Those who get it - get it, Those who don't - Never Will.

Published

This post is dedicated to all those non-nurse's, pre-nurse's, still-in-school-but-not-yet-clinical-time nursing students, inappropriate families, non-compliant patients, and the public at large.

To all it may concern:

Do NOT tell a nurse that his/her job is easy. It is brutal physical, mental, and emotionally EXHAUSTING work. I have heard you saying that you could do it - just passing pills and then sitting down reading a magazine.

Let me tell you this.

My job is more complex than any job you have or ever will have. I am responsible for people's lives. I am on the top of my game at all times.

Your job is sitting at a desk for 8 hours with a 1 hour lunch break. I have you beat. I have a 12 hour shift with 30 minutes for lunch (if I am lucky).

Why if I am lucky? Let me tell you why - its because I have 6 highly complex cardiac (that means heart) patients that are on the verge of having a major hear attack at any given moment while I am on duty.

No, the doctor is not there telling me what to do. Most of the time, its the NURSES who provide the care and tell the doctors what to do. Nurse's are the one's who see the patient deteroiate and inplement lifesaving interventions before the doctor arrives.

To those angry, ****** off visitors:

Get your hands off your hips. Uncross your arms from your chest. Do not raise your voice to me. Do not give me angry dirty looks from the doorway.

If I have never met you before, why do you assume I know who your infirm relative is? And since I don't know, why do you get a nasty attitude with me?

There is a right way and a wrong way to ask for something. Use manners. "May I and Please" go a long way.

Keep in mind that any threat you make towards me will result in the security department escorting you out, the police will be involved and you will not be able to set foot near me ever again.

Make sure that you clean up after your visit with whomever.

To the world as a whole:

Leave me alone when I am off duty. I do not care in the least about your eczema or your runny nose. I am not going to give you any medical advise other than common sense (tissues, handwashing, make an appointment with your MD). NO, I can't and won't "score" you free narcotics from my work. No, nurse's are not sleeping around with the doctors or having sex on duty. No, male nurses are not all gay. No, we are not angels of mercy. No, nurses are not idiots or handmaidens.

Yes, nursing it a versatile profession - its not limited to hospitals. Yes, nursing is "rewarding" (but most nurses this day and age do not go into it due to altruism alone its split 50/50 with income durablity and altruism).

In summary - there is more to nursing and nurse than you will ever know.

Those who are nurses or know anything about the profession of nursing will understand some of this.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
this is a safe and appropriate place for nurses to vent. it is impolite to tell nurses who are venting in a vent thread that they come across as rude and angry, that you hope this is not their work attitude, or that you don't want them anywhere near your family. if this has to be explained to you, you don't get it.

can i get an "amen"?

Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.
Personally I get it :) however, I feel you come across rude and angry. I hope that you are just venting here and this is not your work attitude. If it is, I don't want you anywhere near my family. :mad:

Like the title of my post says. "Those who get it - get it, Those who don't, - Never Will".

CASE IN POINT

Need I say anything more?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatric, Hospice.
Like the title of my post says. "Those who get it - get it, Those who don't, - Never Will".

CASE IN POINT

Need I say anything more?

Haha- and fortunately so far there have only been two on this thread who DIDN'T get it.. the rest of us do:redbeathe

Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
Personally I get it :) however, I feel you come across rude and angry. I hope that you are just venting here and this is not your work attitude. If it is, I don't want you anywhere near my family. :mad:

:grn:

Trust me, there are many here that would gladly change assisnments if it was your preference..... Those of us that really do this.....Can see you coming a mile away:D ANYTHING to please you for press gainey scores. Thanks for the giggle;)

This post is dedicated to all those non-nurse's, pre-nurse's, still-in-school-but-not-yet-clinical-time nursing students, inappropriate families, non-compliant patients, and the public at large.

To those angry, ****** off visitors:

Get your hands off your hips. Uncross your arms from your chest. Do not raise your voice to me. Do not give me angry dirty looks from the doorway.

If I have never met you before, why do you assume I know who your infirm relative is? And since I don't know, why do you get a nasty attitude with me?

There is a right way and a wrong way to ask for something. Use manners. "May I and Please" go a long way.

I laughed so hard when I read this part because it and everything else couldn't be more true.

:yeah:

Thank you for posting this. People think nursing is so easy, we just make it look that way..lol:yeah:

thanks, ruby. i just aspirated my spaghetti. does anybody here know how to take care of that? :lol2:

*note to self* you really must stop reading while you're eating your lunch...

medical student?
Specializes in Cardiac Care.
Can I get an "AMEN"?

AMEN!!!

So let me see if I am getting all this right.

- It's impolite to disagree with someone or post another point of view because someone is "venting"?

- Nobody who is not a nurse can possibly empathize with a nurse's feelings about their job?

- If you don't agree with the majority, then you "don't get it".

If that's how venting works, I'll pass.

Specializes in Rehab/LTC.

My favorite bumper sticker on my vehicle:

NURSE - I get paid to save your ass, not to kiss it.

Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.
so let me see if i am getting all this right.

- it's impolite to disagree with someone or post another point of view because someone is "venting"?

- nobody who is not a nurse can possibly empathize with a nurse's feelings about their job?

- if you don't agree with the majority, then you "don't get it".

if that's how venting works, i'll pass.

i'm sure those who aren't nurses can empathize with some of our feelings, but unless you've walked in our shoes, you have no idea what we go through. it's a job unlike any other. i'm not saying it's more important than others, but it is unique unto itself and those who haven't done it can't possibly totally understand......though they could at least give us a thank you and a place to vent without fear of being scolded. and, obviously, if you're not agreeing with the majority, you're not "getting it"....meaning you're not getting how we feel.

People tell you it's an easy job? Tell them, "Hey, I make it look easy!" It's a credit to your training.

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