I am sure that I am opening a pandoras box here but I will probably not be visiting this website much longer.
I have been a daily reader for several years and I have laughed, cried and been educated by what I have read on this forum.
It seems that for a several months now, the majority of opinions on issues and problems in nursing are being addressed by:
1. Nursing students...
2. Pre-nursing students...
3. I want to be a pre-nursing student...
4. I thought about becoming a nurse once...
5. My mother, sister, cousin, neighbor is a nurse...
6. I talked to a nurse in the hospital once...
7. I watch Mercy on TV...
8. I read a book about a nurse...
9. I met a nurse in the grocery store line
10. I once saw a photo of Florence Nightingale...
Well, you get the picture.
I have absolutely nothing against students (obviously we all started out that way) and they at least have a handle on some of this, but until you have worked in the TRENCHES, you CANNOT even IMAGINE what nursing is like as a profession!!!! The exteme highs and the extreme lows! The Humor and the Horror!
I do not have an issue with non nurses reading all of the posts however, I draw the line at expressing opinions as if you had a clue.
So to all of the layperson nurse " wanna bees" PLEASE do not post your advice and snide comments, especially in the vent threads. I have read "Oh, wow, I sure hope I don't think or act like that when I become a nurse".... or "oh wow, that nurse actually laughed at/told off /or disliked her patient-how awful !" ....so many times I now just skip these responses.
The vent threads are for experienced professionals who have "Been there and done that" to relate and to commiserate!!!
There is a forum for students, maybe there should be a forum for non medical/nursing persons.
After all, the official website states:
"A Nursing Community for Nurses" and 400,008 nurses talking about nursing...
In closing, Where oh where are all of you seasoned nurses? Are we just outnumbered? or is it because we are too exhausted from actually Working as a Nurse to post???????
My two cents, and yes, I have almost 20 years of experience. And Yes, I guess this is a VENT.
I'm here and I share your frustrations. I'd love to have a way to block some forums the way we can block posters we don't want to see. No offense intended but I'm just not interested in the latest NCLEX thread.
Yes, there is a way to do that with the new "favorites" feature. You just choose the forums that interest you and add them to your favorites list. Then go straight to that list, bypassing all those pesky and boring student nurse forums.
Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.
There are plenty of topics that are fine for non-nurses to post on, I think (could be wrong) OP is referring to ones that have a specific context where only a nurse would be able to relate or commiserate. I suppose I *could* but I doubt I would ever go on a surgeon forum and post about my opinion on a thread talking about performing surgery because I have no relevant experience or knowledge to contribute. I could possiblly add something to a discussion on the same forum to a thread about, say, post-op pain control because I have some knowledge of what I have personally seen work and not work.
It is all in what the thread pertains to and if I can add something significant or if I'm just flapping my gums.
I suppose we all have free speech but in real life would someone considering doing premed be appropriate if they were to walk up to a group of doctors that were discussing a lab test and insert themselves into the conversation to offer their view on the merit that one day they hope to be a doctor and have read or heard about said test?
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
There are plenty of topics that are fine for non-nurses to post on, I think (could be wrong) OP is referring to ones that have a specific context where only a nurse would be able to relate or commiserate. I suppose I *could* but I doubt I would ever go on a surgeon forum and post about my opinion on a thread talking about performing surgery because I have no relevant experience or knowledge to contribute. I could possiblly add something to a discussion on the same forum to a thread about, say, post-op pain control because I have some knowledge of what I have personally seen work and not work.
It is all in what the thread pertains to and if I can add something significant or if I'm just flapping my gums.
I suppose we all have free speech but in real life would someone considering doing premed be appropriate if they were to walk up to a group of doctors that were discussing a lab test and insert themselves into the conversation to offer their view on the merit that one day they hope to be a doctor and have read or heard about said test?
BINGO!
I could not have expressed this better myself....
OH YEA, While I am at it---OMG there is yet another new math question that has just been posted---how is it that I made it all of the way through Nursing school and then Bachelors and Masters degrees without once having to resort to asking Nurses to do my work for me?:hdvwl:
(as I am sure this holds true for the vast majority of you)
Maybe there should be a big banner on the General Nursing Forum which states that anything related to homework or nursing schools should be placed in the student forum to cut down on the number of miscategorizations. We students love to help each other because that's our "job" right now.
I think that those threads showing up here is just people not knowing where they should go, or they misinterpret the term "general". The mods can't be here 24/7, so a reminder when they aren't available might be helpful.
Just count me in the free range organic, no MSG added category.
(Yes, I love cooking with wine......sometimes I even put it in the food)
Why I do not post as much, oh let me count the reasons why (not).
- Your post bores me.
- I have nothing to add.
- Momma always said if I couldn't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.
- I'm laughing so hard, I spilled dinner on my laptop and shorted it out (generally after reading several pages of the "My old ugly coworkers just hate me/fired me because I am too beautiful and perfect and the WHOLE WORLD is just jealous)
Why is it I read "Cinderella", that I now think that it is terribly biased and that I really want the "Ugly Stepsisters' side of the story".
- I am so tired of answering THE SAME QUESTIONS over and over again.
- Yes, you really do need to know the basic math (and it is BASIC GRADE SCHOOL math) to pass your pharmacology calculation exam with 100%. No, you do not NEED a calculator. And I don't care how nice and sweet you are, if you don't pass - You do not get to be a nurse.
- Yes, the VAST majority of nursing schools have STRICT GRADING POLICIES, that DO NOT round up, and strictly limit FAILING to two course once, or one course twice. And I don't care how nice, sweet, well-meaning you are....you knew this going in. You fail, you're out.
- I don't care how many ways you reword it, medical advice is medical advice, and we don't give it.
- No, you do not NEED to have your cell phone ringer on in class. Plenty of us raised children, in the stone age of healthcare, without them. And I don't care whether someone once told you that your "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" ringtone is cute...it is not cute when it goes off in a pt's room, and makes many of us think of you as a himbo/bimbo, even though we are too polite to say so.
- I don't care about Pearsonvue, and all sorts of "tricks" and "games" you do figure out whether you passed or failed the NCLEX. I don't care how many questions you answered or whether you are "positive" that you answered the last two wrong. And why are you FREAKING OUT that it has been 3 days since the test and the result is not posted.
GET OVER IT!!! Life as a nurse is about waiting. There is a reason that patience and patients sound the same and that they have a lot to do with our work.
I (along with many experienced nurses) took the NCLEX in an early February of a year that I will not name - a two day trial by terror, with hundreds of questions each day. And then we waited......and waited.......and waited for either a license or failure notice to arrive....several monthes later. NO PEARSONVUE, NO TWO DAYS - we had to wait, I received my license 11 weeks after testing.
- You do not have a "right" to have: long nails, artificial nails, soft silky hands, dangly earrings at work, rings on every appendage and orifice, or wear perfume. You are choosing the wrong profession for that. I regret that cramps your "style".
- IF I NEVER SEE ONE MORE THREAD ABOUT ADN vs BSN - deciding, differences in pay, phasing out of one or another, what is best for me in MY situation, which is better....it will be too soon.
- If you have committed a crime or indiscretion in your past or current history.....for advice as to how it affects licensure...CALL THE BON, REPEAT CALL THE BON.....they are the only ones that can give accurate answers.
- You need to do YOUR OWN HOMEWORK....and you call me mean, unfeeling and unhelpful....I don't care anymore....YOU STILL NEED TO DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK.
- I am sorry that you come from a nation that has poor job opportunities. I regret that someone in your nation convinced you to go to Nursing school as a quick easy way out of that life....that there was a "shortage of nurses in the USA"....and that it was "easy" to come here.
They lied to you.
But we as nurses in this nation cannot offer you unlimited jobs/immigration.... we owe it to our nation to employ are thousands of unemployed nurses that are citizens here. If you have a problem with how hard it is to emigrate and work here, you need to complain to those in your past that lied and misled you. And correct the deficits in your own Country.
- Anything having to do with a nursing "shortage".
Anyone "experienced" have anything to add?
(Carefully counting down how long it takes for someone to complain about eating our young....)
One more category -- pre and post computer NCLEX -- LOL
I (along with many experienced nurses) took the NCLEX in an early February of a year that I will not name - a two day trial by terror, with hundreds of questions each day. And then we waited......and waited.......and waited for either a license or failure notice to arrive....several monthes later. NO PEARSONVUE, NO TWO DAYS - we had to wait, I received my license 11 weeks after testing.
This is one of those things that drives us experienced but not THAT experienced nurse CRAZY ....
Love the rest of your post but if I have to hear one more time about the tables, two days blah, blah, blah, I think I will pull my hair out.
Big Luv to you really experienced nurses out there.....
What kind of messed up thought processes does a person of any occupation go through to arrive at the conclusion that they should, "Draw the line at expressing opinions" on a public message board?
Discussion forums by their very nature encourage the expression of opinions. You can stomp and whine using bolded letters and phrases over how clueless the participants are, but ranting about the fact that they *gasp* participated in a discussion on an open forum is childish.
I agree. I don't post a whole lot, but I do read often. And I have to say, that while I respect the feelings and points of the OP, I don't get why this is such a big deal.
People on here seem so incredibly angry and bent out of shape, over posts on a PUBLIC forum. Who is anyone to say who should and shouldn't post? That's unbelievable to me! Just like in the real world, there are going to be people who get under your skin, but you can't stop them from leaving the house and crossing your path. So why does anyone think they can accomplish that on here?
To me, it's much easier to skip over posts and responses that annoy you and be done with it. If a pre-nursing student gives you advice on what to do at your nursing job, pass it by. If you see a post titled "Math Questions", and math questions annoy you, don't open that thread. If someone calls you "a big meanie" because of your response, ignore it or laugh it off.
This website is never going to be perfect and please everyone. It's impossible. So why let it ruin your day, when you see things you don't like? Just like how you tell students to "search", it's the same way you can search for posts that interest you, if the main page is filled with primarily homework/student questions. And if you can't find anything worthy of reading or responding to, create some new, exciting, experienced-nurse topics, and get the ball rolling again.
I have been an LPN for over 10 years, both in the Army and out. And I am currently an RN student, about to start my second to last semester. So yeah, I get what you all are trying to say. But don't forget that we were naive and new to this whole thing at one time. Maybe it wasn't on a message board, but I'm quite sure most of us were annoying to some, who just wanted us gone with our "stupid" questions and such. But eventually we learned and we made it.
Like someone on here mentioned, life is too short. I have found that if we accept some things in life, that in reality don't matter much, we are a lot happier and have less stress. If this board makes you that angry, you have a choice to leave. You might feel you shouldn't have to. Well guess what? Those CNA's, pre-nursing students, and Mercy watchers, feel that they have a right to be here too.
As an 18yo how seriously would you take the opinion of a 12yo on dating and relationships?
See our point?
an adult taking advice from an adult is different from an adult taking advice from a child. and i saw your point from the start i'm just showing you mine too.
an adult taking advice from an adult is different from an adult taking advice from a child. and i saw your point from the start i'm just showing you mine too.
personally, i have absolutely no problem with who posts what.
as has been suggested, i skip over those threads that don't interest me.
but i do see canoehead's point, jasmininsf, in that you wouldn't be inclined to take dating advice from a 12 yo, any more than an experienced nurse would take advice from a nsg student.
it is the experience differences she is expounding upon.
that said, there are always exceptions.
when i was in my 20's, i was 'whining' to a 5 yo girl, who looked up at me and told me i needed some ice cream.
that happened to be the best advice i had received.:)
yeah, i understand her point pretty well. and i've taken some good advice from kids too lol i think my posts are available for everyone to read and if so, you would see that i never post on threads that i don't know anything about. i usually post in the students section or in the general section but i don't think that i post on things that one would need nursing experience to reply to. i can give advice to people on their situation as a nurse whether i am one or not... hm or maybe, i am looking for the word "support" instead of "advice" because i think that's what i give on non-student threads.
i don't think i have seen any of the posts the op is talking about and so i figured she was talking about mine but after reading through this entire thread, i don't think that's the case.
My two cents, and yes, I have almost 20 years of experience. And Yes, I guess this is a VENT.
:lol2:
Just like in the real world, there are going to be people who get under your skin, but you can't stop them from leaving the house and crossing your path. So why does anyone think they can accomplish that on here?
i think my posts are available for everyone to read and if so, you would see that i never post on threads that i don't know anything about. i usually post in the students section or in the general section but i don't think that i post on things that one would need nursing experience to reply to. i can give advice to people on their situation as a nurse whether i am one or not... hm or maybe, i am looking for the word "support" instead of "advice" because i think that's what i give on non-student threads.
JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 1,863 Posts
Yes, there is a way to do that with the new "favorites" feature. You just choose the forums that interest you and add them to your favorites list. Then go straight to that list, bypassing all those pesky and boring student nurse forums.