I checked in on the edmonton sun webpage today to see if there have been any replies to T.A Ball's statements about nurses and this is what I found:
RE: OCT. 29 letter. I oppose Carol Carbol's labelling of nurses as professionals. Nursing should not be awarded the same status as a true profession such as law, accounting, medicine or dentistry. A true professional performs highly complex tasks and demonstrates a high level of judgment. Nurses must follow policy and procedure and make low-level operational decisions. As an accountant, I am insulted that a nurse would believe they are my equal.
Ivan Miller (Don't get sick.)
Isn't that ridiculous? People just don't seem to understand what nurses really do, and the level of knowledge you need to become a nurse. Since I was a young girl I have always admired nurses and thought they were incredibly smart. Being a student nurse, I realize how much I need to understand before I graduate and looking at all you nurses on this forum, I think you are some of the most amazing people in the world with so much to offer and we ARE professionals. If we weren't I wouldnt have received a "credit line for professional students" to get through school. Anyway, just wondering what u guys thought about this. I didn't realize people could be so ignorant.
I am a professional, whether or not some idiotic drip thinks so. My ADN degree and passing the NCLEX made me a professional registered nurse. I have a BSN and am going to school for an MSN. When this guy is circling the drain, I do hope a dentist or some other professional comes to his rescue. So what do you call a person who has to spot the "professionals'" mistakes (pharmacy and medicine) and protect the patient? Well, then then... that's the nurse. I guess we are one step above the professional. We are certainly above and beyond this arrogant moron.
Did I miss something? I thought I just did speak for myself. Face the facts. On this website alone there are several "online degrees". Hardly criteria for a professional, at least in my book. I see none for anthropology, law, medical, pharmaceutical, or even social work. I think in the public view a master's is minimum for recognition as a professional. Pharma saw that and changed it. As a profession, nursing is a wannabee. As a skilled work force, dynamite. We'll end up having to unionize just like all the other skilled workers: autoworkers, electricians, da da da. I don't mean to be harsh, but the proof is in the puddin'. Do autoworkers and electricians jump up on the podium whining about being professional.....nope. That might be because they weren't fed all this garbage by nursing schools in lalaville. We forget one of the oldest rules "He who exalts himself first, shall be exalted last, and he who exalts himself last, shall be first". Air Traffic controllers thought they were professionals too, they were put in their place rather quickly a few years back. Sorry to be raining on the parade, but it really is rather obvious that collectively we are not a profession. Singularly, have it your way.
There are 3 recognized professions, Law,Medicine, and Ministry. A professions require rigorous training and schooling beyond a basic college degree. Nursing meets most of the qualifications but lack in the education part.
I don't agree with the Accountant but now a days, a lot of people in scrubs are calling themselves nurses. Just the other day someone asked me "how come so many nurses are at the bus stop?"
1. member of profession: somebody whose occupation requires extensive education or specialized training
2. somebody in skilled job: a worker in a paid occupation that usually requires a high degree of training and skill
3. somebody very competent: somebody with a high degree of skill or competence
4. teacher at sports club: an expert player of a sport who is employed by a golf or other sports club to teach its members
I think this guy is a pompus idiot. I consider my mechanic a professional, my dental hygienist a professional, my bank teller a professional, etc, etc, etc. I think anyone who is skilled at their "profession" and does a good job in a "professional" manner is a "professional".
AshleyDawn, I emailed the editor. Let me know if my letter prints, full of sarcastic remarks and ends in ...."smiling represses the gag reflux, but don't smile Mr Ball when you're cleaning up explosive diarrhea. I want to see you lose your lunch that you ate while standing up."
AshleyDawn, I emailed the editor. Let me know if my letter prints, full of sarcastic remarks and ends in ...."smiling represses the gag reflux, but don't smile Mr Ball when you're cleaning up explosive diarrhea. I want to see you lose your lunch that you ate while standing up."
Bethin, you're awesome!! I read the letter that you added to that other post lmao! And I'm gonna read it once more before bed, just for fun! I check the website everyday to see what kind of replies there have been. They've already posted part of a letter, written by DutchgirlRN, which was wellwritten, so I'm not sure if they'll be posting anymore..
Why fret over this? If you enjoy your job, career, profession or whatever, and make good money and support you and your family and live a good, productive and fruitful life, who cares what over people think. We get to go home every day and pass judgement on our own choices in life. We know what a difference we make in the world. I have read no articles about an "accountant or lawyer shortage", but countless articles on nursing and specialty md shortages.
What really matters in life and our personal happiness is whether we feel good about the job we perform, whether we feel like we, so to speak, earn our keep and act honorably and in a dignified manner.
Do I feel like a professional? Sometimes, but other times, I feel like I could teach the average person how to do half the tasks that I perform in 10 minutes. They are not that complicated. A lot of it is policy based. My nursing judgement and critical thinking skills, however, are priceless, and I learned that when I was out of school. Do I consider my 2 year nursing program any more important than my brothers 2 year training in auto mechanics after high school? Any less important than my friends 4 yr BSN? Of course not, we all supply an invaluable service to our community. (My friend and I started out at same pay rate at local hospital). Do I "save lives"? Well, I assist in saving lives, but I am not intubating a pt, or putting in a central line. Even the paramedics are limited in their abililty to "save lives". The MD must step in. I really don't think nurses with BSNs have more credentials than nurses with diplomas or ADNs. I have seen nurses coming out of 4 year programs struggle. Nursing is learned on the floor, not in class.
Is nursing a "profession"? I don't know. Are nurses "extensively trained"? What is the definition of extensive? I wouldn't agree that my nursing school offered "extensive" clinical training. Like I said, It falls on our own perception of our job. I don't really take offense to the guy's article and opinion because I really don't care about what he thinks.
Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN
12,126 Posts
That's funny, the worst of this "professional" issue i've dealt with regarding education has been from fellow nurses, and not the general public.