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.
I knew someone from peds was going to jump on this- Sure, balloons, bears, cartoons... great for kids- and appropriate- that wasn't the point. I work adult, acute care. I can't tell you how many of my peers think it is fine to wear scrubs with "Snoopy, Winne, kitties, puppies.... and we are supposed to win over our patient who is a75y/o retired lawyer that we can teach them about post CVA anticoagulation management. I think it is hard to show the public you are an educated health care professional when you look like a clown at a 5year olds birthday party!. Would you be comfortable if your investment banker sat down to discuss your 401K in a pair of cut-offs and a tank top with a "who farted" hat on? I know I took it to an extreme, but what are we trying to say to our patients when we look like a walking cartoon page? They may be in fear for thier life, loss of independence, loss of income, loss of home, grief, depression... and we are are dressed in a way that says -"HEY!! Let's have some fun!!!" . If my wife of 50 years were gasping out her last in ICU after an tragic MVA, the last thing I want is a "Snoopy and Charlie Brown" scrubs wearing nurse helping me through it.
Wrong. I have nothing to do with peds. That wasn't the point.
My point is that perception is not a universal experience and usually reveals a great deal more about the perceiver than the person being perceived. So when someone makes a sweeping generalization, as the OP did, stating that 'a' person wearing a scrub top with a youthful feel "appears to 'colleagues' as brainless"...yes, I'm going to say "speak for YOURSELF". I think it's highly revealing that of ALL the conclusions one can arrive at concerning the person behind the attire (e.g., individualistic, not in tune with what's most appropriate for this particular setting, etc.)...particularly when a number of one's colleagues might be adorned in such attire...arriving at "brainless" says TO ME that this individual has an overinflated sense of self-importance stemming from a determination that they are in possession of an intellect that's superior to the co-workers surrounding him/her.
I find it highly irritating that in your nonexperience as a nurse you have a lot to say. Guess, you should write a book about problems of nursing since you have completely nailed it!!! Oh please, you do not know it all. I am a new nurse and have made some mistakes and huge accomplishments. I wear a silly scrub top with Scubby Do on it because patients like it and it makes them smile. It appears that YOU complain a lot about what everyone else is doing. Focus on yourself and what you are going to do in the nursing profession to make a difference. Nursing is hard. HARD. Nothing like nursing school! There are good nurses, and some that can benefit from some additional training. I, myself would love the opportunity to learn more and be a better nurse. There are many reasons why nurse-doctor relationships have tension or disrespect. My nursing instructors were awesome, funny, highly intelligent, and educated. You know, before you decide to judge the profession of nursing walk in our shoes first. Someone's life is in your hands. That is more responsibilty that some office or IT job.
Constant bickering ...*sighs*. Some of the comments are beyond sarcastic. Why not attack the comments the poster made as opposed to the poster her(him) self?Let's agree to disagree.
Scrub tops - there's an issue that's gotten totally out of control. In what other profession do adults go to work wearing cartoon figures plastered all over their bodies?
It's not that serious.It's only meant to bring cheer to patients and make their days look better instead of bleak. Granted, it doesn't work all the times, but the few times it does, makes a difference.
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
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.
"diagnose" a patient with "Ineffective coping mechanisms related to disturbed transpersonal energy field" - REALLY?? Is that a new one? I don't remember that at all when in school (graduated '08). Hahahaha - that is STUPID!!
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
I find it highly irritating that in your nonexperience as a nurse you have a lot to say. Guess, you should write a book about problems of nursing since you have completely nailed it!!! Oh please, you do not know it all. I am a new nurse and have made some mistakes and huge accomplishments. I wear a silly scrub top with Scubby Do on it because patients like it and it makes them smile. It appears that YOU complain a lot about what everyone else is doing. Focus on yourself and what you are going to do in the nursing profession to make a difference. Nursing is hard. HARD. Nothing like nursing school! There are good nurses, and some that can benefit from some additional training. I, myself would love the opportunity to learn more and be a better nurse. There are many reasons why nurse-doctor relationships have tension or disrespect. My nursing instructors were awesome, funny, highly intelligent, and educated. You know, before you decide to judge the profession of nursing walk in our shoes first. Someone's life is in your hands. That is more responsibilty that some office or IT job.
That would be "Scooby Doo" - and I don't think she ever disputed the fact that nursing isn't a difficult job anywhere in her post. You say "someone's life is in your hands" - this was one of the points she was making about educators or long-time nurses having no clue about disease processes.
Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
I'm not saying it's beyond the scope of human emotion to focus on something so trivial in times of stress...I've been through my share of tragedy. When my first son died at 11 months, I couldn't tell you what color scrubs the nurses were wearing. Still can't. I was preoccupied with getting one last look, smelling his hair one last time. I wanted my memory of HIM and all the light that he was, firm in my mind. I could give a damn what the nurses were wearing. I know well that when you're hurt or angry, you've just gotta feel it. No way around it sometimes. But it helps to realize at some point, the real reason why I'm hurt or angry so I can focus on what matters and heal.
But even besides that, a healthy sense of humor/irony has gotten me through a whole lot more **** than criticism and prejudice. Sure, I can throw a good pity party when I feel the need to, but I'm an adult and I realize that I can't expect everyone around me to join in or get angry when they don't. My pain is my pain. I don't need the world to stop in order for it to be valid or meaningful.
I understand that you feel it to be a disservice to the suffering. And it can be nearly impossible to imagine that the world doesn't revolve around your pain when you're in the thick of it. But we do ourselves a disservice when we allow meaningless details to stand between us and someone who is willing and able to support us emotionally and medically. And for what? What practical, spiritual, ethical, clinical, purpose does it serve to get angry about a Snoopy print top? What benefit does it offer?
Current arguments aside, I am so sorry for your loss. I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to live with that pain. I have 4 sons of my own, and I truly can't imagine the utter despair of losing one of them. My thoughts and prayers are with you, regardless of how long ago this was. :redbeathe
"diagnose" a patient with "Ineffective coping mechanisms related to disturbed transpersonal energy field" - REALLY?? Is that a new one? I don't remember that at all when in school (graduated '08). Hahahaha - that is STUPID!!
BTW, I agree with about 99% of your post.
'Ineffective coping' and 'disturbed energy field' are actual NANDA-approved nursing diagnoses. They're intended to serve as a basis for nurse treatment planning and intervention while keeping things within the scope of their practice. Every time I ever inquired at a clinical site about where they fit in there the response I got was "we don't use those here".
First, I don't think nurses need to be science gurus. Just proficient. What bothers me though, is that you are suggesting that if you are really good at science, then somehow by going into nursing you're not living up to your full potential? I know you don't mean it to be, but isn't that an indirect insult to nursing? Don't we want those that are very good in science in the nursing profession? Aren't we all about evidence based practice and understanding not just the psychosocial needs of the patient, but how that relates to the physiological and biological? What about nurse practitioners and CRNA's? Don't those require heavy science proficiency and ability?
Agreed that they need to be proficient, not gurus.
And we are talking about basic RN programs, not NP or CRNA programs or what their professions demand as far as sciences go.
But I don't care if I'm insulting to the nursing profession or not with what I stated. If my own children were science brilliant I would most definitely not encourage them to pursue nursing. I would support their choice, but not encourage or steer them into nursing in any way.
Why? For the same reasons you stated in your OP. There are more respectable professions out there and I'd rather have my child be a pharmacist or chemical engineer over nursing any day if they had that potential.
My own home state of Texas has a board of nursing with a bunch of old blue hairs questioning a nurse's morals and ability to practice nursing because she got a divorce. Look at the recent thread about some Florida nurse who is now in his 60's but did something supposedly "immoral" in the 1970's and they just recently tried to punish him for it in 2010. Do you think the board of medical examiners or pharmacy scrutinizes their licensee's private lives to that extent? To me, that is blatant disrespect for the profession by our own governing boards.
I stand by my original statement, though your point is well-taken. This isn't nursing 50 years ago. Nursing now demands an understanding of micro, chemistry and especially anatomy and physiology. I personally don't want a nurse that simply does something because they were taught to without knowing why they do something. If you pull A's and B's in the sciences, even if you have to kill yourself to do it, you've demonstrated a good enough understanding. Besides, in my OP, I referenced those that showed a disregard for the sciences, or at least that is what I meant to convey.
Even 50 years ago nursing demanded an understanding of the sciences so the comparison to nursing today is not a valid point. But yes, nursing today demands an even greater understanding of the sciences than it did then, agreed.
The fact of the matter is that someone is making "generalized" comments regarding a profession she has no experience in. My main agrument is first walk in the shoes of a nurse and then tell us her/his opinion or thoughts. Anyhow, this is not a spelling contest!
Since I am asked to agree/disagree I would have to say I do agree with some of the statements, but not all. Nursing profession has both negative/positive aspects about it. We all have a lot to learn within this profession.
whodatnurse
444 Posts
Wrong. I have nothing to do with peds. That wasn't the point.
My point is that perception is not a universal experience and usually reveals a great deal more about the perceiver than the person being perceived. So when someone makes a sweeping generalization, as the OP did, stating that 'a' person wearing a scrub top with a youthful feel "appears to 'colleagues' as brainless"...yes, I'm going to say "speak for YOURSELF". I think it's highly revealing that of ALL the conclusions one can arrive at concerning the person behind the attire (e.g., individualistic, not in tune with what's most appropriate for this particular setting, etc.)...particularly when a number of one's colleagues might be adorned in such attire...arriving at "brainless" says TO ME that this individual has an overinflated sense of self-importance stemming from a determination that they are in possession of an intellect that's superior to the co-workers surrounding him/her.