"Some people aren't meant to be nurses!"

Published

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Has anyone else noticed that this is frequently said at AN? Is this the new catch phrase in nursing when talking about other nurses whom we dislike?

It's used to describe seasoned nurses who hurt the feelings of new nurses. It's used to described new nurses who tend to be more sensitive. It's used to describe nurses who like to complain about patients who are annoying or manipulative.

When people are out of arguments or just don't like someone, they say "Then get out of nursing!" or "Some people shouldn't be nurses" or "Some people aren't meant to be nurses".

Just a little pet peeve of mine.:smokin:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I think that too often nursing isn't considered beyond the walls of a hospital. Sure - some people aren't meant to be floor nurses - some people are terrible when dealing with others - so maybe they should try research nursing. Some nurses still get queazy when they think of cleaning up a code brown - maybe some sort of corporate health center would be best for them or public health nursing. I say that nursing is one opportunity after another - if you have the drive to want to do it and one place doesn't suit you - then try something else!:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When I was working as a CNA in my former home town, I was with a nurse who was talking about another nurse (LVN) who had taken the RN boards many times and was a legend around town for failing the boards. He made the statement that he thought that she was not cut out to be a nurse because she couldn't pass. However, she had passed the LVN boards, so she was practicing as an LVN. She just couldn't make it to RN. I told him that she probably was psyching herself out about the test. If that was the case (and it probably was), then that didn't mean she couldn't function as a nurse. After all, she functioned as an LVN on the job. As an RN, she wouldn't have duties that would be very different. The employer would most likely give her a dollar an hour pay raise for it. I do know that every time she failed the boards she would make everyone around her miserable with her behavior. Does that mean she shouldn't be a nurse? Not necessarily. If I failed at a goal that many times, I would probably have a surly attitude too. Doesn't mean I shouldn't be a nurse. Just that I should try to be a better nurse, because the patients and my coworkers don't deserve to be the brunt of my frustrations.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I totally agree with this statement.

Alot of the girls in my cohort just aren't cut out to be nurses. I'm not saying they're stupid, but they just don't have the heart. Many of them are lazy, don't want to do the 'easy' work such as, studying, group meetings, etc...

Alot of nursing is being able to work well with other people, even those you don't like. I just feel that many of the girls here are 'anti-people' people. Not the place to be if you're one of those people. Can they really just be in it for the money? I mean, in all honestly, it's not the best paying career in the world.

They (and even I do sometimes) feel that the work is common sense, and silly. In some cases it may be, but that doesn't give you the right to blow it off.

I hate to say it, but I feel that next semester most of them aren't going to pass if they don't step up their game. This semester was kind of a breeze (first semester, though).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think you got a point.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

My point is that there are a lot of different personality types in nursing, and as long as they are basically functioning and taking decent care of the patients, we should not so readily pass judgment that others are unfit for duty. I've heard people here declare others as needing a career change on the flimsiest of criteria.

Just because someone made an off the cuff remark you didn't like doesn't mean they ought to quit nursing...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What's so wrong with saying that some people AREN'T meant to be nurses.

Heck, some people aren't meant to be a:

Fire fighter.....teacher.....lawyer....doctor....baker...hairdresser....etc to infinity.

Everything isn't for everyone.

Every profession has a certain type of person that will fit the qualifications of the job. It's not neccessarily that the person is too stupid to do the job it's just that if you try to fit a round peg into a square hole then it might take a lot of pounding to make it fit, kwim? If you choose a profession that makes use of your natural talent then you are more likely to be successful at that profession.

I was a lousy elementary school teacher and it's not because I'm stupid because I'm not...it was because teaching school age children doesn't match my abilities or personality.

I'm a pretty good nurse though (if you take the words of my resident's and my supervisors). It's all about finding the profession that is right for you so I take no offense to the statement that "Some people aren't meant to be nurses" because it's TRUE.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, I agree with you. And likewise, there will be a doozy or two here and there, that obviously does not belong in the profession, that gets by day after day, shift after shift, incident after incident, because someone doesn't want to deal with them. It took the death of a resident to cause the DON to fire one of these people where I worked one time. How many incidents had occurred prior to the death? Plenty. Avoidable, if the DON and other supervisors had dealt with her bad behavior. I wonder if the DON even bothered to report this person to the Board? Nobody ever mentioned criminal charges. This person's unsuitability had been evident for quite some time, but, nothing ever done.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I think you are only seeing a small part of the picture. I see many more threads where member support and suggestions on how to improve their tough situations are the norm. But hey, that is what I am , a glass-half-full person. You can also redirect negativity with some positivity on your part. Sure, there are naysayers and negative people here, as there are all over. But sometimes, it just takes one positive word or input to turn things around!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I think my point is that people hurl this term around, sort of like saying someone "calls themselves a Christian", just because they are less than perfect, or they take a stance you disagree with.

I've seen it on several threads lately.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

People are always going to say things we disagree with. Sometimes their words are provocative. I say, counter it with something positive.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

This thread is an example of having some negative posts, but I saw in the last page, alone, very helpful and positive and encouraging posts, too!

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/i-quit-my-job-am-seriously-considering-quitting-nursing-350751-5.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion