"Just a Nurse"

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2009

too true...too true....

VMSR · Nov 14, 2009

Caveat: I'm a nursing student. But I really dislike this ...'poem'. It is filled with passive-aggressive 'modesty', which , personally, drives me nuts. I hate image of nurses as "angels in white" and prefer to think of my profession as just that: profession (this is, by the way, really unappreciated concept). Give me tough and demanding every day over this kind of schlock.

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Nov 14, 2009

love the poem! And proud to be just a nurse

allnurses Guide · Nov 14, 2009

VMSR: schlock? no, try sarcasm, or reality

As a student, you might not have hit that attitude face to face yet. Yes we are professionals, but we seen to be the only ones who know it. And too many of us don't always present ourselves "that way", we are too busy doing our jobs professionally to be outwardly "tough and demanding" let alone bragging about it. We hope our actions would speak for themselves, but much of the public doesn't seem to be listening.

I was in a room with a girl with long term vague abd pain who thought since all her previous doctors hadn't figured it out surely an ER visit would. Her doc put her up for discharge, and as I went in to do it, her boyfriend started to ask me (rather good) questions. She shut him up with "don't ask her, she's just a nurse!". Whereupon I stood up straight, looked her in the eye and said "I am not JUST a nurse, I am a highly educated health care professional", turned to him and answered all his questions. She was taken aback, and then started to ask questions herself.

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2009

VMSR: schlock? no, try sarcasm, or reality
As a student, you might not have hit that attitude face to face yet. Yes we are professionals, but we seen to be the only ones who know it. And too many of us don't always present ourselves "that way", we are too busy doing our jobs professionally to be outwardly "tough and demanding" let alone bragging about it. We hope our actions would speak for themselves, but much of the public doesn't seem to be listening.
I was in a room with a girl with long term vague abd pain who thought since all her previous doctors hadn't figured it out surely an ER visit would. Her doc put her up for discharge, and as I went in to do it, her boyfriend started to ask me (rather good) questions. She shut him up with "don't ask her, she's just a nurse!". Whereupon I stood up straight, looked her in the eye and said "I am not JUST a nurse, I am a highly educated health care professional", turned to him and answered all his questions. She was taken aback, and then started to ask questions herself.

Spot on, JBudd. VSMR, try hearing the words "just a nurse" in the voice of a belittling patient, doctor, or other non-nursing individual, and maybe the irony and professional pride of the piece will click into place for you.

yetanotheramanda · Nov 14, 2009

Caveat: I'm a nursing student. But I really dislike this ...'poem'. It is filled with passive-aggressive 'modesty', which , personally, drives me nuts. I hate image of nurses as "angels in white" and prefer to think of my profession as just that: profession (this is, by the way, really unappreciated concept). Give me tough and demanding every day over this kind of schlock.

scholck, huh? It makes me sad that you don't get the complexities of our PROFESSION. We may not be "angels in white," but we do make a huge difference in people's lives. We do that by being licensed, extremely educated, & highly trained professionals.

Sigh. Since you are "just" a student I guess you will understand someday. Whoops, did that sound condescending? Doesn't feel too good, does it? I think that is the point of the poem.

Anyway, good luck with school. You are on your way to joining a unique and amazing profession. We should always appreciate each other, even if others don't appreciate us like we deserve.

VMSR · Nov 15, 2009

Thank you all for replying to mu comment: I'm really glad to have this discussion. It is highly likely that my opinion will come to bite me in the rear (happened few times before, too) but I think that one should never call herself/himself "just a nurse", not even ironically, or sarcastically. We train to be skilled professionals, and decide on literal life and death matters. There's nothing "just nurse" about it. I believe that more we project this face to the public, the more public will treat us with respect. Nurse power!

meandragonbrett · Nov 15, 2009

Caveat: I'm a nursing student. But I really dislike this ...'poem'. It is filled with passive-aggressive 'modesty', which , personally, drives me nuts. I hate image of nurses as "angels in white" and prefer to think of my profession as just that: profession (this is, by the way, really unappreciated concept). Give me tough and demanding every day over this kind of schlock.

Oh, to be young and still possessing rose colored glasses. Come back 12 months after graduate and revisit this thread.

Aurora77 · Nov 15, 2009

I really like this poem. I'm a nursing student too and the thing I like best about my new profession is the fact that we're highly educated professionals who are also "just" angels in white.

VMSR · Nov 15, 2009

@Meandragonbrett

LOL. I'll keep your advice in mind. But, alas, I'm not young, or in posession of rose collored glases: nursing will be my second career, and I used to work as a newspaper reporter. I already have a black, shriveled heart .

meandragonbrett · Nov 15, 2009

@Meandragonbrett
LOL. I'll keep your advice in mind. But, alas, I'm not young, or in posession of rose collored glases: nursing will be my second career, and I used to work as a newspaper reporter. I already have a black, shriveled heart .

LOL. I was referring to being a youngin` in nursing. =) Welcome...dig in....and come work in my unit...I need some help!