"Well... it's not in the job description"

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I am just so, so shocked and disappointed by some of the nurses that I have heard over the past month say something along the lines of "Welp, it ain't in the job description" when they are confronted by either a family member or staff member when it came to a matter of patient care.

As you all know, everyone cannot be a nurse. It takes a certain personality, mindset and individual to deal with the demand and stress that a nurse is required to handle. However, I don't understand why nurses, the quality health care professionals you all are, don't try to rise above "the rest" or "the job description".

I'm not saying all of you guys are awful nurses, but listen to this. Let's say we have a patient whose mother just died... she is now "alone" in her life. She has no father, no relatives or not even a close friend to speak with. As you deliver the news, the woman bursts into tears and begins to express her feelings for herself and how she feels so alone. And you walk out of the room after simply saying "I'm sorry". Or suppose a young man whose parents have not yet arrived, is brought in on the ambulance after being a victim of a hit and run with multiple injuries (fractures and the like). He is scared to death, tears in his eyes and the only thing you're concerned about is getting those pain medications delivered... or performing an intubation so he will calm down and stop crying.

My point of saying this is my little "out-reach" to this community to say that as nurses, we NEED to make an impact. We have worked so hard to be where we are today -- and to retire knowing that we did nothing more than just provide standard patient care... how rewarding does that sound to you? Doesn't making someone's day or possibly even their entire LIFE turn around based on 10 minutes you took to talk to that person, or maybe talking to that young man, holding his hand and comfort him and reassure him that he is not alone and that you care about his health (not just: it appears as though you have several injuries that we need to address. We're now going to jam this 7" tube into your trachea to get you to shut the heck up.". Doesn't it sound more rewarding to exceed, and go beyond the expectations of your job description, and not only give the hospital a good name, but most importantly, show others and YOURSELF that YOU can make a difference in someones life.

So please, when you accept a job (this is for new nurses or aids, ANYONE in the medical field) -- don't just do it for the money. You will be much more enjoyable if you like your job, and really hope to change someones life. If you're only working for money and the "job description" - you are not going to get anywhere. Sure, you may gain experience... but what are YOU, as a person going to get after 30 years of work.

Go beyond expectations, and the job description. Be extraordinary.

:loveya:

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I am a soon to be nursing student, and I can't agree more. This is the kind of nurse I want to be.

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Specializes in LTC, ER.

antidote does this really happen enough that you think that it is a pervasive problem? I can honestly say in my 11 years I haven't seen this as a problem. However on a personal note, as someone who has uttered the words I'm sorry to someone who has suffered a loss, sometimes that is the only appropriate thing to say. Also all the grief pros always say that sometimes that is the best thing to say. I hate when someone says something like "everything happens for a reason" because if that is so, how do explain slavery, the holocaust, 9/11, etc?

As far as tubing people because they are "irritating" staff b/c of crying, complaining, etc, I have never seen that done. Sometimes though, when a person has serious injuries and you are trying to stabilize them, you can't comfort until later- sometimes the only comfort you can give them in the midst of all the chaos is stroking their arm while you're trying to get them to straighten it for an iv and telling them that they are going to be ok, and we are going to take the very best care of them.

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I am a soon to be nursing student, and I can't agree more. This is the kind of nurse I want to be.

Same here!

Hey Antidote, thanks for the great post!

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Specializes in neuro, ICU/CCU, tropical medicine.
as someone who has uttered the words I'm sorry to someone who has suffered a loss, sometimes that is the only appropriate thing to say. Also all the grief pros always say that sometimes that is the best thing to say. I hate when someone says something like "everything happens for a reason"

My in-laws could write a book of the ridiculous things people say to try to make sense of a tragedy. My brother-in-law was in an MVA and sustained a severe TBI, leaving him in a minimally-conscious state.

The only thing to say is, "I'm sorry." Anything else is, IMO, only an attempt to make yourself feel better.

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My in-laws could write a book of the ridiculous things people say to try to make sense of a tragedy. My brother-in-law was in an MVA and sustained a severe TBI, leaving him in a minimally-conscious state.

The only thing to say is, "I'm sorry." Anything else is, IMO, only an attempt to make yourself feel better

This is what I'm talking about. I'm not saying that by saying I'm Sorry you're doing something wrong, but my point of this post is you don't only want to make an impact on your patients (and in some cases maybe this is all they need). I'm saying that in SOME cases you may want to go the extra way... and not be hesitant to do so.

I'm saying that in nursing, and after 10 years of helping patients - of course you may have impacted others lives... but what have you done for YOU? Maybe trying a little harder for that one patient will satisfy you as a nurse, and it gives you something to say "You know what, I took that extra time and I'm proud of myself".

As far as tubing people because they are "irritating" staff b/c of crying, complaining, etc, I have never seen that done. Sometimes though, when a person has serious injuries and you are trying to stabilize them, you can't comfort until later- sometimes the only comfort you can give them in the midst of all the chaos is stroking their arm while you're trying to get them to straighten it for an iv and telling them that they are going to be ok, and we are going to take the very best care of them.
I'm not going to turn this post into a medical argument as it's supposed to be inspiring to future nurses and current nurses, however I do agree I should have worded that a bit differently. These were only examples or some type of situation I just thought up to get someone to look at it from some point of view.
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Specializes in CNA.

I am not a nurse and yet I've heard it as a CNA. I hear "They don't pay me enough to deal with that", etc

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Specializes in LTC, ER.
I am not a nurse and yet I've heard it as a CNA. I hear "They don't pay me enough to deal with that", etc

I actually have uttered that, during the times that some boorish man seems to think that I am a nurse in a Mediao, instead of a professional in a hospital. I've jokingly told colleages that I would have to renegotiate my salary from the hospital if I am expected to provide "favors.":imbar

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Specializes in med/surg, ER, camp nursing.

Wow,

You so hit on what I have been feeling lately!

What really makes a good nurse? It's not about how efficiently you can pass out meds or do a dressing change. It's about taking the time to listen to a patient and really being there for them. It can be as simple as caringly holding their hand while an anxious patient gets a lab draw. Or taking the time to explain what the doctor just said after a 2 minute rushed visit :confused:. It's the little human touches that make all the difference... if you've ever been a patient you know what I mean.

I am lucky to be working in a great team of nurses. However, there are a few that I call "techno nurses". They go through the motions of meds, basic care, update the care plan, etc. and don't have their heart in it. Sometimes I wonder why they even chose this profession besides "where can I make this kind of money after 2 years of school?". I think it's sad. To me being a nurse is all about making a difference in some way for my patients. Believe me.. There are crazy days I feel like just another robotic techno nurse. But I like to think I try to go that little "extra" for my patients on most days.

Anyway, thanks for your post Antidote!

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Specializes in oncology, trauma, home health.

That just reminded me of reading Gilda Radner's book. She said the best thing that anyone ever said to her when they heard she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer was, "Sh**"

I had a pt today who was just told she has 6 months to live, and that crossed my mind to say. I said what I usually say something along the lines of Gilda but comes across the same followed by "You are in charge, but I can take over if you want me to"

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Or suppose a young man whose parents have not yet arrived, is brought in on the ambulance after being a victim of a hit and run with multiple injuries (fractures and the like). He is scared to death, tears in his eyes and the only thing you're concerned about is getting those pain medications delivered....

(Quote from antidote above)

Maybe I'm overtired, but I don't understand your beef with a nurse who is attempting to get her trauma patient pain medication in a timely manner. I think that is probably the most compassionate thing a nurse can do in this circumstance.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
Or suppose a young man whose parents have not yet arrived, is brought in on the ambulance after being a victim of a hit and run with multiple injuries (fractures and the like). He is scared to death, tears in his eyes and the only thing you're concerned about is getting those pain medications delivered... or performing an intubation so he will calm down and stop crying.

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What??? I'm sorry, I've been a nurse for 17 years and I had no idea that people were intubated as a means to "calm them down". Seriously. Also pain and airway are priority, so I think that if you have someone with multiple injuries then that should be your top concern, trust me people in a lot of pain and who can't breathe don't want anything else from you.(That's for you new nurses.)

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