lines of "Honor Students Get Narcan, Too", or some such thing that had a more PSA feel to it and didn't involve what "I" did to "your" honor student. No, this is a direct "tit-for-tat", or "Oh yeah? Well ______!" response. Fairly childish...so I guess it's cool if that's how one wants to represent one's profession.

I'm inclined to agree. I doubt that " I Narcanned Your Honor Student" is a part of a drug abuse awareness campaign. Do most people who don't work in healthcare even understand what "Narcanned" means?

It sounds ridiculous by the way. I'm not a native English speaker, but to me "Narcanned" sounds dumb. :rolleyes: Is it a verb? I get that "I administered an opioid antagonist to your honor student", doesn't sound as catchy... but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that T-shirt. It basically screams, look at me I'm such a cool, blasÃ© and jaded, hero EMT/paramedic/nurse/similar.

I never wear anything that identifies my profession during off-duty hours. I didn't do it when I worked in law enforcement, I don't do it now as a nurse. I get to hear enough about people's problems and constantly get asked for advice when I'm on the clock, why would I want that in my private time?

OP, I think that getting deeply troubled by a T-shirt is a disproportionate response. It's a stronger reaction than an article of clothing warrants. It's just a T-shirt. It's not worth getting upset about it.

As far as dark humor goes, yes it can definitely be used as a method to help cope with stress. I guess I'm just not seeing it in the message on this T-shirt.

CKPM2RN, ASN, EMT-P · Jun 30, 2017

I think it's funny. But I'm actually a nurse, and you're.... not?

I think it's funny too. One year a nurse, 20 years a paramedic. I have "narcanned" many an honor student.

popopopo · Jun 30, 2017

It's a counterpoint to all those bumper stickers that say, "My son is an honor student at Main Street School."

OH, I get it - antagonize makes sense. I was thinking narcan "reviving" some kid's grade.