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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?
"Any idiot can put an IV in. I'm a real nurse cause I took A+P blah blah" .
I hate that "any idiot can..." line! Not just any idiot can! It takes focus, manual dexterity and dedication to safety and quality.
Can just "any idiot" become a nurse? With enough effort, most reasonably intelligent adults could manage to learn what's needed to earn a nursing license in "just a few years".
What's wrong with admitting that basic nursing education isn't *that* deep or complicated? How deep or complicated can you get when you're covering so much in so little time? It's the covering so much in so little time that makes nursing school so tough; the content isn't, and needn't be, that difficult to comprehend. It's a basic level of training and knowledge. There's no insult implied there! With experience and specialization, nurses can and do increase their expertise and depth of knowledge far beyond that of the basics required for initial licensure.
Keep in mind that many nursing jobs demand A LOT more than what is taught in school. Most of today's nursing programs are NOT specifically training up 'ready-for-the-floor' acute care, beside nurses. Thus the difficult transition for many new grads.
I hate that "any idiot can..." line! Not just any idiot can! It takes focus, manual dexterity and dedication to safety and quality.Can just "any idiot" become a nurse? With enough effort, most reasonably intelligent adults could manage to learn what's needed to earn a nursing license in "just a few years".
Agreed. If I were a patient in a hospital, I would not want an idiot as my nurse. Would I expect someone with a genius IQ? Of course not. I wouldn't even necessarily expect my doctor to be a genius. But if I decided my nurse were an idiot, that's about the same time I'd demand to have another nurse assigned to care for me.
That being said, I would not want a total idiot working on my car, or the plumbing and wiring in my house.
Why can't nursing be both a labor and a profession? I'd consider being an electrician to fall in both categories. I think the OP and others in this thread are attaching way more prestige to the word than is really necessary or justified, based both on the dictionary definition of profession, and the way it is commonly used.
(I know I said earlier that I was going to stay out of this thread so I could study, but I couldn't help myself! OK, back to making pharm flash cards) :)
Maybe 'any idiot' should read ANY person of average intelligence.
Nursing has a lot of these.
Just another feature that illustrates our largely non-professional nature.
I absolutely wouldn't want an idiot nursing me ....however I don't really want a nurse of average intelligence planning and evaluating my care either.
Maybe 'any idiot' should read ANY person of average intelligence.
Maybe not, considering the fact that idiot is somebody of below average intelligence. Technically speaking, although the word is no longer used as part of a system to categorize levels of cognitive impairment, an idiot is a person with profound mental retardation. Just sayin'.
Maybe not, considering the fact that idiot is somebody of below average intelligence. Technically speaking, although the word is no longer used as part of a system to categorize levels of cognitive impairment, an idiot is a person with profound mental retardation. Just sayin'.
We know ....we know....
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 agree with almost everything in the original post but it dosen't mean I don't like nursing- I think you were unfair in that assumption . I have been a nurse for over 25 years and am proud of the job I do and the skills I've developed- but I have never agreed with the "Nursing is a Profession" crowd. We are a very skilled labor force. The "nursing is a profession" debate has sidetracked the focus of our education and confused our new nurses for the last 3 decades. It's OK to be a skilled tradesman. I draw a good wage for providing a service, but that is it. It is a service job. All that said I cannot say I don't like nursing.
I agree with almost everything in the original post but it dosen't mean I don't like nursing- I think you were unfair in that assumption . I have been a nurse for over 25 years and am proud of the job I do and the skills I've developed- but I have never agreed with the "Nursing is a Profession" crowd. We are a very skilled labor force. The "nursing is a profession" debate has sidetracked the focus of our education and confused our new nurses for the last 3 decades. It's OK to be a skilled tradesman. I draw a good wage for providing a service, but that is it. It is a service job. All that said I cannot say I don't like nursing.
Yep. Thats about what it boils down to. lol, like I said, some people really feel like you've belittled them or stabbed them in the heart when you tell them you don't believe nursing is a profession. Its a very large blow to the ego for some. I don't get that at all. BIG reg flag that you are too invested in the status of your career instead of focusing on........well, actually doing it well.
I hate that "any idiot can..." line! Not just any idiot can! It takes focus, manual dexterity and dedication to safety and quality.
Just to clarify, when I said I hate that line, I meant in the context of "Any idiot (or a monkey!) can learn how to start an IV" (or insert any other manual skill) when used to make the point that nursing is more than mindlessly carrying out a variety of tasks. Performing manual skills takes focus, manual dexterity and dedication to safety. In other words, manual skills require more than idiot/monkey-level competence. Licensed nurse or not, anyone regularly carrying out manual skills still needs to focus, think, account for variables, problem-solve, and be prepared for things going wrong.
Nursing most definitely is more than mindlessly carrying out tasks. And so are many jobs, starting from a teenager who babysits on up. So why do nurses feel the need to remind each other of this over and over? No one who has made it through the first day of nursing school should have that misconception! Any student or nurse who demonstrates that they don't get this should be dismissed if they don't immediately improve.
Now, the potential consequences of mindlessness are often immediate and dangerous and irreversible in nursing and that's where the difference lies between nursing and many other types of work (though the babysitter making pocket money has some pretty serious responsibility, too). Which is why I think it's counterproductive to dismiss important manual skills as something that "any idiot" could do.
Just to clarify, when I said I hate that line, I meant in the context of "Any idiot (or a monkey!) can learn how to start an IV" (or insert any other manual skill) when used to make the point that nursing is more than mindlessly carrying out a variety of tasks. Performing manual skills takes focus, manual dexterity and dedication to safety. In other words, manual skills require more than idiot/monkey-level competence. Licensed nurse or not, anyone regularly carrying out manual skills still needs to focus, think, account for variables, problem-solve, and be prepared for things going wrong.
Yes agree....inserting an iV is not a mindless task ...however it IS an activity that most adults of average intelligence, commonsense and dexterity could manage to perform safely and satisfactorily (after a bit of basic instruction).
Many persons in trade and manual jobs perform tasks that require much more skill than placing an IV.
Why do some many nurses need to 'gloss-up' their skill level? I work with plenty ...usually identifiable with all that alphabet after their names. They put everything there...everything from their trauma nurse course to bachelor degree...plus lets not forget, all those piddly post-grad certificates.
It's about an inferiority complex plus a bit of parochialism.
My nurse educators tend to do this ...take a basic skill ...gloss it up and try and make it a 'professional' level action.
Kind like putting lipstick on a pig
sunnycalifRN
902 Posts
Eric,
great post!! I agree with most of your points, though my main reaction is, "who cares?". I don't have "RN" on my license plate and my identity is not defined by being a nurse . . . maybe because I've been in med school and dropped out, been a machinist, been a factory worker, been a systems programmer, been an RRT and now I'm a nurse. I like the everchanging nature of things. (yes, I'm a Buddhist!!)