Our profession deserves an accurate title; we have earned it. Regardless of gender, it is time for a change. "Nurse" is an archaic, irrelevant and inaccurate label which mocks the modern professional standard we represent. We are board-certified clinicians who have endured years of competitive education combined with strenuous clinical training.
The argument that we need to support this title for tradition's sake is weak. This field has come so far and changed so much that what we do would literally be unrecognizable to nurses fifty years ago - nevermind Florence Nightingale. True, nurses are caring figures who share special relationships with the sick, but I was taught much more than that in school and I am responsible for MUCH more than that at work. The sad part is that we are responsible for medical knowledge but our responsibility comes with few rights. We are usually the first providers to see lab results and we "respectfully suggest" drugs and treatments to the physician. In the hospital, we are the first to see changes in a patient's condition, and with ACLS training, who runs codes? Do you think Florence Nightingale knows the algorithm to treat PEA or V-fib arrest? No, she would probably suggest opening a window. So, men and women, alike, deserve a name with absolutely no reference to breastfeeding or trashy Media. This issue may be a joke to you, but many believe it affects their honor; and their salary.
You stated that the title nurse is "archaic, irrelevant ant inaccurare."
Yet the American Nurses Association (mind you, is the professional organization of nursing in the United States---where I practice Nursing) defines professional nursing (practiced by Registered Nurses) as follows:
"Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations."
Actually, OP, I can see where you're coming from. However, there's an alternative to buying into the stereotypes in order to reject them ... and they do need rejecting. Instead of throwing out the word, reclaim it ... stop letting non-nurses tell you what a nurse is.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Most psychiatrists don't do the Freud thing. Surgeons wear lenses that allow them to sew miniscule blood vessels together instead of having the patient suck on a whiskey soaked rag and chopping his leg off with contaminated instruments. Psychiatrists. Then and now. Surgeons. Then and now.
Having said that, for some reason it bugs me to have someone shout, "Nurse! Nurse!" at me or be referred to as "Nurse My-last-name" I guess I think of Nurse Ratched or something.
GilaRN "anything can be the subject of a 'trashy Media'" So true! :chuckle lol Well, that's what I've heard, anyway.
most psychiatrists don't do the freud thing. surgeons wear lenses that allow them to sew miniscule blood vessels together instead of having the patient suck on a whiskey soaked rag and chopping his leg off with contaminated instruments. psychiatrists. then and now. surgeons. then and now.
having said that, for some reason it bugs me to have someone shout, "nurse! nurse!" at me or be referred to as "nurse my-last-name" i guess i think of nurse ratched or something.
gilarn "anything can be the subject of a 'trashy Media'" so true! :chuckle lol well, that's what i've heard, anyway.
i would love to hear "nurse my last name" i have a problem with everyone but docs being called by their first name only. i am a nurse.
"Nurse" is the only thing not broken in this profession. I am proud of my title. Changing it would only be a bandaid over a nasty open wound. We need to change from within first. We are a bunch of well-educated professionals, and need to start acting like it. Which for me, means banding together, standing up for our selves, and educating the larger world on what our real role is to get the respect we all deserve.
Yeah sure we all know of more pressing issues to discuss. The OP felt like discussing this one. I think it is worthy. I don't hark back to Flo to define anything for me personally speaking. Not a hat person either (no reference to the Allnurses member, :heartbeat LOL).
Regardless of your stance on this issue, I want to thank everyone for their input. Like I said, this was my first posting (and probably last) and I was wondering how the members of this site would respond. Predictably, many readers missed sarcasm and took select phrases personally, so sorry about that (but not really). I'd like to address some responses I came across. First, a couple readers (i.e. Sasquatch) wrote that the title is the only thing not broken in the field - this has a nice ring to it but I don't buy it. Much of the field is not broken - I love my job and love the nursing field. In fact, there's nobody prouder than me to wake up everyday and do what I do. I just personally think the name-of-what-I-do has had more of an impact than you think. Change the name, and, for example, you'll see more men in the field,- YES IT'S SAD AND YES THERE ARE PROUD MALE NURSES WHO DON'T CARE, but I do think it's reality. Think about it, if you're a high school boy thinking about a future career, you'll stay quiet about telling your friends your desire to nurse for a living. Add ignorant parents and friends and you're probably going to shy away from this career and YES it is sad-it's terrible. But, you can't blame these kids - they are 16, 17 (whatever) and insecure - but they still might make excellent nurses given time to mature. All I'm saying is you need to think about future generations and not yourself - sure WE are proud to be called nurses because we know what it's about, but kids drooling over Grey's Anatomy do not. That will never change, and the public's view of nursing supported by the media is more important than you think - do some research before you comment. It's almost 2010 and we're still seeing jokes about nurses in movies and offensive nursing roles on tv. Alot of people watch tv - alot. So, I was suggesting a name change - let Hollywood have their Nancy Nurses, we can have something accurate...Bad idea? Maybe (apparently) but oh well, it's a discussion board after all. A reader actually tried to argue with me by announcing that not ALL nurses have years of education but merely undergo 1 year of training...?? - why would you even...wait...you know what, no comment.
Someone suggested that Doctors change their name because their field has also changed - "hahaha" - but, see, there is a difference; They obviously would keep their name because doctors have always been and continue to be respected everywhere, while nurses get ****** on.
I don't know why we struggle in nursing, it's probably more than the name, but it's a suggestion for my fellow nurses to think about next time they feel disrespected. And, whoever thinks they are making plenty of money between juggling patients/wiping asses/saving lives/seeing death/emotionally draining families - - I suggest once again doing some salary research and you'd be surprised what you SHOULD be making - you're worth more (same goes for LNA/CNA/LPN/RN). That said, I know WE ARE FORTUNATE in this economy to be doing as well as we are. Also, I'm aware there are more pressing issues in the world, but I chose not to discuss those here, is that okay? This has been a curiosity of mine for years, so I googled Allnurses.com and wrote about it. Period. Adios friends, and from the bottom of my heart, good luck at work tomorrow, because we are all in this together.
regardless of your stance on this issue, i want to thank everyone for their input. like i said, this was my first posting (and probably last) and i was wondering how the members of this site would respond. predictably, many readers missed sarcasm and took select phrases personally, so sorry about that (but not really).
there is a fine line between sarcasm and complete negativity. you are suggesting a massive change in our profession with scant evidence and rather aggressive statements.
i'd like to address some responses i came across. first, a couple readers (i.e. sasquatch) wrote that the title is the only thing not broken in the field - this has a nice ring to it but i don't buy it. much of the field is not broken - i love my job and love the nursing field. in fact, there's nobody prouder than me to wake up everyday and do what i do. i just personally think the name-of-what-i-do has had more of an impact than you think.
do you have any literature to back these claims up?
change the name, and, for example, you'll see more men in the field,- yes it's sad and yes there are proud male nurses who don't care, but i do think it's reality. think about it, if you're a high school boy thinking about a future career, you'll stay quiet about telling your friends your desire to nurse for a living.
since it's apparently anecdotal hour at allnurses, my wife was recently swarmed with high school students (male & female) who were interested in nursing. of course, landing near their school in a helicopter may have had a little something to do with the interest.
add ignorant parents and friends and you're probably going to shy away from this career and yes it is sad-it's terrible. but, you can't blame these kids - they are 16, 17 (whatever) and insecure - but they still might make excellent nurses given time to mature.
you do realise, the number of men in the profession has increased quite a bit over the past many years as perceptions about nursing has changed? again, a weak argument for changing the name of a profession.
all i'm saying is you need to think about future generations and not yourself - sure we are proud to be called nurses because we know what it's about, but kids drooling over grey's anatomy do not.
many people drool over these types of shows. (including nurses.) i even considered getting a dr. dreamy tattoo so my wife has something nice to look at. who knows, i may earn some points. [sarcasm alert] where are you going with this?
virtually every other profession is placed in a negative light on the tele. change the name of nursing, and there will be new jokes and filthy shows about this profession as well. going to have to come up with a better argument.
alot of people watch tv - alot. so, i was suggesting a name change - let hollywood have their nancy nurses, we can have something accurate...bad idea? maybe (apparently) but oh well, it's a discussion board after all. a reader actually tried to argue with me by announcing that not all nurses have years of education but merely undergo 1 year of training...?? - why would you even...wait...you know what, no comment.
why not, it's true in some cases. i was an lpn at one point. no offense, no shame, just the facts, and i had no qualms about it.
someone sarcastically suggested that doctors change their name because their field has also changed - "hahaha" - but, see, there is a difference; they obviously would keep their name because doctors have always been and continue to be respected everywhere, while nurses get ****** on.
then, provide your source and a quotation for the comments you made about flo opening a window in response to a code situation. you need to better define and defend your statements.
i don't know why we struggle in nursing, it's probably more than the name, but it's a suggestion for my fellow nurses to think about next time they feel disrespected.
fair enough; however, cramming this concept down our throats with scant evidence is not helping your case.
and, whoever thinks they are making plenty of money between juggling patients/wiping asses/saving lives/seeing death/emotionally draining families - - i suggest once again doing some salary research and you'd be surprised what you should be making - you're worth more (same goes for lna/cna/lpn/rn).
please, provide us access to your research. links, quotations, and names of resources.
that said, i know we are fortunate in this economy to be doing as well as we are. also, i'm aware there are more pressing issues in the world, but i chose not to discuss those here, is that okay?
fair enough.
this has been a curiosity of mine for years, so i googled allnurses.com and wrote about it. period. adios friends, and from the bottom of my heart, good luck at work tomorrow, because we are all in this together.
sometimes people are going to disagree with you. you have to take the good with the bad on these forums. i am often engaged in rather... intense discussions with some of the members on this site. sometimes, admin asks me to... change the tone of some of my posts. then, i may end up in total agreement with the same member who absolutely hated me during a prior discussion, on the next thread. that is the way it rolls.
I think a better idea would be to increase public understanding of what nurses actually do by doing things like working with the media to encourage more accurate protrayals of the roles of nurses and physicians in movies and television. Most people attribute much of "nurses' work" to physicians, and I think it would elevate our position greatly if people knew the truth of the matter.
I can't tell you how many times I've had patients and family members say to me, "Wow... I had no idea nurses did that" after spending time with me in the ICU.
showbizrn
432 Posts
Yet the American Nurses Association (mind you, is the professional organization of nursing in the United States---where I practice Nursing) defines professional nursing (practiced by Registered Nurses) as follows:
"Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations."
The PUBLIC's perception may be faulty
of the RN'S functions
that's where public education comes into place.
The REALITY of the title "nurse"
emcompasses a contemporary, relevant and accurate
scope of practice.
TITLE CHANGE???
What for???