Ok, I am a nursing student in an RN program and we are currently on rounds at a local hospital. I am also the daughter of a physician and RN, who was taught from a very young age to speak up about things, in a professional manner.
Scenario in point, I was on rounds at the hospital and we were at the nurses station setting up meds and a conversation is starting between 2 doctors who involve us in the conversation. My senior nurse instructor is standing with us doing the meds and hears the whole thing transpire.
Doc 1 says, "Nurses around here have it easy." (my ears burning, mouth is shut)
Doc 2 says, "Yeah, I don't know why they don't prioritize better. If they did they would not have so many complaints about so many things and tasks would be completed." (mouth still shut, face red, glaring at my instructor who is giving me the "PLEASE don't say anything or I will kill you look.")
Doc 1 says, "I should come down here and do my own rounds." (I laughed out loud thus involving myself into a now volatile situation)
Doc 2 turns and says, "Young lady are you alright" (now I could take the moral low road and just lie and say I was talking to my friend) Not me, LOL.
Nursing student (me) says, "I heard your conversation and was little surprised is all." (Nursing instructor is now bright red and praying I am not going to say what she already knows I am)
Doc 1 says, "Oh, what about our private conversation was surprising"
Nursing student says, "My dad went to med school and is a physician and he didn't tell me they had nurse training while they were there" (Nursing instructor slaps her forehead, blinks 400 times, and runs off to find a body bag for me)
Doc 2 chokes then says, "Well I went to medical school and I can surely do any nurses job. Besides you're a student you can't possible know things as of yet.
Doc 1 is standing with his mouth gaping open, speechless.
Nursing student says, "I am sure these nurses would appreciate some assistance. BTW I have to give meds out, would you like to help"
Thus resulting in both of them shaking their heads and walking away.
Now, I realize this conversation could have, and probably should have went a different direction, but it gives me sunburn on my ass when I hear doctors say things like that. Of all places, in FRONT OF the nurses station. That is adding insult to injury. Most of those nurses standing around weren't going to say anything, for obvious reasons, but the idea that they have to put up with that nonsense is enraging to me. I am a foolish nursing student, but I don't believe what those docs did was right, professional, or even tolerable. The fact they BELIEVE the things they were saying was a laugh.
Anyways, do you all have to listen to Docs speak that way on a regular basis?
Hmmmm... well technically she didn't actually butt in on their conversation. She could have been laughing about anything; they pretty much brought her into the conversation.
I say they were asking for it. For a nurse to butt in to the conversation. They absolutely should not have been having that type of conversation in earshot of the nurses station.
Exactly. My bet is these were a couple of wet-behind-the-ears doclings who were getting off on denigrating the nursing staff and watching them just stand miserably by and take it. Good on her for speaking up and using a bit of sarcastic good humor to let them know she had their number. I'm also willing to bet that in the future, they won't be as quick to play their little game.
I think all of this outrage is a little bit out of line. It takes all kinds to make the world go round and some of us are more outspoken than others.
In the future when the OP is a nurse, if she has to deal with repercussions for something that she has said, then she will just have to deal with it then. Nothing happened this go around, the CI had nothing to say about it so I say leave it at that.
It's amazing to me how outraged people are over the fact that this student made one little flippant comment.
Well, I don't think anyone here has the right to tell the OP that she/he was "out of line" as each facility, person, and situation is different. Those of you who are becoming agitated at this... why!? Maybe you're old fashioned and still in the
Nurses : Doctors ; Wives : Husbands .. get it?
It's 2007. While I am in no way saying that if it is something you can let fly off your back that you shouldn't. I'm just saying that different people handle things in different ways.. Maybe they are praised for it when done at the right time.
What would I have done? Hmm, Well I would deffinetly not let those doctors stand there in front of my work area and demean me. However, I wouldn't have engaged them quite so much either. I think I would probably tap one of them on the shoulder and quietly whisper to one of them or both, that while I understand their conversation is private, I can hear it and do not feel comfortable with it. Also, If you're going to demean me and my career, please do it outside of my earshot, thanks. And ... that would probably be it.
I think that the fact that I whispered and didn't try to make a scene, yet still effectively conveyed that I want them AWAY and not to talk about that by me would sting just as much
I think all of this outrage is a little bit out of line. It takes all kinds to make the world go round and some of us are more outspoken than others.
In the future when the OP is a nurse, if she has to deal with repercussions for something that she has said, then she will just have to deal with it then. Nothing happened this go around, the CI had nothing to say about it so I say leave it at that.
It's amazing to me how outraged people are over the fact that this student made one little flippant comment.
Outrage? Who's outraged? A few people disagreed with how she handled it, some applauded her. How does that translate into "outrage"?
Women's rights benefited by women behaving the way the OP did, not by being "subordinate, pleasant and as less visible as possible".
Thank you, suffragettes.
A quote that pertains to women as well:
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
Good for you for standing up. There is a huge amount of work to be done to elevate nursing from it's current position of maid, pillow fluffer, Naughty nurse perception.
I don't think there was anything wrong with what the OP said at all, and to the comment about her not being a nurse yet so she shouldn't have an opinion on the profession is ridiculous!! She said her mom is a nurse and her dad is a doctor. I'm sure she knows both professions quite well.
One of my main gripes about nurses is them not standing up for themselves and their profession. I pity the doctors who would say something like that around me and some of my friends. One of my favorite doctors is one who was a nurse first and she always takes the side of the nurse in any confrontation! She truly knows both sides of the situation and I have never heard her put a nurse down. Yes, I have been written up many times because of my attitude and I have gone into the meetings with guns blazing and always stood up for myself. I am an excellent nurse who knows her stuff and I have studied long and hard and continue to study to maintain MY standards and I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE, NURSE OR DOCTOR, BELITTLE ME OR MY PROFESSION. I do know it is time for nurses to take a firm stand for themselves and to demand better wages, treatment and benefits.
At the hospital I work for the nurses are not reqired to be "subordinate" but they and the physicians are required to act professionally and if they don't there are reports that can be filled out by either one. I think every hospital should have a standard of conduct in place and enforce it.
Well, I read all your responses and as I expected only a small riot broke out. Thank you all for your opinions, as well all have them. I was not trying to be mean spirited, as noted by my laughter, nor was my instructor embarrassed as she told me this afternoon that she had to walk away cause she was laughing and knew if any student would say anything it would be me. As for the doctors 1 and 2, I found out today that they were both just released from medical school, maybe that attests for the smugness of their comments, who knows. I completely understand picking battles and as my instructor pointed out our class on professionalism is in 2 months so maybe my mouth will learn how to tone down a bit then, maybe I just have too much of my parents in me to be quiet. I am sure I will be in the nurse managers offices more than once about remaining silent or just maybe I will take on some crusade to take on the mindset of physicians (One can dream). One thing I know from being with my parents is that those who are silent are those with ulcers, headaches, chronic back and butt pains, and the occasional ear ache, LOL. Good thing I have a rather padded rump to take all the chewings I am sure are to come my way.
Blessings to you all, pray for my rather large mouth, and I await to read more comments on this and other subjects....
Thank you again for all who have and will post either agreeing or not agreeing.
EmmaG, RN
2,999 Posts