What do you consider to be nursing's biggest setback?

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Just wondering what some of you thought might be a big setback in the nursing industry? What is holding it back from being something that it may not be. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
Not exactly a 'setback' but as a group we do not stand together. We have allowed administrations and outside organizations to bully us, and rarely come together to say "NO!"

Whether it is patient load, mandatory OT, inhumane scheduling, not enough supplies--many of us would rather resort to chronic complaining, backbiting, and 'eating our young'.

And, sadly, with all the talk about professionalism and advanced degrees, not much has changed at the staff level in the 37 years I have been a nurse.

Agree 100%! No matter how blatantly unfair to the nursing staff some new boneheaded policy may be, we can't get unified to challenge it! There are always a couple of brown nosing types that cheer ANY statement made by the DON or administration as an utterance from God. Then the larger population of go with flow types that are afraid that questioning anything will "get me in trouble" and then there is the vocal group that complains about everything to anyone that will listen - except management or somebody that could actually do something about it. That leaves very few nurses willing to stick up for themselves. Unfortunately, since so few nurses are willing to speak up when and where it matters, the one's that do usually end up labeled "troublemakers" and may as well look for a new job. So the administration/company policy makers/state agencies etc. win again and we nurses just have to "suck it up."

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
OK and a 'nother thaing, I'd like to see the state BON's done away with and go to a national licensing organization like the MT's have. That way we could move across state lines with ease, it would be easier to track the stinkers in our profession, and it would be much more cost effective and I think it would also help to unify us as nurses, one organization for us all.

Fabulous idea! State rules and regulations vary so greatly. A standardized protocol across the nation would simplify things immensely and probably save money in the long run. I wonder how traveling nurses manage? Do you have to bone up on the rules everywhere you go to avoid doing something that was perfectly OK in State A but perfectly illegal in State B? Any travelers out there please chime in, I would love to know the answer.

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Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.

I'll get shot for saying this, but here goes:

RN's did away with the all-white uniform.

Younger nurses, will not have any memory of the impact this had.

Old-timers, will know exactly what I am talking about.

Yes, all-white was 100% impractical.

No, I am not suggesting going back to it.

However, it DID set the profession back...big time.

Notice how physicians haven't changed their "uniform" in 150 years or so?

There is a reason why!

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I'll get shot for saying this, but here goes:

RN's did away with the all-white uniform.

About the same time nurses stopped jumping up to let the holy MD take their chair. Is that equally to blame?

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Specializes in CVICU, Obs/Gyn, Derm, NICU.

The unique nature of nursing

The blend of art / highly skilled / profession / trade / manual labour..... in a field where experience often outweighs education

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Specializes in RETIREDMed nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
The unique nature of nursing

The blend of art / highly skilled / profession / trade / manual labour..... in a field where experience often outweighs education

So true!

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
The unique nature of nursing

The blend of art / highly skilled / profession / trade / manual labour..... in a field where experience often outweighs education

To me, that's one of our strengths, although it certainly does create challenges. The setback, in my eyes, is when the various powers that be try to standardize us to death. Patients with CHF get headaches, just like anyone else does. It's not wrong to treat the headache, even if it doesn't help the CHF. One size rarely fits all.

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Specializes in RETIREDMed nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
To me, that's one of our strengths, although it certainly does create challenges. The setback, in my eyes, is when the various powers that be try to standardize us to death. Patients with CHF get headaches, just like anyone else does. It's not wrong to treat the headache, even if it doesn't help the CHF. One size rarely fits all.

Wait...yeah, that's what I was responding to when I wrote "so true". I also see it as our strength. I just now realized the title of the thread was "nursing's biggest setbacks". :brnfrt:

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Specializes in med/surg 1 year, ER 5 years.
ah the transatlantic sarchasm strikes again ...

lmbo! :lol2:

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