Rude nursing comments

After reading the post about whether spouses were in the medical field, it reminded me of a comment that my husband made to me that to this day he regrets. (It was over 5 years ago.) I had been an LPN for about 10 years and we were discussing an RN that we have known for a long time and he said, "Oh, she's the one who is a REAL nurse, right?".............yes, the silence was defeaning (sp), then.................to top it off, when I said, "Excuse me, I AM a NURSE!!!" he said, "Well, I just meant that she had a degree." ....................Oh, did he pay for that one. I was so angry that he didn't even understand what he had said!!!! Believe me, he does now!!!

[gwenith, BSN, RN]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Serves him right!!!

[rdhdnrs]

I had a pt's husband one time who said, "Are you the doctor?" and I said no, I'm the nurse, and he said "Oh just a nurse". His wife let him have it up one side and down the other.

[Jayney]

From some of the comments I've had, I think some people think I just spent two years learning how to empty a bed pan and how to make a bed. Seriously, I think thats how some of the general public view nursing.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by rdhdnrs

I had a pt's husband one time who said, "Are you the doctor?" and I said no, I'm the nurse, and he said "Oh just a nurse". His wife let him have it up one side and down the other.

I hate the "just a nurse" phrase. Unfortunately all too often we use it about ourselves. "I'm just the nurse, you have to ask your doctor about that...." "No I'm just a nurse....."

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by lynn1967

After reading the post about whether spouses were in the medical field, it reminded me of a comment that my husband made to me that to this day he regrets. (It was over 5 years ago.) I had been an LPN for about 10 years and we were discussing an RN that we have known for a long time and he said, "Oh, she's the one who is a REAL nurse, right?".............yes, the silence was defeaning (sp), then.................to top it off, when I said, "Excuse me, I AM a NURSE!!!" he said, "Well, I just meant that she had a degree." ....................Oh, did he pay for that one. I was so angry that he didn't even understand what he had said!!!! Believe me, he does now!!!

Glad you set him straight. I bet he never made that mistake again!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I'll never forget what my mother said when I told her I wanted to go to medical school. "You should be a nurse instead. Nurses just sit around and drink coffee all day while the aides do all the work." (This from a woman who was ALWAYS either on break, just going on break or just coming back from break when my sister or I called/visited her at work!)

[stevierae]

I am cracking up laughing at some of these outrageously rude comments. My gosh, have people no manners?

My own experience involves my dad, who is now dead, but he made this comment when he was younger than I am now (49.)

I had, at one time, played around with the idea of medical school, but found that I really liked nursing.

When I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child at 30, I had been an RN for 4 years; I was a military corpsman before that.

When I called my dad to tell him the good news, this was his comment:

"Well, I guess that blows your chances of going to medical school and finally making something of yourself!"

Gosh. I remember those words as if he said them yesterday. I have no hard feelings; I just wonder if a lot of parents of that generation felt the same about nurses. I don't think he was truly being cruel, but I that know he was extremely disappointed in me for what he saw as my lack of ambition.

[stevierae]

Originally posted by Ruby Vee

I'll never forget what my mother said when I told her I wanted to go to medical school. "You should be a nurse instead. Nurses just sit around and drink coffee all day while the aides do all the work." (This from a woman who was ALWAYS either on break, just going on break or just coming back from break when my sister or I called/visited her at work!)

Ruby, so, what WAS your mom at the time when she got to take so many breaks? An aide, a nurse, a doctor, or something different? (What a great job!)

P.S. Where do you live? I know the Seattle area; will be coming up there in a couple of weeks for LASIK. We should get together! I usually stay in Mukilteo. P.M. me.

[Teshiee]

When I was working as a LVN my mother told me to go and get my RN because LVN were nothing more than glorified nursing aides. Boy I was too through with that. Then when I did receive my Rn I will walk in the hospital and apply for a nursing position and instead of asking what my credentials were they already assume I am CNA go freaking figure. People can be so ignorant. If you don't know something ask.

[Katnip, RN]

On the flip side, I was talking to a webdesigner who asked what I do. I said I'm a nurse.

His comment was, "Wow, it's nice to meet someone with a job that actually means something."

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

Try "Hey You!", as you are passing by a patient's room, going to see about a gozillion other patients.