"Thank you for your service"

[Emergent]

When people find out I'm a nurse these days, they keep thanking me for my service, like they do to the military. I want to roll my eyes at this point. Is this happening to you?

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

4 minutes ago, FolksBtrippin said:

Your suggestions...

I usually say something like "I'm very fortunate to have a job that I enjoy." I try to keep it short, sometimes I add that I hope to never see them there, since I work in ICU. 

[CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN]

9 hours ago, JBMmom said:

I usually say something like "I'm very fortunate to have a job that I enjoy." I try to keep it short, sometimes I add that I hope to never see them there, since I work in ICU. 

That’s a good one. I usually just say “Oh of course— stay safe out there!” with a smile. 

[robinasq]

It was incredibly scary in the beginning. People showed up at the hospital just to  to die. Information changed weekly, it was impossible to keep up. All of a sudden wearing several layers of PPE, having to reuse it for days, was awful. Decontamination at he end of the shift added unpaid time to my day. My biggest worry was I endangering my family's health ? I chose this career they did not.  When people say thank you 1:1,  I say you are welcome and move on. If I am in line waiting I say, thank you for the sentiment, you too have the power to save lives, if you wear a mask. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

On 4/4/2021 at 10:36 AM, Curious1997 said:

It's an American thing Macawake. For some obscure reason a country that is shielded by two huge oceans and two massive countries on either border is infatuated with the military and the police and strong people. Because of my size, I notice how people capitulate to me easily and ignore the intellect. It's also really evident re females as well. They appear to be solely judged on their looks. People here is all about the exterior. In case anyone needs to respond, I'm generalizing. Our politicians have to be tall and good looking, our sports are size related generally. Unless you fit a certain criteria white Anglo Saxon looking, you are almost second class. 

I noticed the same in the UK and Denmark. People don't go around tipping or thanking people for doing their jobs.

I am really alarmed by the spate of anti Asian incidents occurring here currently. 

I haven't seen any anti Asian sentiment in my area, but maybe we're lucky and more open in rural Indiana. Yes, there is a decent sized Asian population, so I'm not being snarky. 

Tipping is ridiculous, employers should pay the wage, and price items and services accordingly. 

I agree with the comment of looks in American society. While all societies place value on characteristic, the US is over the top. Politicians are very bad about it. But as far as sports figures mostly being white, you haven't watched much football or basketball, have you? I feel like talent is a true indicator in sports...

The whole thanking service members came about after Desert Storm. Before that, our last major involvement was Vietnam, in which I lost 5 uncles (my poor devastated grandparents, both sides of family, never quite recovered from the losses, and never talked about them). When service members came home from Vietnam, they were spit on, had trash and beer bottles thrown at them, and were called horrific names like baby killers, murderers, etc. In reality, they were nothing more than kids who had been placed in a horrific situation. Now, kids and grandkids of those service members are the ones coming home from atrocities, or the possibility of those atrocities. They are trying to treat them better. Over the top, yes. Understood, yes.

I've both served in the military and been a nurse for many years after that. I've never thought that I need any extensive thanks for either, but graciously nod when it's offered. 

I am tired of the whole heroes in scrubs thing, though...

[MaryB7, BSN]

I am former military as well, a travel nurse, and I’m old. We didn’t get any respect at the end of the Vietnam era. In fact it was quite the opposite. If you flew in uniform as you were required to do in those days, you risked being spat on or chastised. Yesterday, for the first time ever, someone thanked me for my service as a nurse. I nearly fell backwards. I too didn’t know how to respond....I was so completely surprised. I just said “Thank You” back as I was grateful someone acknowledged that my job is difficult at times. I will take those thank you’s from the public as an acknowledgement of that. 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

For many people who would never dream of their children becoming a blue-collar worker, 9/11 was a wake-up call when Wall St. men took off their shirts to wave at the firemen who were arriving to enter the Towers.  I think a LOT of people never even thought about the fact that the people who actually provide the most valuable services to the country are the most underpaid and historically under-appreciated.  I can't judge anyone for trying to express their sincere thanks to another person.  Maybe it could have been expressed better but the intention was sincere.

[guest1163268]

Sincere thanks is completely understandable. But, as you say, teachers, firemen, nurses etc are underpaid and the public instead of standing up for us, think that possibly, thanking us is enough appreciation. Of course I am biased towards nurses because I think we are brilliant representatives of successful, normal people who contribute greatly to our society. 

I recently took ownership of a construction trailer which I only need to hook up to the sewer, water and electric and I'll be moving in. House is already up for rent. I'm single and I believe in savings. The reason I mentioned it is because we are too caught up with imagery here. I like Europe, mostly the UK, because in my experience no one cares or minds your business. I also have experience in Denmark and Sweden. In Copenhagen, everyone rides a bike and except for those open sandwiches, it's a great place. And they have Christiana. Sweden is just too quiet. Even the people! The Swedish do not believe in small talk. That's the attitude that creates the culture of being serious people. People you can trust generally. 

Here we have Kim Kardashian who just became a billionaire. Someone who did sex tapes, reality television, exists in probably one of the most dysfunctional families and has almost always demonstrated the worst judgment in all areas of her life, has become a billionaire by being an influencer. This is the kind of person we allow our young people to be influenced by and our culture to obviously worship. 

Need I say more! 

[Alexandria, CNA]

Well it’s better than being cursed at for doing your job ?

[MaryB7, BSN]

This comment makes me want to move to the UK. And yes, who our society values and pays is so screwed up it is completely beyond belief.

[ppfd, BSN, EMT-P]

Never had it happen. 

I tell people when they ask what I do, I'm a mechanic or truck driver...?

Last thing I want to do is tell people about "the worst thing I've seen". 

Plus I drive truck and wrench on things on my days off. Things I'd much rather talk about. 

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I've had people thank me for the nursing care I've provided for them, had someone give me flowers which made me smile. Never became a nurse for the thanks and flowers, it is lovely when you are made aware of the postive impact you have had on. a persons life. 

I've had one or two people say thanks for your service when interacting with them online, not in person. 

FYI. I think its always nice to let people know if you feel they have had a postive impact on your or your family members life. 

SImply thanking random people for being nurses IMO is wierd. A better thankyou would be adequate pay and safe staffing conditions so feel free to petition the NZ government on our behalf

[SmilingBluEyes]

I don't think it "weird" I think it's nice. But I don't expect thanks. When I get them for whatever reason, I take them in the spirit intended and that's as simple as that.