Would you be offended, "practically an RN?" - or am I overreacting?

Nurses General Nursing

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In response to someone asking for medical advice, I recently came across this comment:

"I'm a mother of 2....that should at least register me at a RN or something"

I was quite offended. Now, truth be told, I'm sure she meant the comment in fun, but I still found it offensive.

Anyone else find these sorts of comments offensive, or am I just overreacting (which I have been known to do before! lol)?

Many people view all health care careers as if they are all part of a some sort of continuum, with the sole determining factor being the length of education. They don't understand that nursing and doctoring, while they may include overlapping knowledge and skills, are two completely separate trajectories. You don't take more nursing courses to eventually become a doctor. An M.D. is never at any time in his/her education a nurse. Doctors aren't supernurses. Nurses aren't junior docs.

Will the general population ever get this? Probably not.

Exactly! I was told awhile back (while doing diabetic teaching for a non-compliant DM patient) that I "could have been a doctor" since I knew so much, LOL....just smiled and said "good thing I decided to be a nurse instead, so I could go over all this with you, huh? :trout:

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I build gliders from wood that fly - guess that makes me "almost an aerospace engineer" ;)

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Ooh, ooh....I attended the making of a movie on location; did you know that practically makes me a director?? Those fools who spent years studying cinematography, don't they know that I've seen HUNDREDS of movies, so I can do practically the same thing?

LOL

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
In response to someone asking for medical advice, I recently came across this comment:

"I'm a mother of 2....that should at least register me at a RN or something"

I was quite offended. Now, truth be told, I'm sure she meant the comment in fun, but I still found it offensive.

Anyone else find these sorts of comments offensive, or am I just overreacting (which I have been known to do before! lol)?

Hello,

It does not offend me. I have said similiar things to patiens in a way to respect their lived experiences of being moms of small children. I think I said it like, "Mothers of young children have so much experience that you are ready to become official Nurses...or...moms seem to learn so much about illness and injury that you could practically be a nurse..." or something like that.

The thing is, the intent of the statement is in reference to the Mom learning curve and how much she has gained experience not in reference to nurses.

It just isn't about us, it is about the patient and the mom, who is there living "their" life, we are merely ancillary to their real world and are there doing our "profession".

Gen

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isn't that like being practically pregnant???

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

This popped in my head as I was (not) falling asleep last night:

"No, I'm not a ________, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I don't have any kids of my own - but as a school nurse i tend to other people's kids all day -so i guess i'm practically a parent.

I've heard people liken their own experiences of "nursing" and i often try to picture these people wrist deep packing a wound and smile, thinking "you wouldn't last a day"

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

its like comparing apples and oranges. Sure, I took care of my children and gave them medicine and cleaned out boo-boos way before I became a nurse, but even now, when something is wrong with my kids, I am "Mom" first, "nurse" second.

And if we were able to pass the NCLEX on "parenting skills" alone, I doubt there would be a nursing shortage! :lol2:

Blee (who is not offended, more amused at the igorance at that comment. Lets see how "super mom" deals with an 8 person med-surg assignment...)

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I'm going to guess the OP was making it tounge in cheek -an in that spirit I have been to a palace so I must be " a princess". Told some of the gang at work about this one, made for a fun night

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

You will hear these types of comments over and over again! I just learned to either choose my battles well and inform folks, or just let it go...depends on my energy level really...LOL!

Oh I have heard some odd ones too in my time, even from people in the medical community. "A monkey can do what you do" (an MD), "Soon a computer will do what you guys do", "EMT's and paramedics could be nurses in a snap" (no offence towards...it is two different things really, and I know I can't be a EMT/Paramedic without proper training...and it is the same vs versa), "Nurses are just failed MD wannabes", "my family can do this for me and better", "nurses are just overpaid orifice wipers and pill pushers", and so on!

It usually shows a lack of understanding or though when they make comments like this...and I can either choose to open their minds or correct them...or let it be (depends on the person...some people are just so stubborn you know it wouldn't make a difference). And if I do choose to correct them, I usually point out something nurses do they aren't thinking of and make it somewhat humorous...like: "yeah, cleaning people isn't the most glorious of jobs...I would much rather save someone with ACLS or stop a deadly combination of medications flowing through an IV before it is too late...that seems more my style personally...oh wait...I do do that! LOL! Guess I don't just play one on TV! LOL!".

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I think if nurses were better respected and more secure, this type of comment would be taken for what it is -- just a nod to the hard work and expertise that goes into good parenting, not a dis on nursing. You don't see the AMA getting bent out of shape about the TV commercials where the woman calls herself "Dr. Mom."

And to be honest, the hands-on education I've gotten raising two children has been far more arduous and challenging than nurse training. A good, experienced mom doesn't get a degree but if she did...

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Specializes in critical access, including ER.

Geee---we really could make this a fun topic.....:lol2: :lol2:

I'm a rancher's wife and have lots and lots of experience night-calving, branding and vaccinating......guess that "practially makes" me a vet/OB_GYN/tattoo artist!!!!!!!!!!!

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

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