"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.

[rn/writer, RN]

I have this come up from time to time too. Here is my standard answer:

I think it is an honor to clean someone. Think about it, being so helpless and vulnerable you can't even clean yourself. In that place, patients look to nurses to provide the most intimate care conceivable. To provide for privacy, and help the patients in a respectful and dignified way is a priviledge. I try my hardest to imagine myself, my father or mother in that place and try to care for my patients as I would want them to be cared for.

To see inside another human beings most tender, vulnerable places and to value it is truely the art of nursing!

What a gentle and thoughtful response. Such a nice change from the shallow attitude of, "Ewww! Grosssss!" You're the kind of nurse we all hope we have if we end up needing such care. Thank you.

[Jo Dirt]

Well, we certainly see our fair share of poop (and worse) but he isn't a nurse so he doesn't truly know what nurses do.

Just remember that the less people know about something the stronger their opinions tend to be.

[AlliGator22]

This reminds me of my days working as a paramedic.

I struggled the urge to choke someone every time I was called an (*gulp*) "Ambulance Driver".

ACK! It kills me to even type it.

Granted, I did drive and ambulance...but that was the least skilled part of my job. I also came equipt with needles and shock paddles...but did anyone call me a "Life Saver"? Of course not.

My point is...there's always going to be people out there who don't completely understand what we do. Sure...we might wipe a few butts...but that's not all we do.

Shrug it off...for your sanity's sake.

[ericalynn, BSN, RN]

I thought cleaning up feces was for nursing students... just kidding, but I swear thats what alot of RN's I came across as a student believed!

[smk1, LPN]

I personally don't get what the big deal about the poo is. You clean it up and move on. You might even get a clue as to what is going on inside of the patient from it. Not a big deal. Now if it were an all poo all the time type of gig, then I could see the problem, but a lot of these people who don't want to be "poop cleaners" are hospital workers themselves and know full well that the nurses do not spend all day cleaning and washing people. They just want to find some way to elevate themselves and aren't smart enough to come up with anything else.

[allele, LPN]

I have to chime in here....I work with the BEST PT/OT/ST around! They have frequently gone in to work with a patient and found them incontinent...and they clean them up without saying a WORD to nursing. I don't find out until they're done working with the patient. I actually would EXPECT them to let me know, and I'd gladly care for my patient, but they take on the work along with theirs and never complain, they just care. Not a day goes by that I don't appreciate them! I hope your friend (the OP) knows he may actually be in a situation where he may need to help out in the same way. :)