Why do they have to be soooo condescending ! Vent

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Specializes in Psych.

I'm 34 yrs old and have wanted to be a nurse for years. It's taken me three years just to complete my prerequisites. I've worked really hard and I finally got in for Fall 07. After all of this hard work I'm finally on the verge of doing what I want with my life and I keep encountering these killjoys. They make all sorts of condescending comments "so you're going to wipe butts now are you?...ha ha.....and (with a pat on my shoulder) oh now why would you want to take a step down in your career?......and my personal favorite ....but how can you make a living if you are just a nurse......

Right now I have a professional position that has a nice title but no pay whatsoever and very little respect. And that's with a master's degree. I work like a dog 60+ hours every week. It's in social services. As an RN I will be able to work three 12 hour shifts a week if I want to and make alot more than I make now. And not get calls at home all the time when I have a few days off. I've tried to explain the benefits of a career change to nursing with many of these people and it's just like they don't hear me. It's really frustrating at times. I mean really, why do these people have to put this profession down so much. It's rude, ignorant, and condescending. Can't they just get a life and simply say nice job, hope you are happy. Sorry. I just needed to vent. Thanks

Dee

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Hope you feel better after the vent. Those people are just jealous. Just think how the reactions will be when you life starts to improve in quality when you reach your goals. Sounds to me like you're right on track. Good luck in school and congratulations on your acceptance.

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Specializes in ICU, Mother/Baby.

Dee...sorry to hear that you are going thru this

People that do things like this are usually unhappy, miserable people themself and they hate seeing others be happy. Deep down inside they are thinking...why can't I do that!

Be proud of yourself for making this decision in your life! It's a hrad thing to do and many don't do it and stay in a job that they are miserable in!!

Have a great Fall semester and Good Luck on your NEW Career :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

Why aren' t these same people asking you how you make a living when you work 60 hours and make NO income now? Seems like they have no clue about your life or your finances.

No one can kill your joy unless you allow them.

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Specializes in Psych.

Thanks for the support. I do know these are miserable people who need to get a life. And I don't really care about their opinion. It's just so frustrating when you explain something to someone over and over again and they just don't get it. Or act like they never even heard you. I actually told one of these individuals that if I work the same number of hours each week that I do right now as an RN at today's pay rate in my geographical area I would make double what I make now (that's even more than the Director of my agency). She just looked at me and shook her head, patted me on the shoulder and said "Oh, I'm sure that can't be the case" and proceeded to lament about how I was giving up such a wonderful professional position to become "just a nurse". She made it seem like I was some martyr or something. I actually think that if I was to show up at her house with a pick up truck full of cold hard cash in the bed and tell her it was all from being an RN she would pretend the cash wasn't there.

And don't get me started on those people who say "But you're so smart, why wouldn't you want to be a doctor" Like nursing school is a breeze or requires no skill. Sorry all. I'm just fed up. I'm getting close to the time when I am quitting my job and every little thing is getting to me. My friends and family, and of course all you guys ;), are really supportive and I know that's what matters most. I just need to take a deep breath and say "all you killjoys go jump in a lake...I'm doing what makes me happy!"

Thanks again. I think of all you allnurses members as my buds. I can count on you guys to let me vent when I need to and offer support. You rock.

Dee

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Gotta say ditto to all of the above. You know better. Don't let them bring you down. They just don't get it. Kinda feel sorry for 'em, don't you?

You go!

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maybe it's about time to stop sharing your life plans with these people.

next time there's an unsolicited and ignorant comment, just smile and walk away.

on the positive side, you'll be meeting a whole new group of people when you start nsg school.

you can vent the hardships and celebrate the successes.

congratulations in realizing your dream, and best of everything to you. :balloons:

leslie

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People who say those things don't understand what nursing is all about, only what it used to be..........DECADES ago! My brother once made a comment when I was in school that he didn't understand why I was working so hard to "be a bedpan pusher." He had the chance to see me in action once when he came by the ER to say Hi, and those few minutes changed his mind about what nurses do.

People don't understand all the knowledge we have to have, until they need our help. Hand one of those guys a nursing textbook and watch his face when he looks inside.

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Specializes in ER,Trauma, ICU, Flight, Hme Hlth, CCath.

Take everything with a pince of salt. At least you are strong enough to know what you want to do and are doing it.

Kill joy is just another form of envy.

welcome to the profession and good luck to you in all you do. I am sure you will feel the rewards. Wiping butt, so what we all had to start somewhere but that is only the half of it.

There is a lot more pleasure in nursing than anyone would ever imagine.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

With a Master's degree and working in social services I'm surprised you don't have a better understanding of people's behavior. If people are determined not to hear what you are saying to them, why do you persist to try to change their point of view? Why do you let their opinions hurt you unless you are not sure of your decision yourself? You are going to encounter this same kind of attitude in patients and nursing coworkers as well. So, the working hours and money you make might be an improvement for you, but you are probably going to find that your interactions with people are not going to change all that much.

As part of my BSN program and having to take a required class in group behavior we were required to read a little book called Games People Play: The Basic Handbook of Transactional Analysis by Eric Berne, M.D. It was, and continues to be, a best seller. If you haven't heard of it, pick up a copy at a library and read through the section where he talks about the one-upmanship games that people play against each other. They do it to get control over other people and some self-satisfaction. It's almost always about THEM, and never about YOU.

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Tell them to go to salary.com, type "Registered Nurse" and then your zip code. 2.gif

Seriously, it doesn't matter what they think. Stay positive. Be confident in your decision. Come fall, you'll have a whole new bunch of new friends to support you.

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I would educate the uneducated. Ask them how many careers out there allow you work when you want?? Pretty much the options that are available for nurses are unlimited!!! With over 150 different job descriptions for an RN, ranging from staff nurse to ARNP, school nurse to cruise liner nurse, NFL team nurse to research nurse, I am very proud of the career that I have chosen. Life is only boring if you stop learning and in medicine; you can never stop learning.

Off course there are downfalls in our profession, but in my opinion the rewards are worth it!!!

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