I have been a RN for over 3 years. I am not 'seasoned' by any means and I continue to learn new things everyday. However this is my problem. I got into a major debate with a Resp therapist recently that still burns me up. The resp said 'I am sick and tired of being here for 5 years and I still don't get paid as much as RNs do' I replied 'the reason nurses are paid more is because we are responsible for more care than respiratory is' She sneered and asked 'are you saying you do more than I do on any given shift?' I said 'No I am just saying that when a pt is sick, I clean it up. When a pt is bleeding, I make it stop. i have climbed up and fixed TVs because maintenance said 'That's not my job'. I have given a pt a tissue when a resp was in the room because the resp said 'That's not my job'. I had to get on my hands and knees and mop up vomit because housekeeping refused to loan my am mop or clean the mess themselves and they told me 'That's not my job'. I have fixed beds, remotes, telemetry leads, cleaned floors, changed linens, fixed computers, fixed vital machines, charged lift equipment, charted and cared for my pts all in one night. I have never said 'That's not my job'. So why am I upset? I get paid because I do my job so why can't everyone do theirs?
The simple fact that the RT interrupted a nurse receiving report (as the OP said), and was blunt, rude and unprofessional seems to have been entirely missed by everybody on this thread. The OP stood up for herself against this ignorant, brash person.
Good on you. I would have done exactly the same. And no-one IS stopping the RT from becoming a nurse, a doctor, an inventor, are they? The RT is the one that is bitter and is only holding her own grudges against things she could very well change in his/her life, but chooses not to. That is why she was rude and obnoxious. There's a lot of bitter, unhappy people around, the trick is to stand up to them and just act happy anyway! It really makes them mad in the end.
The simple fact that the RT interrupted a nurse receiving report (as the OP said), and was blunt, rude and unprofessional seems to have been entirely missed by everybody on this thread. The OP stood up for herself against this ignorant, brash person.
Good on you. I would have done exactly the same. And no-one IS stopping the RT from becoming a nurse, a doctor, an inventor, are they? The RT is the one that is bitter and is only holding her own grudges against things she could very well change in his/her life, but chooses not to. That is why she was rude and obnoxious. There's a lot of bitter, unhappy people around, the trick is to stand up to them and just act happy anyway! It really makes them mad in the end.
from my perspective, op stooped to rt's level by engaging her in petty dynamics.
there are ways to stand up for oneself professionally and maturely.
Ok, I've only finished the second page of this thread but I have to ask; What the he** is a NUM??? Please everyone, be aware that not everybody knows what your acronyms/abbreviations stand for! Thanks.
As for the RTs, I just have to say that the ones where I work are generally really good with helping. They will often get a pt a blanket or water, etc. if the pt asks them and I'm not in the room. I've never had one put someone on a bedpan, but then I wouldn't expect it either.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Thank you to all the posts, both negative and positive. While I never condone disrespect to any other human being in this world I have to explain some back story to this arguement. You see this particular RT is known for complaining that she and the other RTs are overworked and underpaid. I never provoked her into this discussion. I was simply sitting in a nurse's station receiving report. I could not simply get up and walk away. I said what was deserved and warrented in this situation. Yes some RTs work hard, yes they have 30-40 pts, No thier pts are never critically ill and ready to die at the same time. No they never answer call lights, no they never put bedpans under people, they are only in one room for 10-15 minutes anyway. When I said to the RT 'Y didn't you go all the way and be a nurse' she wrinkled up her nose and said 'Ew gross I would never do that stuff'. So yes interdisciplinary politics are important but gosh darn it if us nurses can't vent on this website about others then where can I?
This is as disrespectful as it is for people to say to nurses, "Why didn't you go all the way and become a doctor?" We all have our roles. And RT's do indeed care for critically ill its., are a part of the code team in most hospitals. It's not their role to answer call lights, put people on bedpans, etc. I'm not sure if this post reflects a lack of respect for RTs or a profound lack of understanding for what they do.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
The simple fact that the RT interrupted a nurse receiving report (as the OP said), and was blunt, rude and unprofessional seems to have been entirely missed by everybody on this thread. The OP stood up for herself against this ignorant, brash person.
Good on you. I would have done exactly the same. And no-one IS stopping the RT from becoming a nurse, a doctor, an inventor, are they? The RT is the one that is bitter and is only holding her own grudges against things she could very well change in his/her life, but chooses not to. That is why she was rude and obnoxious. There's a lot of bitter, unhappy people around, the trick is to stand up to them and just act happy anyway! It really makes them mad in the end.
So the answer to rudeness is to be even ruder back? My, how we have evolved.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Ok, I've only finished the second page of this thread but I have to ask; What the he** is a NUM??? Please everyone, be aware that not everybody knows what your acronyms/abbreviations stand for! Thanks.
As for the RTs, I just have to say that the ones where I work are generally really good with helping. They will often get a pt a blanket or water, etc. if the pt asks them and I'm not in the room. I've never had one put someone on a bedpan, but then I wouldn't expect it either.
I think "NUM" is "Nurse Unit Manager," but I am not certain. That's the only thing I could come up with.
In the 26 years that I have been an RN, I have come to realize that nurses are the only medical professionals that are accountable and that we live at the bottom of the food chain.
In the 26 years that I have been an RN, I have come to realize that nurses are the only medical professionals that are accountable and that we live at the bottom of the food chain.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Thank you to all the posts, both negative and positive. While I never condone disrespect to any other human being in this world I have to explain some back story to this arguement. You see this particular RT is known for complaining that she and the other RTs are overworked and underpaid. I never provoked her into this discussion. I was simply sitting in a nurse's station receiving report. I could not simply get up and walk away. I said what was deserved and warrented in this situation. Yes some RTs work hard, yes they have 30-40 pts, No thier pts are never critically ill and ready to die at the same time. No they never answer call lights, no they never put bedpans under people, they are only in one room for 10-15 minutes anyway. When I said to the RT 'Y didn't you go all the way and be a nurse' she wrinkled up her nose and said 'Ew gross I would never do that stuff'. So yes interdisciplinary politics are important but gosh darn it if us nurses can't vent on this website about others then where can I?
You can vent on this website! Most of us who understand just nod or think "man I really hear that one". I've discovered that almost 100% of vent threads will get a reply from at least one person who is even tangentially related to the general subject matter of the vent and usually one or two who don't work in healthcare at all! Kind of the nature of the beast around here. You just have to ignore those - we know the feelings you're talking about even if it isn't your specific situation. People who whine about their own career choices to innocent bystanders are really annoying.
But OCN, I am a second career/degreed nurse. I know that lots of valuable time is wasted on "floppy-hat" kind of stuff in nursing edu.
Nursing needs to seriously do an overhaul. As a "girl" I was insulted at how "girly" and dumbed-down nursing text was. I tossed it early on for non-nursing text. CHF is CHF isn't it, after all. Let's cut to the chase in edu., shall we?
Depends on the program. My program is hardcore; it isn't dumbed down in the slightest.
carolmaccas66, BSN, RN
2,212 Posts
The simple fact that the RT interrupted a nurse receiving report (as the OP said), and was blunt, rude and unprofessional seems to have been entirely missed by everybody on this thread. The OP stood up for herself against this ignorant, brash person.
Good on you. I would have done exactly the same. And no-one IS stopping the RT from becoming a nurse, a doctor, an inventor, are they? The RT is the one that is bitter and is only holding her own grudges against things she could very well change in his/her life, but chooses not to. That is why she was rude and obnoxious. There's a lot of bitter, unhappy people around, the trick is to stand up to them and just act happy anyway! It really makes them mad in the end.