why is education not highly valued within the nursing profession?
think about the large scheme of other "professions". education is held in high regard. why is this not the case in nursing?
bachelor's degrees in nursing are not met with enthusiasm. sometimes, they are met with distain. why are the additional two years not acknowledged as an important part of education?
so what if the extra two years are not completely focused on nursing. if achieving a bachelor's degree in business, all four years aren't geared exactly towards business courses, but no one would claim that these other areas of study do not apply. they just add a broader scope to the students knowledge base.
how could additional knowledge about foreign languages, literature, geography, political sciences, logic, religions, humanities, nature, music and other liberal arts and sciences not be a benefit to the nursing profession. our clients come from all races, creeds, and walks of life. why are we not encouraged to learn more about all of these very important areas of life. why do we constantly hinder ourselves by not encouraging the further education of our peers? why is a higher degree status so unattractive to some of us? if we consider these topics "useless" knowledge which does not warrant study, then do we consider these attributes within our client population to be useless as well? do what other cultures enjoy, believe, think, feel about other areas of life not matter? it should. how can we provide holistic care for the entire patient if we are only focused on their medical condition. what about the other factors of health, happiness, and quality of life? why is the study of these areas not encouraged?
when we discourage others, when we offer distain to nurses who have seen it fit to learn more than nursing theory and skill techniques, we are not only shortchanging our clients, but we are limiting the great potential that each and every one of us has. we are not "just nurses", all of us are people too, with our own interests, life stories, experiences. the broading of our minds, regardless of the topic studied is not a negative decision! all knowledge gained is worth the commitment. so why are nurses not encouraged to do so?
Too much time on her hands. Makes lots of posts to this web site too. Yet, her personal web page "diary" says she's had enough and just wants to go work 3 12-hour shifts and take 4 days off. Had 'nough of school too. Wants family life back.
And unbalanced. Needs to perform some self-examination. And notes lots of personal stress, but choses to take on more and more. Along with hypernutrition prevailing at such an early age. She will be a burden on the health-care system, both as an employee and as a future patient.
Drive fast. Take chances. Smoke/drink/eat too much. Rant/rave. Good for our income. Good for the economy.
Wow! I haven't had my weight attacked (or brought up in debate) since jr. high. Let me think... how did I handle these remarks back then....
Oh yes, I remember. The children who felt threated by my intelligence would always throw in a mean comment about my weight. I remember being upset about it, but I also felt great pity for that person because I knew that the only reason they made fun of me for being overweight was that they were sad that they would never be as smart as me, or go as far in life as I would. Thanks for reminding me that jerky kids can grow into asses as adults. It was very enlightening.
As for my "diary". It is open to anyone who want to read it. I have a policy that no matter what I write, it stays there. Rather I am sad, depressed, happy, peeved, or any other range of emotions that a human can go through. October 9th, That day that you refer to about me wanting to be done with school, and wanting my family back was also the day that my father lost his job, I lost my insurance, and I wished that I could go home to comfort him and let him know that I was ok, and everything would work out. I am sorry if I was depressed that day, MY BAD :)
My journal is viewed by many people who share in my clinical depression. "I" chose to take a chance and stop taking my medications, so that is how I handle my stress levels. I write in my online diary. It works well, and I recieve email upon email about how people are helped by it, and seeing that bad days, and good days both occur. If it is too intensive for you, you might not want to continue to visit my site and read it.
Well, I have class, senior pictures, another class, and a meeting today, so I need to get going. Again, THANKS for reminding me that some children will always be children. Its refreshing.
I don't know about everyone else, but for this fat, smoking, undereducated nurse, this thread has gotten a bit ridiculous. We're not here to attack one another OR to build ourselves up by claiming to be more intelligent than another.
Intelligence is not shown by personal attacks OR by telling someone about your accomplishments. Intelligence is shown by actions, I just hope the attackers and the attackee are up for that battle...
Brandy, you don't battle ignorance by trying to show your medals. The ignorant do not understand the value of awards. By the time someone's an adult, if ignorance is not overcome, chances are that person will die ignorant. You battle ignorance by education and if that doesn't work, you IGNORE it. That's why the two words are so closely related
I have no doubt that you will be able to handle any curves that life throws at you effectively and efficientely. If you lived in my neck of the woods I would be happy to have you as a member of my team.
Burden on the health care system as an employee an as a patient?! This thread was titled "why is education not valued in our profession", not "let's see how critical we can be of Brandy over irrelevant things." Let's remember that.
I think some of deathnurse's comments were way out of line. Who peed in your Post Toasties this morning deathnurse?
don't forget yet "good for job security". It's a proven fact that when people are intimidated and can't debate intelligently, that they will resort to personal attacks. Case in point.
I think the reason education is not valued is that we have been watching our admin for cues as to what to value and what not. We seem to make avoiding lawsuits our first priority....
We have just started thinking about what WE value and what should be important for our profession, as opposed to following the lead of docs, or of admin. Which is why progressive minds, like Brandy's, are taking a fresh look at advancing education, yet others disagree, saying experience, or work ethic makes a more valuable, and effective nurse.
I think all these are interesting views, especially if someone could quantify work ethic, or experience. We all know fossils on the floors that are next to useless. What about valuing in depth experience in one field- I think we would come back to more formal education on that one. How do you get more informal education? And how do you get recognition for it?
We get CEU's, and hospital based competencies at my hospital. Unfortunately they are not attached to any increase in compensation.
deathnurse
78 Posts
Brandy has way too much time on her hands.