Special Snowflake!

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2015

I need you guys to tell me where I fall into these terms. I'm in school, but old enough to remember those V-8 commercials. I know I do not fall into the special snowflake category at all. Those people often turn into the delightful helicopter parents raising their special snowflakes. But since I'm still a student, I'm not a COB either.

I'm going to give it some serious thought unless someone has a cool name for it. :cheeky:

Purple_roses · Jul 31, 2015

I need you guys to tell me where I fall into these terms. I'm in school, but old enough to remember those V-8 commercials. I know I do not fall into the special snowflake category at all. Those people often turn into the delightful helicopter parents raising their special snowflakes. But since I'm still a student, I'm not a COB either.
I'm going to give it some serious thought unless someone has a cool name for it.

Uh oh, we have an identity crisis on our hands!

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Jul 31, 2015

They say there are two kinds of people in this world, the snowflakes and the COB's.
I keep trying out for Team COB but so far I keep getting red shirted. They say I can't get off the bench til I eat my first young..
I HATE BEING A SNOWFLAKE! I HATE IT! I HATE IT SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!

I always thought special snowflakes were patients. I prefer The Young and The Pretty for non-COB nurses.

SleeepyRN · Jul 31, 2015

I have to make an admission.
I've seen the snowflake term tossed around here a few times. I actually thought it was one person's nickname. As in, everyone was talking to this one person who seemed to really annoy everyone.
After reading this thread I get it now. Gee, I can be so dense sometimes.
But I agree, there should be more than just snowflake and COB. I mean, already, we're leaving out the "Higher Calling" people. Or are they just a different variation of the snowflake? An especially white and pure snowflake? And what about the Diva's? The ones who make comments like "I did NOT make a mistake, you're just threatened because I'm so much prettier than you!". Or are they just a variation of the snowflake too?
This is getting too complicated. See why I was confused?

I literally laughed out loud. Too funny

Farawyn · Jul 31, 2015

I always thought special snowflakes were patients. I prefer The Young and The Pretty for non-COB nurses.

Not all of them are that. Meow.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2015

Not all of them are that. Meow.

Ah, but they THINK they are...that's part of what makes them so Special.

And, if you don't agree wholeheartedly, well then, you're obviously just a bitter COB and NETY! NETY! You're a bully! *barf*

WellThatsOod · Jul 31, 2015

*blinks*

Some of us not young, not pretty, not stuck up know it all students / new nurses are still awaiting our nickname.

amoLucia · Jul 31, 2015

I've seen them called Barbie Dolls.

On another post, a member called a PRE-princess snowflake type "wee mademoiselle".

Columnist · Jul 31, 2015

Some of us are older, seasoned nurses who prefer not to be referred to as crusty or bats.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2015

*blinks*
Some of us not young, not pretty, not stuck up know it all students / new nurses are still awaiting our nickname.

If you're willing to absorb the wisdom of your elders, how about "Grasshopper"?

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2015

Some of us are older, seasoned nurses who prefer not to be referred to as crusty or bats.

If I were any more seasoned I'd fall apart.

I have never been called a Crusty Old Bat, nor have I ever eaten a newbie nurse (please reference my latest entry in "What I Learned This Week). Truthfully, I never heard the term before I came in here.

However, I do have a sense of humor, and while I have always taken my profession and what I do as a Nurse very seriously, I refuse to take MYSELF seriously.

The discussions about what constitutes a COB, who can be a Junior COB, et al, make me laugh. I like to laugh. Because, sometimes in the course of my job, I cry.

I just can't get my knickers in a twist about some words the leave me with the mental image of a bat wearing a white hat, Florence Nightingale cape and white Dr. Scholl's. But then, I've been told I have a weird sense of humor.

klone, MSN, RN · Aug 1, 2015

I've never heard this term used in my clinical setting and I don't want to make an assumption as to what it means. Please, educate me!

It's not a nurse thing. It describes anyone who thinks they're unique and special and deserves special treatment. I first heard the term at parenting websites (used to describe the special snowflakes whose parents think they don't deserve punishment or rules in school, for instance). It was overused then, and now it's become the phrase du jour here at Allnurses for the past year.

To me, the phrase "special snowflake" goes along with the terms "totes," "jelly," "awesome sauce," and "you win the internet!" as terms that are too ubiquitous to be clever anymore and they all annoy the bejeebers out of me.

I have to disclaim: I get really easily annoyed over words. A few years ago, the phrases that annoyed the piss out of me were "webinar" and "jeggings." I'm over it now.