Don't know if I've ever posted before today (been a member for a while), but a post in another thread prompted me to respond to it and to post this. I've spent the last few years preparing for a career change into nursing and am in my first semester as a BSN student, and I'm irritated. I am NOT bashing nursing as a profession, but I am dismayed at the constant whining and complaining as well as the lack of any trace of intellectual curiosity that I have found in my short time around the profession among many BUT NOT ALL nurses. The #1 complaint among nurses that I have seen is a lack of respect by other health care professionals. You want to know why there is a lack of respect? Read on. In my short time, I've been around amazing nurses (bright, dedicated and excellent in what they do), but there are far too many that should be doing some else. Here's why nursing gets less respect than it should...
1) Constant whining. Nursing school is too hard, floor nursing is too hard, etc. News flash: most professions are really hard. Nursing isn't special in that regard. Medicine is brutal. IT, my former career, is cut throat. School teachers often have a miserable jobs. Cops work bad shifts and put their lives on the line. The list goes on an on. People that whine about nursing would whine no matter what career they are in.
2) The nursing culture. The claim of nursing being a "caring profession" (as if med techs, rad techs, RT's, etc. aren't caring), yet there is constant bashing of "bad" patients that are "noncompliant." In addition, many nurses go out of their way to humiliate students and new grads, talk about each other behind their backs, call physicians and other providers incompetent, and are in general rude, sour and bitter. Yet nursing is supposed to be the "caring" profession.
3) The nursing culture part II: Running around the hospital with balloons, teddy bears, flowers, whatever on your scrubs says to your colleagues, "I don't have a brain."
4) Nursing education. Learning to "diagnose" a patient with "Ineffective coping mechanisms related to disturbed transpersonal energy field" sounds like a bunch of hooey to a lot of people. Why? Because it is. It too screams, "I don't have a brain." Thankfully such stuff is only in the textbooks and not in the real world.
5) Feminization. I have heard ad nauseum that traditionally, physicians are men, nurses are women and that accounts for much of the disrespect. I actually agree. Ironically, many more women now are entering all health fields traditionally dominated by men (pharmacy, medicine, etc.) but there's barely been an uptick in the number of men going into nursing. Why? See #3 above for starters. Here's some other reasons. The local Sigma Theta Tau chapter at my school has brown and pink for their colors. The local CC has a teddy bear wearing an 1800's nursing hat and a big heart on its (her) chest (that'll make males race to apply to the program). Which, BTW, also screams, "I don't have a brain."
6) Lack of intellectual curiosity/knowledge. See #3 and #5 as well. One of my instructors this semester (who is a licensed pediatric nurse practitioner) could not answer a question as to what a lesion is. A nurse during my clinical last week did not know the difference between a H2 antagonist and a proton pump inhibitor, yet has been nursing for 20 years. My clinical instructor (with an MSN) "corrected" me and explained that myasthenia gravis is an intestinal disorder. I'm guessing they are like the students I had in my science prereqs that hated science and were just glad to get them done so they could apply to nursing school - never mind the fact that the sciences are the foundation of all modern health care practice. Would you go to a doctor that hated or was bad at science? What about a respiratory or physical therapist? Do everyone a favor - if you hate or are bad at science, spare your future patients and find another career.
In short, there's got to be a change in nursing culture for the profession to be respected.
Just a quick reply .... I'm a guy, work as an LPN on a cardiac floor.....I have only one "print" scrub top - it consists of highly colored electric guitars (by appearances, they're Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Flying V's, for those enquiring minds...heh) on a black background with "rock and roll" printed in dark charcoal in several spots...beings as the great majority of my patients seem to be baby boomers and have grown up with rock'n'roll, I get numerous positive comments on the top, often leading to discussions as to whether I play guitar (which, in fact, I do, and have for over 42 years, now). My only comment to this thread (well, to the OP), is "don't judge a book by it's cover." I have no problems with folks wearing solid colors, I have no problems with folks wearing prints (I'm wondering if I can find a Johnny Bravo top...) Clothes don't make the man/woman...
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
The people who contribute here and say, "I am not a nurse yet but. . ." trumpet their prior careers, most of the time in IT, HR, customer service or a similar middle to low rung management position really are amusing. Not everyone here shares your exalted opinions of yourselves out here in the real world. I think 'disconnect" must be a required course in a good many companies today.
Can any of you recommend a forum like allnurses that is focussed on Ethics and Effectiveness in Customer Service? Truth in Advertising? Accountability? I'd appreciate that. Normally I would shy away from trashing someone's entire profession based on my own over-inflated opinion of my opinion, but maybe the participants in those forums will appreciate the insight anyway.
Just a quick reply .... I'm a guy, work as an LPN on a cardiac floor.....I have only one "print" scrub top - it consists of highly colored electric guitars (by appearances, they're Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Flying V's, for those enquiring minds...heh) on a black background with "rock and roll" printed in dark charcoal in several spots...beings as the great majority of my patients seem to be baby boomers and have grown up with rock'n'roll, I get numerous positive comments on the top, often leading to discussions as to whether I play guitar (which, in fact, I do, and have for over 42 years, now). My only comment to this thread (well, to the OP), is "don't judge a book by it's cover." I have no problems with folks wearing solid colors, I have no problems with folks wearing prints (I'm wondering if I can find a Johnny Bravo top...) Clothes don't make the man/woman...
When I think of "professionally dressed", with the white uniform and cap, somehow "Nurse Ratched" comes to my mind. She may have always looked VERY professional, but I wouldn't want to be cared for by her, or have my loved ones cared for by her.....:)
Normally I would shy away from trashing someone's entire profession based on my own over-inflated opinion of my opinion, but maybe the participants in those forums will appreciate the insight anyway.
As you have just completed your first semester,maybe you should hold on for a while and see what nursing is all about.In the years to come you will meet many different kinds of nurses.
I am from Ghana,but I am a final year BSc Nursing student in Japan.In the past years I have gotten to know nurses and nursing instructors from Japan,USA and Ghana.There are many diferences,but there are many excellent and very intelligent ones out there.
Do you mean there are no not-so-bright ones in the IT field?
You know what,you dont really understand the theory of the energy fields as i will call it.You dont really understand the theory,if you did you wouldnt be calling it names.Do you even know what a philosophy is?Do you get what she was trying to convey with that theory?You think its only in textbooks?Maybe you dont have it in the USA,but there are hospitals here in Japan that use that kind of theory effectively,so maybe you should read around abit more before calling names.
I suggest you get to know one or two proffessors well,then you will really see the academic side of nursing,and hopefully you can find a nurse to talk to too.That way i am sure you will have a more imformed opinion.Nurses aint all good,but other proffessions are aint all good either!
Specializes in Med Surg,Hospice,Home Care, Case Mgmt.
I think you need to finish your program and get some more experience under your belt before judging an entire profession based on your limited experience. There is, indeed, a lot of dysfunction in the nursing profession due to a complicated historic, political, gender, economic history. Everyone is also an individual with an individual viewpoint and philosophy. In general, though, it has been my experience (20 years nursing -- second career, mid life crisis) in a variety of settings from home care, hospice, nursing homes, med-surg, ICUs & Peds) that most nurses really want to help people and some do while about stuff and you have to be careful about who you befriend because you can't always trust your colleague to be there when you need them. Hospitals can be very toxic workplaces because of the intensity of emotion in the air and it is easy to get burned out.
Your own attitude about who you are, what your values and intention are and what your sense of integrity is, is what will determine the work setting and people you will be drawn to in your career. It sounds like your rant comes from a reactive emotional response to your individual experience and that's understandable. Nursing, especially as a second career, is probably one of the MOST stressful careers one could choose (ranks right up there with Social Work as a "WHAT! Am I NUTS????? profession) but absolutely one of the most rewarding. YOu do have to learn to deal with people and avoid certain mentalities like the "us vs. them" thing that sometimes happens with demanding patients and co-workers that don't necessarily share the same values.
There is no "the problem" with nursing. There are lots of problems. There are also lots of good nurses out here working on ways to address those problems and make things better for all of us and who truly value our profession and our colleagues. So, give it a little more time and decide what your values are and what your intention is for wanting to be a nurse. There's an awful lot you can do with a BSN and the further along you get, the more likely it will be that you meet nurses you will resonate with. Good Luck!
There's much that I could take exception to in your post, but others have already done that and the bottom line is that your experience is what it is. We can't (and shouldn't) argue with you, simply because of course, it's real to you.
I'm a nurse of many years experience and yes, like you, I've worked in other fields. But I always come back to nursing. Because there are more people in nursing that I love being around and spending time with. Professional, intelligent, intellectually stimulating AND curious people who make my working day fun. When you can still say you look forward to going to work, even after 31 years doing it, that's a great thing.
But the one thing I do want to take vehement exception to, is your statement that people in general don't respect nurses. In both NZ and Australia there are groups of poll and survey takers. Annually they ask the question of the general public, "Which profession do you think is the most respected?" And guess who comes out top, year after year?
Yep! Nurses. We are held in extremely high regard by 'lay' people all around the world. Maybe it's because they don't see the teddy-bear badges or the floral prints - I don't know. Or maybe it's because the world knows that nursing is a profession of dedicated, committed, highly professional and knowledgeable, not to mention holistic and caring (these words have been around so long to many they may have lost their meaning - but I still see them in my every experience) human beings.
Maybe there's need for change where you come from and are working (studying) as a nurse? But where I come from and from where I sit, the profession is one of, if not THE best. Pay is crap - but very few people come to nursing to get rich.
Hope things improve for you. And I hope you find the inner peace you're gonna need to make all those other irksome issues become unimportant to you - as you make a difference in so many people's lives as a nurse.
It must be nice to be an expert, and not even passed NCLEX yet! I still haven't learned everything, and probably never will in my lifetime. I still love being a nurse, though, and really, isn't that part of it, too? Maybe I don't get the respect I deserve, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying. By the way, I agree with you about the juvenile scrubs. So not professional!
Oh yea, it's always good to see the know-it-all nursing students who have never spent one day in a hospital voice their opinion about a profession they know nothing about!!!!! Do yourself a favor and know what you're talking about before you go flapping your gums. You need about a month in a nursing home working nights and wiping asses all night to have a better perspective!!! Then...we'll see what you know........
Although the OP has some valid points, but the way she went about it was all wrong. Not to mention disrespectful. Looks like she needs a big slice of humble pie.
) Clothes don't make the man/woman...
:lol2: 
Bobylon
232 Posts
Just a quick reply .... I'm a guy, work as an LPN on a cardiac floor.....I have only one "print" scrub top - it consists of highly colored electric guitars (by appearances, they're Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Flying V's, for those enquiring minds...heh) on a black background with "rock and roll" printed in dark charcoal in several spots...beings as the great majority of my patients seem to be baby boomers and have grown up with rock'n'roll, I get numerous positive comments on the top, often leading to discussions as to whether I play guitar (which, in fact, I do, and have for over 42 years, now). My only comment to this thread (well, to the OP), is "don't judge a book by it's cover." I have no problems with folks wearing solid colors, I have no problems with folks wearing prints (I'm wondering if I can find a Johnny Bravo top...
) Clothes don't make the man/woman...