"I don't want to clean up dirt!"

[narcissistic]

I have a friend who's schooling to be a Physical Therapist. I randomly told him that maybe he should go for nursing since most of his classes pertain to the program. To my surprise, he replied, "Sorry but I don't want to clean up dirt." Which means that he thinks nursing's just all about cleaning the feces. As somebody who's doing his prerequisites for nursing, I was tremendously offended by how ignorant his comments were. He even continued, "Well I don't want to seem biased, and I know it's not what you want to hear, but it is the truth." It's clear to me now that not alot of people think of this job as being reputable. How would y'all reply to this offensive comment? I just wanted to smack his face because he obviously tried to degrade the nursing profession. He made it sound like cleaning after poop is the primary duty of a nurse.

[SICU Queen]

HA! What's going to be funny is when, during his training, he gets to get all up in someone's decub while doing whirlpool... or doing unna boots... or something else equally as "dirty" as nursing can be.

He'll get his, don't worry!! Does he even have a clue??

[rn/writer, RN]

You're taking this waaay too personally. What does an ignorant opinion mean? It means the person expressing it doesn't get it. The only response you need to make, if you really need to make one at all, is, "Wow. I thought you were smarter than that." Then just let it go.

Be secure in what you are doing. People are wrong all the time about all kinds of stuff. Don't feel you need to set the record straight unless you can sense some kind of receptivity. Otherwise you just end up in a big ol' tug of war and nobody wins.

If this guy tapped into some latent insecurity on your part, check that out and do whatever is necessary to get rid of it or you'll be vulnerable to anyone else who decides to push that button. If you feel strong and happy about your choices, who gives a flying flip about a wrong opinion.

Not meant to be critical. It's just good to be at peace inside and out. Then it's really hard for others to rattle your cage.

[It's Alisa]

OMG, Narc...that happens to me ALL THE TIME... I just give the schmuck an cocky look, and say "yeah,that's why nurses get paid so much, and are in such high demand, cuz they need people to clean poop" followed by a rolling of the eyes. Works every time. But I like rn/writers response too...it politely puts them in their place. Just have those phrases handy, because this is not the last time you are going to hear that.:monkeydance:

[NursingAgainstdaOdds]

Hoo boy yeah that'll be the first of many times you'll hear that, and it won't always be put so nicely. Yes, it is an offensive and degrading thing for someone to say, to minimalize a nurse's job down to a "passer of bedpans". I usually respond with

"All the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and theory I had to learn, all the skills I have acquired to be a nurse, and everybody always goes right to s***. Why is that?"

[stutter, stutter, stutter]

(And if I'm in a good mood) "Really it's a small part of my job. Besides, s***'s often a good thing."

[AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN]

If I had a dollar for every time I have been referred to as a "Bedpan Annie", I could retire. Wait till smarty-pants PT has someone have an "accident" in the whirlpool tank. I bet he changes his tune when no nurse will help him clean it up.

[iLovemyJackRT]

I know how you feel, it's the worst, but like everyone said, the truth is this is not the last time you are going to hear it....i was in the car one time and my boyfriend and his friend were in the back seat and his friend though I was asleep in the front, well he asked what I did and my bf said I was an RN, and his friend replied, yea, i would clean up sh*t for 30$ an hour, boy did i turn around and shoot him the dirtiest look EVER imaginable, he did not say one more thing about me being a nurse the rest of the car ride, but yea, i would def. think of a response to say when people insult your job and stick to it so the next time your ready, i wish i had had something great to say back to him ( because he is an idiot, no brains whatsoever ) but i didn't have anything to say, so get ready and knock em off their feet

[NursingAgainstdaOdds]

i wish i had had something great to say back to him ( because he is an idiot, no brains whatsoever ) but i didn't have anything to say, so get ready and knock em off their feet

Use many big words in quick succession. It frightens the Lilliputians.

[fins]

"Sorry but I don't want to clean up dirt."

Is he wrong? If someone absolutely, positively isn't willing to clean up someone else's bowel movements, then he shouldn't be a nurse, because like it or not it's part of the job. It isn't the biggest part of the job, or the most important, but the fact of the matter is that there are very few nurses who get through a career without wiping someone else's butt. Heck, there are very few nurses that get through SCHOOL without wiping someone else's butt.

It isn't belittling to nurses to say that we clean up poop - it's an accurate description of part of our job. It's only belittling when people act like that's ALL we do, that's ALL we're good for.

So if this guy can't stomach the idea of cleaning up stool, then it really does mean that nursing isn't for him.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Use many big words in quick succession. It frightens the Lilliputians.

LOL!

Honestly, I'm not offended by the comment much at all, probably because I have come across something similar ("yuck, I could never clean up poop for a living!") and responded appropriately ("Oh, is that what I do? I wondered why I needed four years of school, a pile of science courses, two years of clinical assignments and finally State licensure before I could even GET the job that pays me about fifty grand a year to start--I can't figure it out, since I'm just a Pooper Scooper!!")

Blank expression was priceless. Still LOL about that one.

[rn/writer, RN]

I know how you feel, it's the worst, but like everyone said, the truth is this is not the last time you are going to hear it....i was in the car one time and my boyfriend and his friend were in the back seat and his friend though I was asleep in the front, well he asked what I did and my bf said I was an RN, and his friend replied, yea, i would clean up sh*t for 30$ an hour, boy did i turn around and shoot him the dirtiest look EVER imaginable, he did not say one more thing about me being a nurse the rest of the car ride, but yea, i would def. think of a response to say when people insult your job and stick to it so the next time your ready, i wish i had had something great to say back to him ( because he is an idiot, no brains whatsoever ) but i didn't have anything to say, so get ready and knock em off their feet

This is one approach--to meet ignorance with an aggressive rejoinder. But another is to resist the urge to get your dander up and just stay calm and cool. Responding with outrage and dirty looks means you agree to be offended. Offering gentle laughter and a shake of the head can be a good alternative that implies that you aren't even going to waste your time trying to debunk an idea that isn't worth serious consideration.

It matters far more what you think of your chosen field than what someone else does. I truly don't give a hoot when someone "insults" nursing. People say foolish things and make statements for which they have no proof or reasonable explanation every day. Which makes more sense--putting my self worth on the line and agreeing to do battle, or letting them know I'll be glad to have a conversation when they have something sensible and real to talk about.

Getting upset only lets people know they have hit a nerve. It's better to take some time to figure where you are fragile and shore up your own thoughts and leave the stuff in other people's heads to them. You can't 'splain it to the whole world. You can only make certain that you have your head on straight. Give other people permission to be wrong without feeling compelled to take them on. If you're okay in your own head, this will bother you less and less and may even get to the point where you can find yourself amused at the colossal gall and ignorance floating around in some people's heads.

Apart from academic testing, you don't have to prove anything to anyone. The minute you try, you lose.

I wish you well.

[oramar]

Have had many remarks like this aimed at me over the years. Am particularly sensitive to them when I am depressed. When I am fine mentally they don't get under my skin.