It seems like it would be pretty simple to describe the role of the nurse, but I find that when I am asked, I can't articulate all of the things that nurses do. My friends seem to think that I sit in a chair all night and maybe pass out a medication or two (I work night shift). Although I protest and try to expand, I feel like I can't get them to understand what it is that I really do.
Do any of you have any suggestions? Anyone know of any good articles? I did begin reading an article about this subject around a year ago, and I wish I could find it now that I need it. That article described how nurses could respond to the most common comments made by the public in social situations. It focused on how to take every opportunity to educate the public about what nurses do.
I feel like nursing is such a wonderful profession, and that we do amazing things, and I want people to know that. I am sick of getting comments that I do nothing. Help?
Wait a second, I thought that's what noc shift nurses did? Everyone knows that all your patients sleep through the night...:roll :roll
I don't have much on the info or links, but I agree it would be nice to have more information presented to the public. As a pre-nursing student I'm still finding out new things about nurses every day.
I also find it kind of scary that the public can have such a strong view of nursing and nurses and not acctually have a clue about what nurses do.
:rotfl: :rotfl: Casi - my DIL said something similar when I told her I was going to work nocs in LTC - I'm even a little surprised at how busy it is!
It is difficult to define any nurses role, because it changes from minute to minute. I've always said that it's what 'noone else wants to do'.
Housekeeping would come to us if there was a 'body fluid' spill, then we would become housekeepers - if lab couldn't get a blood stick, then we became phllebotomists, etc. We do things like wiping bottoms to interpreting labs, and everything in between. :)
Thank you to the person who suggested "From Silence to Voice." Knowing this helped me to recall the article I read that was so wonderful:
"Tell the world what you do" by Buresh, B. & Gordon, S.
The abstract for the article is as follows "Nurses used to be seen and not heard. But times have changed. In this excerpt from the book From Silence to Voice, being launched this month, the authors explain how nurses can talk about their work in a way that will make others listen. It's the first step in bringing visibility to a profession that's been far too invisible."
If anyone has access to this article, I would highly recommend it. Depending on your access to nursing journals, this is a free/shorter version of the book. I wish I still had my copy!
banditrn
1,249 Posts
:rotfl: :rotfl: Casi - my DIL said something similar when I told her I was going to work nocs in LTC - I'm even a little surprised at how busy it is!
It is difficult to define any nurses role, because it changes from minute to minute. I've always said that it's what 'noone else wants to do'.
Housekeeping would come to us if there was a 'body fluid' spill, then we would become housekeepers - if lab couldn't get a blood stick, then we became phllebotomists, etc. We do things like wiping bottoms to interpreting labs, and everything in between. :)