The Mockery of Nursing

Published

Just a bit ago the top three threads involved:

1.I have a DWI. Can I be a nurse?

2.I am stupid. Can I be a nurse?

3.If it takes me five times to pass NCLEX, Can I be nurse.

Not much left to add. Says it all.

Specializes in none.
Wait, does this mean I can't start my "I Have An Afro Can I Still Be A Nurse" thread? (I do have an afro in real life). What? How insensitive!! You people must be the "Nurses Who Eat Their Young."

Yes you may right under mine. " I get wasted every other day on Oxycontin and Jack Daniels. Can I still be a nurse if my invisible friends insist on coming to class with me?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.

first things first: so loving this thread! i have been keeping up with it from the beginning, and this is my first reply to it.

i'm still a new(ish) nurse (4 years--still haven't quite acquired the patina of true experience yet) but i can so relate to many of the posters on here. like many of you, nursing is my second career. fortunately, many of my classmates (adn program) had a bachelors in another field too, as well as previous jobs, so i like to think our prior experiences helped us to sidestep some of the issues discussed here. nursing is a difficult and stressful field but it doesn't corner the market on these things. i dealt with my share of crazy customers, out of touch managers, and idiotic policies long before i decided to enter nursing school.

i agree that some of the threads i read on here make me do a double take then worry about the state of nursing.

when i think about the "mockery of nursing" some of my thoughts tend to gravitate in a different direction. such as:

yes, numerous studies have shown that the protocols that comprise core measures do improve pt outcomes. i understand why utilizing these are important (my concern is more with the pt, not making sure we are reimbursed) oh, but hey, upper mgmt! next time you are initiating these policies, could you also peruse the studies which show that better staffing also improves pt outcomes, not only helping to ensure core measures are met, but also increasing pt satisfaction scores and i can only imagine decreasing the odds of messy lawsuits.

why is it that my colleagues and i hold positions where critical thinking and decision making skills are paramount and yet mgmt. does not allow us to even decide how to utilize our staff--if we have no techs on the floor but do manage to find an extra (or at least enough nurses) we are not allowed to use an rn as a tech and instead must do without a tech (fun with so few walkie/talkies and so many total care/obese pts!)

it seems crazy that in the short time i have been a nurse, the acuity of our pts has increased, but the amount of staff and technology has remained the same (or decreased!)

speaking of technology, why are we not consulted (along with mds, rts etc) before the hospital buys equipment that ultimately does not work or breaks easily? we could give good, honest opinions on these things!

why does everything seem to come down to nurses to fix? we follow policies such as waking pts for frequent vitals, etc, and pts get (understandably) upset. we educate pts we cannot give meds for which no orders have been given. yet again, it is up to nurses to use therapeutic communication to improve pt relations.

ok, sorry for going off on a (serious) tangent. it's just frustrating to have so much responsibility and yet so little autonomy.

*stepping off soap box* please resume funny responses--i love them and will try to participate!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
I kind of get a kick out of it when people use "defiantly" instead of "definitely." Makes me think of someone pouting with their hands on their hips and saying "I am defiantly going to study for my A&P test tonight." "I defiantly want to work in L&D when I graduate."

Well. OK, if you feel so strongly about it........

I have an odd sense of humor and like to play around with words and meaning. Sometimes at work I'll say something like "Well, this isn't working how I want, so I'm going to go to lunch out of spite" and then leave.

I also tell people stuff like "Screw HP and their server admin tools. I'm going to be a nurse so I can go wipe a$$es for a living instead of putting up with this sh1t"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You forgot how jealous I am of the beauty. And how I tell them to dress like total bimbos when they go into home health, or to wear makeup when in psych, all so that psycho hose beasts are foaming at the mouth over their nubile young bodies.

Oh, yes, and don't forget that you were a student once, too. Because after all, if a student didn't say this each and every time you wrote something with which they disagreed, you might just completely forget that fact entirely. Or do you already think you were born as an experienced nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I found a new one....'I've been reading online about nursing and it's perfect for me, but I'm not sure I'm going to like the vacation policies of an employer I don't yet know in a job I don't yet have for which I have to hold a license that I haven't yet qualified for and in fact, haven't even started school. But I want to be sure that I'll get the vacation package I want, when and if that day arrives'.

I think that wine is starting to look good.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Like I've said before, I do believe G'd answers all prayers, but sometimes the answer is "No".

Hey... wait a minute...

You mean the answer could be...

"NO".....???????

Whoa.

I just thought the Man Upstairs was ignoring me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Oh, yes, and don't forget that you were a student once, too. Because after all, if a student didn't say this each and every time you wrote something with which they disagreed, you might just completely forget that fact entirely. Or do you already think you were born as an experienced nurse?

Hey, I was born with my cap on!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I found a new one....'I've been reading online about nursing and it's perfect for me, but I'm not sure I'm going to like the vacation policies of an employer I don't yet know in a job I don't yet have for which I have to hold a license that I haven't yet qualified for and in fact, haven't even started school. But I want to be sure that I'll get the vacation package I want, when and if that day arrives'.

I think that wine is starting to look good.

"And I want that job I don't have yet for which I don't hold a license to be day shift M-F. Also, I don't want to smell poo or clean any butts."

Pass the wine if it's Chardonnay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hey, I was born with my cap on!

...and I have new respect and admiration for your mom :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have a pet peeve that I don't think I've seen mentioned. When people say "I'm going to get my RN" or "I'm studying for my RN" or "after I get my RN, I'm going to get my CRNA"......it isn't your RN, it's a designation/license. The possessive my sounds like it's owed or something.

Maybe it's just my goofy take on it, I don't know, but I really don't like that wording.

I'm going to admit that I do this sometimes, even though I know it drives people crazy. It would probably drive me crazy if I wasn't the one doing it.

I start out well enough, and then get to the end of the idea and kind of fizzle out..."I'm going to get my LPN...........dunh, dunh, dunh.....wait suspensefully......sigh, diploma, sigh.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in none.
Hey... wait a minute...

You mean the answer could be...

"NO".....???????

Whoa.

I just thought the Man Upstairs was ignoring me.

He is ignoring you, He told me that last night when he dropped by to ask me why don't I believe in Him.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
...and I have new respect and admiration for your mom :D

****snort****

:rotfl:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion