What if all docs had to nurses first?????

Nurses General Nursing

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Really! I mean think about it..... what problems would this alleviate??

A friend and I were talking about this today. After hearing and reading so much about difficult doctors, wouldn't it be be much easier to have a nursing degree as a pre-req for Medical school?

So tell me... how could this improve the medical profession??

Hugs!

MaryRose

FYI..... I may use this as info for a report later if applicable.

It might not be a bad idea ... as a co-req..... They would be better doctors...

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On the other hand, they sometimes are more of a nuisance when they are trying to do your job as well as their own. More than once I've wanted to tell them..."You do your part and I'll do mine and it will go much faster for everyone!" They sometimes revert back to their nursing days and get so caught up in pt care that the nurse is left with nothing to do and the doc is tied up way too long with the tasks that normally would be taken care of by the nurse (getting warm blankets, another pillow, a commode etc).

I've had the same experience.

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Most of the docs who work our unit are very respectful to the nursing staff because they understand that their job would be impossible without the nurses, and they also appreciate that when it comes to patient care our nursing staff totally kicks butt!

Yes, there are a few nasty docs who come through now and then, but no one pays much attention to them. I honestly feel that people who chose to become doctors don't have what it takes to be a nurse and they probably wouldn't cut it even for one day working as a nurse. Doctors don't actually do anything, you know. They look at a patient for a couple minutes at most and that's their assessment. Then they write a page or two of orders (some of which make no sense). Then they disappear. Nurses do all the real work. I predict that in the future, medical doctors will be phased out (as a cost-saving measure) the delivery of healthcare will be controlled by ARNPs, RNs, and LPNs. Its just a matter of time before the HMOs start pushing for new legislation to change the system so they can save more money. After all, why pay an MD $200 an hour when they can pay an ARNP $45 an hour to do an even better job?

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The current Chief of Staff at work used to be a nurse. She's one of the best, most compassionate, most enthusiastic doctors I've ever met, plus the nurses on the units she most closely associates with adore her. (Probably the docs hate her.)

I love your idea. It would weed out some bad apples. :)

one of our nurses is going to med school in september. she did very well on the mcats and then failed the cen!:uhoh3:

see, it is harder to be a nurse!:rotfl:

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Doctors don't actually do anything, you know. They look at a patient for a couple minutes at most and that's their assessment. Then they write a page or two of orders (some of which make no sense). Then they disappear. Nurses do all the real work.

Yikes. :eek: :eek: Do you honestly think that doctors "don't do anything" and that nurses do "all the real work"?

It is a team effort. It is ALL "real work"!! You obviously have no idea what you are talking about, and I can totally understand why some docs might not get along with you if you are openly that dismissive of what they do. :uhoh21:

Tolerance and understanding have to flow both ways in order for them to occur.

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Yikes. :eek: :eek: Do you honestly think that doctors "don't do anything" and that nurses do "all the real work"?

It is a team effort. It is ALL "real work"!! You obviously have no idea what you are talking about, and I can totally understand why some docs might not get along with you if you are openly that dismissive of what they do. :uhoh21:

Tolerance and understanding have to flow both ways in order for them to occur.

Sorry...I guess the irony and intended humor in my comment got lost somewhere. But, nevermind.

Be well.

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Specializes in NICU.

I work with a doc who got his RN for pre-med, and that's how he supported himself for med school. He's a good doc, has a much better idea of what we do, and is very approachable. He's always willing to answer questions, and is great with families. I wish we had more like him!

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Nursing and Medicine are totally separate things. Right now, there's no real "pre-req" for Med school except the basic science courses. You don't have to have a particular degree. I think that's a good thing. I also agree with the poster who said that requires docs to be nurses 1st would reinforce that nursing is a part of the pathway to being a doctor. That is, that nurses are the same as doctors, but didn't go as far in school. That they're inferior because they stopped their education. This isn't the case. The two professions are totally different. I don't want someone assuming that I became a nurse because I didn't wnt to go to the extra lengths of going to Med School.

Now, having said that, I've always advocated that it should be a pre-req to work in healthcare (not volunteer, WORK) preferrably as a CNA. Most med schools want their applicants to have some "hands-on" experience, but most applicants fullfill that "experience" by volunteering in the hospital a few hours/week for one semester.

My school requires all nursing students to have a CNA before they can start clinicals. I worked as a CNA for several years while in school and I think that it was the BEST experience that I could have had! I was way ahead of people who hadn't done it. I think docs would have a better understanding of nursing if they did this.

I originally started out pre-med, but after being exposed to what nursing really is, I changed my mind. I know for me, I had no idea what nursing was really all about until I was a CNA. I think that's a better idea than requiring a nursing degree.

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I actually find most residents get respect for nurses real fast where I work (if they didn't come that way to begin with).

I actually don't think it would make a difference. In my experience the jerk docs have no memory of the time before they became gods (thank god they are few and far between, most of our docs are great). It's like the way that some experienced nurses have no patience for new nurses, as though they were never new themselves. They just popped out of the womb with all the knowlege they needed to be nurses

There are nice people and there are the "others"..no matter what profession we talk about. If someone is condescending and rude, they will be that way whether they are a nurse, a doctor, or the cashier at the grocery store. Unfortunately, some people derive pleasure in humiliating, belittling, or playing mind games with others. Ahhh....if only the world were a perfect place...

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There are nice people and there are the "others"..no matter what profession we talk about. If someone is condescending and rude, they will be that way whether they are a nurse, a doctor, or the cashier at the grocery store. Unfortunately, some people derive pleasure in humiliating, belittling, or playing mind games with others. Ahhh....if only the world were a perfect place...

Well said.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, MICU/SICU.

I don't know if it would help at all.

There's a nurse on my unit who was a tech for 3 years. She's hates her job is a miserable person and treats her techs like the stuff on the bottom of her shoe. In addition, every other word out of her mouth is effin.

I try to just do my work and ignore her crud. But, it can be very difficult. I'm very close to reporting her behavior.

So, miserable people are miserable people. I don't think it would change the rude obnoxious ones a bit.

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I just wanted to stay thank you to everyone who has posted... it's been a really valuable learning tool.

When I first posted this I was just beginning my pre-req's for nursing and truly believed that if people only "knew" what others must do they would have more tolerance and be more helpful. Oooh... naiveity at best!

Through my list of courses I have learned that there are people who will be rude, complainers and simply cannot be pleased regardless of what is done for them. Giving in to their tantrums just fuels the fire so to speak.

I've learned to demand respect from peers and professors. People that bully others generally do not bully me because I will not tolerate it and I think that my general attitude shows this. I am one who is generally in a great mood, but am not a pushover. I've been asked why "so and so" doesn't get "mad" at me but does with them.... I say it's because they know you will let them and I will not.

There will always be people who will think they are better than others... doctors, nurses, patients. These people will be there and I know I will just have to keep my professionalism, give them the respect that I expect in return.

Not taking it personally is another big key for me. I figure it's their day that is gonna be bad, not mine.

Best Wishes!:)

MaryRose

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