So I work at a state psych facility. Im a young, male RN and im charge on a unit with only men (generally lower functioning, older men).
I've worked med/surg, LTC, now psych. I love it. Good work flow, not too stressful, pretty chill job. So tonight, I have an agency LPN who's passing meds with me. We get to talking and she said she works at a local hospital in med/surg. Well I said "ew, no thanks, too stressful for me. Always understaffed with too much to do." She replied "well, I love it. Ive always loved being a real nurse. Im not a psych nurse."
Now, the OLD me would have popped off and said something smart (ex army). I just let it roll off my back. What would YOU have said?
The older you get the less you care about "where" you work. I just want my money honey. And, if I can get it somewhere with less stress, and sort of enjoy my job, I'll feel I have the upperhand over each and every nurse that would have some "real nurse" issue to stomp around with.
Should I get the chance to get a job where I can feel just like the OP, I'd be smilin knowing I can sleep well at night, and have the energy to have a normal life.
Very well stated!! A little tired of the "real nurse" attitudes, too. Jollydogg, you may be ahead of the game if you are already there. Let it roll for now. In the future, say what you wish.
I have done everything from private duty to ICU. Psych included.
Med-surg is of course the most grueling.
Have to take care of all the patients physical needs... while observing and treating psychiatric issues.
Psych nursing does not begin to use all the expertise/skills nurses have.
As YOU said, a great place to chill.
Ok, well, im assuming im a "real" nurse because I have a "real degree" and a "real license", while being gainfully employees at a "real" psychiatric institution. Intact, my patients are the sickest of the sick, and I take "real" pride because I worked hard to get where im at in life.
Who are you to say im not a "real" nurse because I don't work in a specialty that historically is understaffed, and will only continue to be so with the current healthcare model and the ever increasing numbers of patients with high acuity?
I wont apologize that I chose a specialty that doesn't utilize a basic skill set such as IVs, bed making, *** wiping (which im NOT above doing, don't go there), and other procedures. I choose to deal with this population because it interests me, and im afforded the to
e to really SIT and LISTEN to my patients, which is what I love to do.
So if im not a "real" nurse because I can't stand to work like a dog, deal with patients crying about pain meds, and have to constantly deal with staffing shortages, well, I guess I can't do anything about that. I guarentee some of the same nurses who discredit psych nurses are some if the same ones who would about face on my unit only after one shift on it. Best believe that.
Oh, and I work at least twice as less and make more money. If that makes me "real" anything, its real smart.
Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
As a newer nurse, I used to have that "opinion" that there was more prestige with working in a higher acuity area. The M/S nurses were the scut nurses, the ICU/ER nurses were the elite.
I always loved psych, and had every intention of transferring. But I did let that "opinion" influence me for a while. Until I went to work in the ICU, and I didn't like it. I realized I was dreading going to work every day, I didn't enjoy my job, and while I still did a good job, I knew it was affecting my performance.
I switched to psych, and am now happy to go to work everyday. I may not be doing the back breaking work I used to. But psych takes it's own skill set. If I was able to talk with one depressed patient and have them smiling or laughing.. then I leave feeling like I made a difference. That's enough for me. I really don't need the "recognition" that comes from working in a critical care area.
Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.
Just for the record OP, I could never do psych nursing. It takes a special kind of nurse to do what you do.
I like what I do in the OR. You like what you do in psych. The agency nurse likes what she does on med/surg. There is not really an issue with any of it, and to compare specialties is like comparing peppers...there are lots of different kinds to suit different tastes, and they are all very yummy!
So I work at a state psych facility. Im a young, male RN and im charge on a unit with only men (generally lower functioning, older men).
I've worked med/surg, LTC, now psych. I love it. Good work flow, not too stressful, pretty chill job. So tonight, I have an agency LPN who's passing meds with me. We get to talking and she said she works at a local hospital in med/surg. Well I said "ew, no thanks, too stressful for me. Always understaffed with too much to do." She replied "well, I love it. Ive always loved being a real nurse. Im not a psych nurse."
Now, the OLD me would have popped off and said something smart (ex army). I just let it roll off my back. What would YOU have said?
This is just to spark conversation. Im bored!
To get back to your original question: I'm a contract (travel) nurse so I have had people make equally tactless remarks to or in front of me frequently.
Depending on my mood and what I feel from the speaker my response can be "Pardon me?" in an icy tone, then total silence with raised eyebrows - leaving them scrambling to explain themselves; or if I'm feeling like a lighter mood "Hey! Over here! Whatcha' trying to do, give me a complex?", again leaving them scrambling to explain, but this time usually with a laugh.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
And im also confused when you said she won. There was no contest, what are you talking about? If you were there, you'd have understood it wasn't insulting. Literal translation doesn't come across right here. She wasn't even offended at what I said, so you're missing the point if you think its a typical ******* contest of specialties.
My point is that what she told me about being a "real nurse" wasn't meant to come out offensively on her part (which is why I let it roll). My point was to ask people here what they would have said in return, mainly just out of curiosity. Like I said, im bored. There was no winners or losers, and she sure as heck didn't "shut me up". I actually chose the higher route and gave her the benefit of the doubt, thank you very much.
Classic example of how men and women read situations differently.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
and im also confused when you said she won. there was no contest, what are you talking about? if you were there, you'd have understood it wasn't insulting. literal translation doesn't come across right here. she wasn't even offended at what i said, so you're missing the point if you think its a typical ******* contest of specialties.
my point is that what she told me about being a "real nurse" wasn't meant to come out offensively on her part (which is why i let it roll). my point was to ask people here what they would have said in return, mainly just out of curiosity. like i said, im bored. there was no winners or losers, and she sure as heck didn't "shut me up". i actually chose the higher route and gave her the benefit of the doubt, thank you very much.
in the interests of alleviating boredom by stimulating conversation, i might have said that anyone who has contact with an actual patient is a "real nurse." there's been a lot of discussion about who is and is not a "real nurse" lately . . . are managers and educators "real nurses?" and not to get started with another argument which may cause the moderators to step in and close down the thread, i might hint that anyone who cannot remember what it's like to spend an entire shift at the bedside with an actual patient has lost sight of what real nursing is all about.
we certainly need managers and educators, and i'm not going to discount their contributions to the profession. but all too few of them seem to remember what it's actually like to be responsible for a patient assignment with inadequate equipment, supplies and staffing and to try to maintain "customer service" skills while faced with a general public who is obnoxious, entitled and often abusive. i understand that both of those roles have their own stressors . . . but if they cannot step out of the office to help when everything is going to hell in a handbasket, and if they don't see patient care as the reason for the profession, they've lost sight of real nursing.
ok, i'm waiting for all of the managers and educators to start flaming me. it's going to be a long night here and i'm ready!
So I work at a state psych facility. Im a young, male RN and im charge on a unit with only men (generally lower functioning, older men).
I've worked med/surg, LTC, now psych. I love it. Good work flow, not too stressful, pretty chill job. So tonight, I have an agency LPN who's passing meds with me. We get to talking and she said she works at a local hospital in med/surg. Well I said "ew, no thanks, too stressful for me. Always understaffed with too much to do." She replied "well, I love it. Ive always loved being a real nurse. Im not a psych nurse."
Now, the OLD me would have popped off and said something smart (ex army). I just let it roll off my back. What would YOU have said?
This is just to spark conversation. Im bored!
Okay, she might have also taken your statement as an offense to her and her prefered specialty. Did you bring up the fact to her that your job is a "not too stressfull, pretty chill job?" before you made your statement? Seems like she was on the defensive for some reason. In answer to your question, I would have stated that "all" nurses are "real" nurses and there is a place for us all. I personally. would not want to be a psych nurse, even though I deal with plenty of patients with psychological issues on a critical care unit. My best friend is a psych nurse at a large state hospital and her job is definitely stressful. She also just recovered from a broken nose and concussion r/t being attacked by at patient.
RN47
20 Posts
Very well stated!! A little tired of the "real nurse" attitudes, too. Jollydogg, you may be ahead of the game if you are already there. Let it roll for now. In the future, say what you wish.