What is a real nurse?????

grouchy · Dec 28, 2001

Momangel and Patmostoi,you both gave beautiful answers!

It always blows my mind that Rns, who know what is like to be disrespected by doctors, sometimes think nothing of turning around disrespecting LPNs, CNAs, etc. We, who know what it is like to experience this ourselves, have no excuse for this behavior!

I've learned alot from LPNs, aides, respiratory therapists, etc, and I'm still learning. I've had LPNs and CNAs save me from making mistakes.

I've noticed that the doctors who respond to my questions or suggestions with silence seem to be the worst clinicians. The more open ones, who will answer you as an equal if you question one of their decisions are usually the sharpest diagnosticians. i think this shows that snobbery is the refuge of the untalented. This goes for snobby RN's too.

P.S. What is a CMA? We don't have these where I have worked in Connecticut. Also, I think that it's beautiful that your husband and you work together the way you do, and apparently have done so successfully for a long time. You should be on Oprah or something on Valentine's Day!

WashYaHands · Dec 28, 2001

It's too bad that people have to act that way and say negative things. Usually, these are the people who never have anything nice to say to anyone and will constantly find something to complain about. I have found that if you turn a persons negative comment into a positive perception, they will stop. For example, in this situation if someone said that to me I'd say, "I'm just grateful that they are here to help us" or "that's 150 meds that I didn't have to pass". And, I might add that doing the small tasks that she deems are not real nursing such as passing meds, making a bed, giving a shower/bath, passing a tray are tasks that allow real nurses to communicate with their patients, get to know them, and find out more than just where the best vein is.

Can you imagine the hurt feelings that might occur when people hear such negative comments, no wonder people quit. I'd make it a point to thank the person for their help (even a spouse) and make sure the complainer hears you. Hopefully, she'll catch on. If not, let her stew in her own negative juices. I agree that there is no excuse for this behavior.

i think this shows that snobbery is the refuge of the untalented. This goes for snobby RN's too

Right on!

Linda

AHRN · Dec 28, 2001

I started reading this post and thinking: after almost 30 years as an RN, how would I define a "real nurse"?

After reading most of the replies, I found JennyP's statement very profound, "And I don't care how many initials are in a nurse's title; nursing has many areas and fields to work in, but the bedside nurse has one task: to care for the patients in her charge to the best of her ability. That's what 'real nurses' do in any setting."

It sums up what nurses do "in any setting" very well. As nurses we do our best to meet the needs of our patients: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Patmostoi's post also sums it up very well.

Both of them expressed what I could not easily put into words.

Some days it does seem like all you do is "push pills or wipe bottoms", but your interaction and the way you do your tasks mean much to the patient and are also a part of nursing care.

P.S. I couldn't get cut and paste to work, so I apologize if I miscopied any quotes.

Mijourney · Dec 29, 2001

Hi. What I resent more is the fact that this nurse's attitude implies that medications and treatments are not vital to a patient's care. Those of you who are nurses know that whenever nurses are involved in litigation, it's over what? Medication and treatment errors.

Any "real" nurse knows that there is alot more that goes into the administration of meds and treatment then simply passing them out to the patient.

If I were in LTC, I would be more upset at not having enough help for proper oversight of meds and treatment. I'm willing to bet that the percentage of medication and treatment errors in LTC is greater than the hospital because of the lack of trained staff and because we got a few nurses, like the one wrote about that seem to think that medication and treatment administration is elementary. Would like more feedback from those of you in the LTC arena on the art, science, practice of medication and treatment administration.

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Dec 29, 2001

I think I would have turned the tables on her and asked, and what DOES a "Real" nurse do??? I think it may be amusing to hear her answer. I don't think I can improve on anything else that has been said here.

momangel, you hit one of my pet peeves, nurses are not "trained." Monkeys and dogs are trained. Nurses, all of them, are EDUCATED!!! :D:D

mtgirl63 · Dec 29, 2001

I agree with all said here today, and can't really add to it. Being an LPN in LTC I know that it's sooooooo much more than "pushing pills". And I'm so thankful for the families that realize how involved it is and thank us for taking care of their loved one -- they know and understand that we do alot more than hand them their pills every day!!

crispix · Dec 29, 2001

Adding my 2 cents here...I have been a nurse for 12 years,and recently left a hospital because they didnt see LPN's as "real nurses" any more...the exact quote from my supervisor was"We just dont know how to utilize LPN's right now."

I kid you not.GRRRRRRRR

Anyway,in my opinion,a "real nurse" is one that doesnt mind doing those "boring" things,because it is all part of her job,in giving "total patient care".This includes passing those meds,bathing that patient,holding that trembling hand,listening to that scared little old man,hugging that family who just lost their parent...so many things...it is all part of being a real nurse.

In my opinion...that nurse needs to find another profession.

Christine:p

Rosie40 · Dec 30, 2001

After I read your message, I couldn't help but see red . When I first became an RN, I was oriented by an LPN. I learned more from her than I did from an RN that was orientating me the next week. Anyone who is a nurse LPN or RN who wants to know what a real nurse is. A real nurse is someone who yes passes meds, does treatment. But they also hold a patient's hand when they are scared, sad, upset because they recieved bad news, or even when they are dying and they need that comfort. A real nurse is someone the patients can talk with and tell them anything at all. A real nurse is a "cheerleader" encouraging the stroke patient as they take their first steps again, or is able to take that first drink by himself. A real nurse encourages a heart patient that they can go on living, or the cancer patient that it may not be the end for him. A real nurse does much more than that and if that person cannot see past passing pills then she is in the wrong profession. I give a lot of credit to real nurses who work in long term care, they are a special type of nurse, RN or LPN. You are still all nurses, title does not mean a whole heck of a lot to a patient that you are holding hands with to help comfort them.

Agnus · Dec 30, 2001

When I was in RN school there was a nurse (a returning LPN) who took some classes with me. (She ended up graduating a year ahead of me thought) Now I work with her. Much to my dismay and disgust she does not understand some very basic principles and severely lacks in common sense. Still she puts down excellent CNA's as they are not nurses. Only one example is, when this RN was inserting a Foley in a male pt. met with resistance. The CNA said, "I don't think it is in the bladder. I have never seen a foley inserted without some urine return." The nurese told her, "you are not a nurse." And explained that sometimes the prostate will spasm and cause this. She did not waite for the spasm to relax but inflated the baloon in the urethera and told the cna that it would eventually go into the bladder.The nurse ignored the pt's c/o sever pain, and comments that he had foleys before but never with pain like this. It did not phase her that for 4 hours there was no urine out put. Finally the poor patient pulled out the foley himself baloon and all (he was fully cognizant). Through all this she ignored the CNA's advocacy for the patient.

We once had another RN who when a diabetic patient would have a low blood sugar level would give the patient OJ with artificial sweetner. "Because diabetics can't have sugar" No one could get through to her. She made sure the whole world knew when ever it was her turn to be charge and flaunted it and acted superior because she was charge.

These are "real nurses" God save us and our patients from such nurses.

betts · Dec 30, 2001

You will never be bored.

You will always be frustrated.

You will be surrounded by challenges.

So much to do and so little time.

You will carry immense responsibility and very little authority.

You will step into people's lives and you will make a difference.

Some will bless you.

Some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst - and at their best.

You will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity for love, courage, and endurance.

You will see life begin - and end.

You will experience resounding triumphs and devastating failures.

You will cry a lot.

You will laugh a lot.

You will know what it is to be human and humane.

Melodie Chenevert, R.N.

dtweed · Dec 30, 2001

A real Nurse is anyone who takes cares of patients. I have seen some very good CNA's, LPN'S, AND RN'S. And i have seen some not so good. I have worked acute care, critical care and now am in long term care. LTC nurses do much more than pass meds and do treatments. They usually are in charge of everything that happens in the facility when "management" is not there. They are always faxing or calling Doctors for orders. They hold hands of the other staff when a resident has died. They intervene with staff disputes. they call in staff when someone calls in or doesn't show, while passing meds to 40 to 60 residents. They help families adjust to placing a resident in the nursing home or to the illness, or death of a loved one. They help all departments to get along. Then they make sure all the regulations are followed so that no one gets in trouble. Many of these nurses are LPN's. They do a great job. There are amany degress a real nuse may have. I am an ADN who had been a Lpn for many years. I now work as an ADON. I feel like I am a Paper Nurse more than a real Nurse. What I do is important, but I respect those nurse who go out on the floor every day and do what they do. We need more of them and less of us paper nurse's.

Marijke · Dec 30, 2001

Isn't the key issue here teamwork? It seems to me we are all very important links in a chain. What good is nursing care going to be if the place isn't cleaned, food is prepared without caring, laundry isn't done, pills aren't dispensed etc. etc.

The title you have doesn't always matter, it is the caring you do. In my 16 years of working in hospitals I have seen some very good care and some very bad, by RN's, LPN's, Long term care aid's and other people involved in nursing care.

Only a person who really cares should be allowed to call him/herself a nurse no matter what their diploma or degree on the wall states.

Giving medications is a very important aspect of nursing care, and unfortunately still the part of the job where most mistakes are being made with sometimes disastrous results, people die as a result of these mistakes. So the next time somebody calls you a pill pusher maybe you should remind them of this. :mad: