Time to call a duck a duck?

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I remember having this debate with other students while I was in school. I have seen nothing during my time practicing nursing to change my mind about the issue. Now, with the recession bringing out the true colors of nurses and everyone around them, my opinion seems even more valid. I wonder what others think about it.

I remember sitting in nursing school as the instructor drummed on and on about how "Nursing is a profession." That exact theme butted it's head into almost every single class one way or another, regardless of the subject matter. I often found myself thinking "Who cares?" or "What's the point in that?". Then came the dreaded "Dimensions of Nursing" class. It was the class all RN's must go through at one point or another (IDK if LPNs do or not). There are other names for it "Political Aspects of Nursing" I've heard among a few others. It is the class in which you must discuss the political issues that involve nursing. You are encouraged to join this and that group, Nursing as a Profession is discussed over and over, and you must do a research paper. I never really said in that class how I really felt about the whole business of nursing being a profession in fear of drawing the ire of my superiors.

What is it I had to say that my fellow students got to hear during breaks that my instructors did not? Well: Nursing is not a profession, not even with a very generous stretch. It is a labor, a trade. We are judged solely by the amt. of patients we can handle and still keep the minimal quality expected by our administration up to par. Not very much unlike a McDonald's burger flipper. The faster you can cook those patties without screwing too many up, the better you are. That's all there is to it really. If you don't believe me, take a gander at where nursing expenses falls in the budget. We are not logged next to the admin./doctors/lawyers or any of the other professionals. We are grouped in with dietary/housekeeping/security. As far as budget makers are concerned (and, lets be honest, they make the rules), we are a debt, like a labor.

IT IS TIME FOR NURSING TO GIVE UP THIS IDENTITY CRISIS, THIS INFERIORITY COMPLEX IT HAS DISPLAYED SINCE ITS BIRTH AND MOVE ON, EMBRACE BEING A LABOR AND LOVE IT.

Ever see the movie "Man in the Iron Mask"? The King/spoiled twin tells his brother "Into the dungeon you will go, and you will wear this mask again, and you will wear it until you love it."

We are wearing the mask, but are for some reason we are unable to learn to love it. So we will forever stay in the dungeon denying what we are.

Lets face it. All the aspects of a "profession" are an illusion in nursing.

Definition of a profession:

A profession has a unique body of knowledge and values – and a perspective to go with it.

A profession has controlled entry to the group eg registration

A profession demonstrates a high degree of autonomous practice.

A profession has its own disciplinary system.

A profession enjoys the Recognition and Respect of the wider community.

1. Unique body of knowledge: We do need to go to school and must learn a lot, but I don't know about the unique part of it. Most CNA's pick up on how to do what we do after just a couple years, without the schooling. As far as values and perspective go, lets face it, we can't even agree in here on what that is. How many "Calling from God vs. Its a job" threads/rants have you seen on this site. I've lost count. We can't even agree amongst ourselves what degree we should have. I've also lost count of the "BSN vs. ADN vs. Masters" threads.

2. Controlled entry: Phfffft. It is controlled, but not by us. The hospital/medical field administration decides this. Whatever they decide they are willing to hire is what the rule is. If they decide tomorrow to never again hire ADNs.........that's that for them. We have no say in it. Seen any "Nurses eat their young" vents/threads lately. I know you have;), even if you were a blind, deaf mute with both hands tied behind your back you can't help but run into them on here. If we truly were in control of who came into the profession, such threads would be minimal. Can't be angry about who is allowed in when its your decision who gets in.

3. Demonstrates a high degree of autonomy: Again, I lead with PHfffffft. Our job description continues to be and will forever be everything and anything they can't pawn off on the other laborers. How many of us, since the recession hit, have been told to pick it up and help out in non-nursing job related ways? Empty the trash, stock the cabinets, hand out trays, collect and clean the trays..........its endless. We are unable to define for ourselves what we will and will not do. You don't see them sending the Legal dept. any emails about helping maintenance do you? Any rules/laws concerning scope of practice are simply to protect patients from us should we decide to play doctor. No laws exist to restrict what can be expected of us away from the bedside (no, that would actually be useful, help the pt., can't do anything silly like that).

4. Has its own disciplinary system: Do I need to insert Phffffft again? Oh, I just did. We only qualify here if badgering, cattiness and petty write ups are "disciplinary". Nuff said.

5. Respect of the community: I'll resist the urge to insert the obvious lead here. I'll just point out the complaining about surveys that's been the norm lately. Lets face it folks, professions who have respect are not surveyed like this. These surveys resemble grade school report cards "Nursey doesn't play well with others". If we were "respected", we'd be the ones filling out the surveys on how to improve the model of care given.

Think back to your highschool days. Remember that class clown who tried way too hard to be funny? The not so good looking girl who never stopped digging for compliments on her looks? The not so well liked guy always asking if you and he were buddies or not? That's what nursing has let itself become. Constantly running around worrying about impressing people and all the while completely losing its focus on the primary goal. A lost teenager suffering from an inferiority complex.

Maybe if we embrace the fact that we are............:eek:gasp..............a mere labor, we will be able to dedicate ourselves to our patients. Instead of worrying about proving nursing holds a "unique body of knowledge" and making up useless, pointless "theories" and such (tell me one instance you have found a use for nursing diagnosis), we will become more useful. Focus instead on better time management, better understanding of the things we actually use on the job (the equipment for instance) and a better understanding of the tasks expected of us (study IV insertion in school instead of writing papers about why nursing is a profession).

I know many of you will be upset with me and my views. They are what they are. I make no apologies for them. Not having a well liked opinion has never stopped me from saying what I feel needs said before.

So...............am I wrong? Why?

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

No one should flame you for your POV. You have a right to it.

You sound like a very practical--extremely pragmatic individual (I am the same) and I don't take to idealistic principles well. There's something not quite mentally, emotionally correct with people who follow idealistic goals. Those are the ones who are let down easily and leave the profession altogether after only a few years.

I think we are both labor and professional, depending on the situation...we vacillate between the two. I don't have a problem with it. I practice within the scope I am given, and I always (that would be me) expect evidenced based information when given a new initiative or policy. Trust me when I tell you, I am not someone management hands down rules to without the proper channels having been gone through. I challenge often and with that, I am often correct.

I have clinical skills that are well respected, especially by our anesthesiologists (they will call from the room if there is a "sickie" and ask me to switch assignments)...and have established myself as a "go to" by many people, especially the docs.

So....I agree with both.....

J

[blondielocks]

I'm not yet a nurse, still doing pre-reqs. Very, very interesting post wit some very good points. I'm sure many will disagree strongly with you. Nothing like a good debate though and I don't see where you have insulted anyone! :) Good job, I feel this is going to be quite the thread.

[NYRN05]

i disagree with you on so many levels....but answer me this...if you don't like nursing so much. then why are you here posting about it? are you a nurse? then i ask again why? go be a "professional" somwhere else...just my opnion ! maybe whatever job you have encourages this mindset....and if you accept it...then you own it. you will make your professional career what you want it to be.

you want to be the burned out bitter soul that puts down their own profession (yes thats what i call it)....then do. if you think cna's can learn nursing in a few years then i think by now we all would have been out of a job-heck i would have never went to nursing school then-i could've stayed a nurses aide according to you and would have known it all-your rationales make no sense. if you are so much better than you know where the door is...like my gma said...and on your way out...don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you !

and that's my true colors for you.....i know people like you who just want to get people all in a tizzy....its how you get your kicks. but i still love what i do each and every single day...its my profession...its my job....its what i was chosen to do. maybe you weren't...and you chose it instead. there are a lot of people like you who should have never became a nurse. it is for people like you....who just want to keep the profession from advancing with your negativity.....well i guess you could always flip burgers then right!

[ktrees]

No, that is okay you call it what you want. You have every right to express your feelings. I feel sorry though because you are so unhappy in the profession. If you see the extent of your job as only patient care then you are not fully participating in your professional duties. May I suggest to you one of two options: 1) you have so much anger that it is time for you to get out. Maybe this is not your calling in life? Your work should blow wind up your skirt. 2.) You need to continue on and get your NP or DNP so that you may be fulfilled and transported to new levels of involvment.

Good luck

Elle DNP, ARNP-BC

[KyPinkRN]

i totally agree! not only would cutting the bull turn out better, more prepared nurses... it would make us look more professional simply because we know our stuff right out of school. experience is important, but focusing more heavily on all that stuff you mentioned would give us a leg up. who on this forum hasn't had a hard time adjusting to life on the floor after graduation? maybe that's why so many quit in the first year.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

Erik, I usually agree with your posts 100%. I think you're a very intelligent, well-spoken, well-rounded person. I respect you and your opinions a great deal.

But this time...no, I disagree. I will come back in a bit with an in-depth explanation of that, but for now, I'm going to just have to respectfully disagree.

I don't think you're being insulting, or stupid, or anything like that. I just think your perspective is a bit off-center. Then again, mine most likely is as well.

[thinkertdm]

Well, it is what you make of it. You can sit and while all you want. The mark of a professional is not the situation, but how they handle the situation.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

i disagree with you on so many levels....but answer me this...if you don't like nursing so much. then why are you here posting about it? are you a nurse? then i ask again why? go be a "professional" somwhere else...just my opnion ! maybe whatever job you have encourages this mindset....and if you accept it...then you own it. you will make your professional career what you want it to be.

you want to be the burned out bitter soul that puts down their own profession (yes thats what i call it)....then do. if you think cna's can learn nursing in a few years then i think by now we all would have been out of a job-heck i would have never went to nursing school then-i could've stayed a nurses aide according to you and would have known it all-your rationales make no sense. if you are so much better than you know where the door is...like my gma said...and on your way out...don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you !

and that's my true colors for you.....i know people like you who just want to get people all in a tizzy....its how you get your kicks. but i still love what i do each and every single day...its my profession...its my job....its what i was chosen to do. maybe you weren't...and you chose it instead. there are a lot of people like you who should have never became a nurse. it is for people like you....who just want to keep the profession from advancing with your negativity.....well i guess you could always flip burgers then right!

I never said I don't like nursing. I said I don't like the "inferiority complex" it so boldly displays. The CNA's taking a couple years to figure out what we are doing is a bit over the top, but it got the point across.

You hear about med-techs in Texas? Many of our responsibilities are being divided up into other groups (some nurses will tell you they remember the day when there was no such thing as phlebotomy) and being given to people with...........certificates that take a month or two to earn.

Anyway, my point is, we would further the "profession" by...........not worrying so much if we are one or not.

No, that is okay you call it what you want. You have every right to express your feelings. I feel sorry though because you are so unhappy in the profession. If you see the extent of your job as only patient care then you are not fully participating in your professional duties. May I suggest to you one of two options: 1) you have so much anger that it is time for you to get out. Maybe this is not your calling in life? Your work should blow wind up your skirt. 2.) You need to continue on and get your NP or DNP so that you may be fulfilled and transported to new levels of involvment.

Good luck

Elle DNP, ARNP-BC

LOL. I'm not angry. Do I sound angry? btw, IDK what "work should blow wind up your skirt" means. eh, I don't wear a skirt, maybe thats why.

I'm just suggesting that the desire/obsession with being considered a "profession" is holding us back. Its like we are rebels without a cause.

[rocki718]

I can see your point. I graduated from a BSN program and our class was called Leadership in Nursing. Floor nursing or any nursing that requires hands-on is definitely a labor. I do believe ADN programs prepare their nursing students to be clinically/technically competent whereas BSN programs groom their students for future management/ledership positions. In the past, I worked on a 32 bed med-surg floor caring for 8-11 patients at night with one nursing assistant for three RN's. It was definitely labor boot camp but I never expected it to be glamorous. We had patients that needed to be in the ICU but were kept on the floor because of the census. Talk about feeling like you just ran a marathon but what would really bother me is when management would come in during AM change of shift report and ask the nurses "how many baths did you do?" Now I can say that was in the past because I have been so fortunate, because of the BSN, to have "Professional" job offers where autonomy does exist take case management or homecare for example.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

No, that is okay you call it what you want. You have every right to express your feelings. I feel sorry though because you are so unhappy in the profession. If you see the extent of your job as only patient care then you are not fully participating in your professional duties. May I suggest to you one of two options: 1) you have so much anger that it is time for you to get out. Maybe this is not your calling in life? Your work should blow wind up your skirt. 2.) You need to continue on and get your NP or DNP so that you may be fulfilled and transported to new levels of involvment.

Good luck

Elle DNP, ARNP-BC

Oh, I forgot to add, if I do continue on, it'll be in informatics. I just..........think I'd be good at it.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

I can see your point. I graduated from a BSN program and our class was called Leadership in Nursing. Floor nursing or any nursing that requires hands-on is definitely a labor. I do believe ADN programs prepare their nursing students to be clinically/technically competent whereas BSN programs groom their students for future management/ledership positions. In the past, I worked on a 32 bed med-surg floor caring for 8-11 patients at night with one nursing assistant for three RN's. It was definitely labor boot camp but I never expected it to be glamorous. We had patients that needed to be in the ICU but were kept on the floor because of the census. Talk about feeling like you just ran a marathon but what would really bother me is when management would come in during AM change of shift report and ask the nurses "how many baths did you do?" Now I can say that was in the past because I have been so fortunate, because of the BSN, to have "Professional" job offers where autonomy does exist take case management or homecare for example.

Actually, I'm from an ADN background and a lot of us felt unprepared for the clinical setting. We had plenty of fluff........leadership training, to go around.

My paper for that class was on "RN Delegation". I was interested in it because of my CNA background. Wanted to see what it was like from their end when then told me to do something. lol

After it was all said and done, I felt like I had written a paper that...........took something as simple as asking someone to do something and added tons upon tons of fluff to it. I did learn from it, basically learned I will be the scape goat if anything goes wrong. lol