Why Are Nurses Given Such A Bad Rap Today?

kadokin, ASN, RN · May 23, 2005

Now, see, I totally disagree here. I would rather be seen as a skilled, intelligent professional than someone caring but uneducated. I don't think its necessary to care about your patients in order to be an effective nurse. If I have competent assessment and critical thinking skills, I can recognize changes in your condition, act on them, and achieve the best possible outcome without caring much about my patients as people. Its important to care for your patients, but not necessarily about them.

I'm a nurse for special needs/autistic/CP kids, and while I do care about them (because they're kids, sometimes from abusive households, not quite vocal enough to stick up for themselves), I never really cared about my average adult patient. Cared for them, yes. Gave them the best possible nursing care, and was always interested in their outcomes, but I definitely never made an emotional investment in them. Part of it is probably that I'm not an overemotive, super sensitive person... but another part of it is that, as a nurse, if you make an emotional investment in and care about every single one of your patients, it makes it difficult to leave your job at the door when you go home. When will you be finished? How stressful would that be?

This is a great thread, cheerfuldoer. Thanks for starting it.

Good point. Students and novice nurses, take heed.

kadokin, ASN, RN · May 23, 2005

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with not having to care about about the patients to provide good care.
Again I am going to say that I am still pre-nursing student..... however... at 45 and with a lot of friends who ARE nurses caring about the patients is what keeps them in the job. I was the only one who went into programming instead of nursing from high school.... silly me!
I enjoy listening to them tell about how their patients are doing (within HIPPA guidelines of course) and how they "felt" about their progress or lack thereof.
The excitement when patient A made a major milestone in his/her recovery etc. The sadness that patient B learned he has an incurable illness, and the confidence to know how to make him comfortable. THAT is what nursing is to them. The money is good (CA), they are seen as professionals here, but it's the patients that keep them going.
Of course, there are the complaints about shortages, hours, etc. etc. etc. Nobody does it for the those reasons.. who would??
I think that Nurses can portray themselves as both educated professionals and caring nurturing people. It's what the patients want and need.
Why do a job as difficult as Nursing, with the conditions that are out there if you are not getting an emotional reward from it all?
Hugs!
MaryRose
FYI... when deciding to go into the profession, I took a CNA course and worked in LTC to see how I liked it. Just so ya know I am not looking thru rose colored glasses completely! :)

Also a good point, however, you are going to run across patients that you do not care about. For whatever reason, personality conflict, disagreement w/their lifestyle choices, etc. But you are still expected to GIVE them good care and care FOR them. This is where professionalism comes in. As you practice you will realize that you have to establish boundaries for your own peace of mind and the health of your patients. Caring too much can be damaging to both parties.

aileenve, ASN, RN · May 23, 2005

In reading the threads regarding the so called nursing shortage our country is under , I started wondering why is it that we as nurses are given such a bad rap today. Care to share your thoughts on this? :)

One reason we get no respect is that the public has no real idea of what we do; I had a pt. from hell today; she stated all do is sit on our a-- and play on the computer!:angryfire Never mind patient care, charts, orders, phone calls, emotional support AND computer charting!

live4today, RN · May 23, 2005

One reason we get no respect is that the public has no real idea of what we do; I had a pt. from hell today; she stated all do is sit on our a-- and play on the computer!:angryfire Never mind patient care, charts, orders, phone calls, emotional support AND computer charting!

That is probably all she (the patient) does when she is at work.............sit and play on the computer. :rotfl:

Yes, you are right of course. I'm afraid the public for the most part is truly unaware of what nurses do. I think people in general think female dominated professions do nothing but cackle like hens while on duty, cat fight, compete with one another, etc.,..............but work? Naaaahhhh! :uhoh3:

Years ago when I was an Assistant Girl Scout Leader, a mother of one of my scouts excuse for arriving very late to pick up her daughter from my home following a girl scout outing was that -- and I quote the mother -- "Well, you get paid very well to be a scout leader, so I didn't think my being late would matter." :rolleyes:

Yes, ignorance such as that truly exist.......even outside of nursing, so it is no wonder nurses are taken for a joke to SOME portion of the population of people we interact with from day to day. :stone

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 23, 2005

That is probably all she (the patient) does when she is at work.............play on the computer.

LOL