The Culture of Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.

Just out of sheer curiosity, if you could change anything about the culture of nursing, what would it be?

I'll leave it as an open-ended question without adding a poll because I feel as though there are so many different options and perspectives to include in this topic.

Thank you for the feedback! :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I would remove the middle school drama.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Nurses should be able to take potty breaks and full meal periods without being pressured to cut the breaks short by management / coworkers.

Seriously, this is one of the few so-called 'professions' where educated women still run around with a full bladder and empty stomach for an entire shift. If don't respect our own bodies by meeting our basic needs for hydration and elimination, how do we expect others to respect us?

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I would eliminate the knee-jerk, "NETY, NETY, NETY!" every time someone more experienced so much as dares to give criticism. I would also eliminate the blatant prejudice against older nurses.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.
I would eliminate the knee-jerk, "NETY, NETY, NETY!" every time someone more experienced so much as dares to give criticism. I would also eliminate the blatant prejudice against older nurses.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I could scream via forum I would put on my best Fran Fine( The Nanny) voice.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.

I would get rid of all of the super sensitive, whiney, and lazy nurses. I am so tired of dealing with the "ooooohhhh I have 2 new patients and 1 admission" crapola! I mean, we've been working for the same hospital, same unit, same job for the past 100 years. If you haven't gotten over the 2 new patients and an admission by now....here's a cliff.

Rant Complete!

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I would get rid of the martyr nurses. They're not helping our cause.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

The need for nursing to compete with other health professions in education and respect. If we respected ourselves and were on the same page as a profession then we would be respected.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
I would remove the middle school drama.

This is a good one. I see it all too often!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
The need for nursing to compete with other health professions in education and respect. If we respected ourselves and were on the same page as a profession then we would be respected.

Ah! I agree wholeheartedly. I attended a seminar on this exact topic. The basic premise was that nurses need to hold themselves to higher esteem for their knowledge, practice, and what they individually bring to the table as a member of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. Again, there are bad apples in every bunch, and in spite of our holding ourselves to esteem, we may not always receive the respect/appreciation we deserve, but we can sure try!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
I would get rid of the martyr nurses. They're not helping our cause.

Can you please elaborate on what you view as a "martyr nurse"?

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Specializes in Med/Surg/ICU/Stepdown.
I would eliminate the knee-jerk, "NETY, NETY, NETY!" every time someone more experienced so much as dares to give criticism. I would also eliminate the blatant prejudice against older nurses.

Where do you suppose the "nurses eat their young" originated from? I'm just curious as to whether or not you agree it exists, or if you think it is a myth perpetuated by newer nurses who feel that they're not being helped enough?

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