Why do some Medstudents love to belittle nurses?

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I have been belittled by medstudents numerous times. the whole "You don't know as much" or "You didn't go to school as long as a doc" always comes up. what is is that they have to prove to me? why do they do this?

Where is the respect??? :mad:

This is a direct quote i received from a medical student

"Ha! Most of you ***s are just registered nurses... which is what most people who can't aspire to anything greater or just can't handle medical school... I may be a student now and you might think high and mighty because youre registered... but one day i'll probably be your boss... so suck it..."

how do i deal with this? i just ignore it, but it sooo unprofessional

I am not in any way talking badly about medical students, i am just wondering if any of you have had this kind of behavior happen, over heard it, etc. and how i should handle this. please no rude responses.

Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

When I was in the Navy we had a really obnoxious Chief. So the guys who worked for him put some type of vanilla flavored workout supplement/weight gainer in his vanilla coffee creamer for 7 months while on deployment. The Chief could not figure out why he kept gaining weight and had to buy new uniforms. He ended up failing weigh in for the physical fitness assessment.

Freaking hilarious.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I worked at a teaching hospital and did not find this to be true. I can recall only one or two med students who were arrogant out of the countless students who rotated through my department. Most of them were cordial and eager to learn. Same for the interns and residents.

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Specializes in LTC.
I may hurt some feeling's however, if the shoe fits?

First, is it professional for a med student to start a Facebook flame war? No, we have this well established at this point.

However, do you think it is professional to become embattled in said flame war as a nurse? When I first saw this thread, I though this was about a med student in the clinical setting. My experiences have been that med students are so scared and ragged that they don't say much of anything to me. A resident may be a different story however.

My point being, you choose to become involved in these meaningless Facebook wars. You choose who to be your friend and what content you allow. I have to question the wisdom of involving professional life with personal life on these social networking sites. Why not be the better person and disengage from these silly and unprofessional rants? Otherwise, you are simply part of the problem...

Usually i just ignore things like this, but i couldn't turn a blind eye this time. I had to stand up for what i know is right, so i'm going to report their behavior to the dean. Me allowing this behavior, in my opinion, is being part of the problem. and of course, i blocked them from my facebook. Also, i don't appreciate the negative responses i get, making me into the bay guy- when all i did was share my story, and ask for some encouragement. I thought Allnurses was a safe place to share, but now i'm starting to wonder if i can vent to anyone without the situation becoming my fault somehow.

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Freaking hilarious.

So, we intentionally give somebody a substance that causes negative physiological consequences, and it's funny?

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
Usually i just ignore things like this, but i couldn't turn a blind eye this time. I had to stand up for what i know is right, so i'm going to report their behavior to the dean. Me allowing this behavior, in my opinion, is being part of the problem. and of course, i blocked them from my facebook.

Be very careful what you wish for.

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Usually i just ignore things like this, but i couldn't turn a blind eye this time. I had to stand up for what i know is right, so i'm going to report their behavior to the dean. Me allowing this behavior, in my opinion, is being part of the problem. and of course, i blocked them from my facebook.

Do whatever you wish, just know that you are going to personally involve your self in this situation and it may lead to more drama.

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This link used to have an article on it, I think I found it on this website. The link is: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/06/...od-doctor.html

This is the article that was there (I had posted it to my FB page Notes that is why I have it):

Listening to Nurses is the Key to Being a Good Doctor

I’m a doctor. We get all the glory. And credit. And guess what? We only deserve part of it.

I started out in medicine in the mid-80′s, volunteering at an ER. And the biggest shock to me was learning how much of what happens in a hospital is nurse territory. Doctors will see you anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes a day, depending on how sick you are. And the rest is the nurses.

They’re the ones making sure you get your pills and checking that your vital signs aren’t dropping. They make sure you don’t fall down and break something. If you start vomiting, doctors will run out of the room and the nurses will rush in. They change your wound dressings and start your IV line. They’ll bring you a warm blanket. And clean disgusting things off you. Even if you’re drunk. Or delirious. Or mean. And through all of this they try be friendly and positive. Even though you aren’t their only sick patient.

I respect nurses. I learned early on that they’re key to being a good doctor. You p*ss off the nursing staff, and you’ll have a miserable career at that hospital. Respect and treat them well, and you’ll never regret it. They’re as important to being a good doctor as your medical degree. Maybe more.

If you come out of medical school with a chip on your shoulder against nurses, you better lose it fast. Because they will make or break your training, and often know more than you do. Be nice and they’ll teach you. A good neurology nurse is often a better inpatient neurologist than some doctors I’ve met.

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I saw a lot of this when I worked at the hospital, too. Nurses were "just nurses", and I don't even know what they considered aides/techs, but it wasn't pretty.

I blame part of it on the medical shows this generation has grown up on. House, Greys Anatomy, Scrubs, etc. Most of these shows, nurses are shown to do three things - insert foleys, take vitals, and give baths. If they have a suggestion they are often told "I'M the doctor", if they're portrayed as having any thoughts at all.

My favorite part is in Scrubs - when they reveal that Carla became a nurse because she didn't have the time/money to go to school. This is a show set in modern times, girl did not become a nurse without education, alright?

Not to completely blame tv for these attitudes, but I'm sure it doesn't help.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Usually i just ignore things like this, but i couldn't turn a blind eye this time. I had to stand up for what i know is right, so i'm going to report their behavior to the dean. Me allowing this behavior, in my opinion, is being part of the problem. and of course, i blocked them from my facebook. Also, i don't appreciate the negative responses i get, making me into the bay guy- when all i did was share my story, and ask for some encouragement. I thought Allnurses was a safe place to share, but not i'm starting to wonder if i can vent to anyone without the situation becoming my fault somehow.

You going to attempt to derail someone's academic career over some stupid comments posted on Facebook? You've already blocked them, why not just move on? You're going to encounter people like this for the rest of your career - you can't possibly retaliate against all of them.

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Specializes in LTC.
You going to attempt to derail someone's academic career over some stupid comments posted on Facebook? You've already blocked them why not just move on? You're going to encounter people like this for the rest of your career - you can't possibly retaliate against all of them.[/quote']

Well I wouldn't be derailing their academic career, they would. they would have gotten themselves in trouble with their behavior. Would it really be better if i ignored behavior like this when i run into it? I'm very conflicted between doing the right thing, and playing it safe.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Well I wouldn't be derailing their academic career, they would. they would have gotten themselves in trouble with their behavior. Would it really be better if i ignored behavior like this when i run into it? I'm very conflicted between doing the right thing, and playing it safe.

People can think and say whatever they want - it doesn't make their opinions the truth. If they were actual physicians running around treating nurses like crap and starting Facebook wars (which, at the very least, is just juvenile), then definitely step up and say something. But they are med students...there's no telling if they'll even finish med school (now that I think about it, what med student actually has time to post crap on Facebook?) If they do finish, more than likely at some point before they graduate, they will have realized the errors in their thinking. Obviously you know nurses aren't stupid, so let it go. There's got to be something better to worry about.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Well I wouldn't be derailing their academic career, they would. they would have gotten themselves in trouble with their behavior. Would it really be better if i ignored behavior like this when i run into it? I'm very conflicted between doing the right thing, and playing it safe.

Yes, it really would be better if you ignored the behavior. It's Facebook, for heaven's sake. Stop, before you do something that makes yourself look ridiculous.

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