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?
Also a former med/surg nurse here, current psych nurse and not turning back. I have heard comments about not being a "real nurse" on a few occasions. I don't care..nursing is not core to my identity, it's what I do a few days a week for a paycheck, not who I am. My job is way less stressful, gross, and physically demanding than theirs..they can take their street cred and belittle me..I'll just smirk to myself and enjoy my laid-back job and pain-free back!
And, not to belittle you, but I do not think nurses who get into nursing solely to make a paycheck are "real" nurses, whatever their specialty. True nursing comes from the heart, not just from the pocketbook.
And, not to belittle you, but I do not think nurses who get into nursing solely to make a paycheck are "real" nurses, whatever their specialty. True nursing comes from the heart, not just from the pocketbook.
That statement is about as silly as the one that some tout that other RNs should not be in the profession if it's not a "calling" for them.
I got into nursing for a paycheck, so I guess I must not be a real nurse, even though I literally keep people from dying every day.
And, not to belittle you, but I do not think nurses who get into nursing solely to make a paycheck are "real" nurses, whatever their specialty. True nursing comes from the heart, not just from the pocketbook.
Sorry, but sometimes a job is just a job, even in nursing. Regardless of specialty, if you have a license and work in an RN role, you're a real nurse.
To say that you've lost sight of bedside nursing or that you aren't as much of a nurse if you don't utilize basic skills daily is ridiculous. Again, sorry youve felt the years of stress from waiting hand on foot in the days of old as a bedside nurse, however, that's not why *I* got into nursing. And you know what? Unless you convce my SON to rescind my license, im a real nurse.
Don't blame me because I figured out early on how to make a great check with little stress and low demanding work. And you don't know me either and how I interact with my patients either.
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.
Thats what its all about. Period. Making little differences in peoples lives every day.
A guy on my unit has head injury and is always obsessed with leaving the unit. His psyciatric condition was brought on by traumatic occurances and drug use. People assume that he can't remember or make truely goal oriented conversation (I thought so too). Tonight at med pass, I was at the door in a pretty good mood talking to people. Well, as I was getting his meds ready, I was playing around and gave him the fist bump. I was being outgoing and nice. He looked at me, very uncharacteristically of him, and gave me a little honest laugh, genuinely amused. I stopped for a minute, looked at him and asked him what was up.
He looked at me very honestly and said "oh its ok man, im not used to people being this nice. Its a good thing man a good thing". It was the first spotaneous, logcally directed comment I've heard him say. Shortly after that, he went back to his mumbling and illogical speech pattern.
It may not be patient care, or puttng in an IV, or deciphering lung or heart sounds, or even down and dirty direct bedside nursing care, but it'd enough to me when I help mental health patients express logical thought appropriately. It'd enough for me and that's all I really care about.
The clients who present to my psych Crisis Unit in a full blown psychotic break.
if you care to debate this in a professional manner, feel free to PM me.
I've dealt with hospice (LTC), coding patients from kidney failure and other acute conditions stemmed from chronic disease (step down).
Aside from hospice, those are acute. I work with patients who will realistically never live a life off my unit. As far as mental health is concerned, yes, over time, these are the sickest of the sick. There may be some floors where some nurses utilize a broader range of skills, but this is why there are specialties. They are named that for a reason, you know, so when you say psych nurses don't begin to utilize all the skills of an RN.... well.... duh.
You're either stating the obvious, or making an insinuation. Both are pretty much unnecessary.
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!
Nothing. Just smiled- you put her( and her elk of hospital nursing) on the defensive and she only came back at you. Nothing to it. Go bro:)
I would have said, "Real nurse...hmmm....real nurses choose all kinds of specialities, mine is psych...I'm not sure how I would define a 'real' nurse, but I would define a 'good' nurse as someone who affords respect to their peers and to all specialities. have a nice day." LOL.
With that said: I am not a psych nurse but I have a great fondness for that area. It takes great compassion and understanding as in many aspects it can be like a revolving door. In that it also takes great strength. Patients in psych are frequently experiencing great pain that is not afforded public understanding and I find it sad, that often that understanding is lacking in our nursing community as well.
The person who spoke those words to you may be a very good nurse but her words suggest her character is lacking!
I would have said, "Real nurse...hmmm....real nurses choose all kinds of specialities, mine is psych...I'm not sure how I would define a 'real' nurse, but I would define a 'good' nurse as someone who affords respect to their peers and to all specialities. have a nice day." LOL.
With that said: I am not a psych nurse but I have a great fondness for that area. It takes great compassion and understanding as in many aspects it can be like a revolving door. In that it also takes great strength. Patients in psych are frequently experiencing great pain that is not afforded public understanding and I find it sad, that often that understanding is lacking in our nursing community as well.
The person who spoke those words to you may be a very good nurse but her words suggest her character is lacking!
No doubt, which is why I said in my posts that she thought she was probably not being offensive. Someone other than myself may have ripped into her. I love what I do, so her opinions are just that, opinions and nothing more. Others thoughts on what I do don't shape who I am - how I perform my job and how I interact with my patients does.
What other profession would allow a newbie of 1 year to challenge.. let alone disregard the experience... of a nurse that has been practicing longer than you have been on this planet?
What other profession would allow a newbie of 1 year to challenge.. let alone disregard the experience... of a nurse that has been practicing longer than you have been on this planet?
Sigh...
So, how many unresolved issues do you REALLY have? Who disregarded anyone's experience in my story? If anyone disregarded anything, it was the LPN I was working with when she basically said I wasn't a real nurse because I worked in psych.
Anyone can question anyone, because all ranges of experiences may have info and insight to offer. A fresh set of eyes can provide insight, and older stories of experience from an older nurser (lpn OR rn, I don't play into the whole LPN vs RN argument) can help develop newer nurses.
I've been told multiple times by older nurses that I work with that they are grateful for someone out of school because they get to learn the newer info taught in school. You put out a really negative vibe, and I'm glad I don't work with someone like you.
rnccf2007, BSN, RN
215 Posts
And, not to belittle you, but I do not think nurses who get into nursing solely to make a paycheck are "real" nurses, whatever their specialty. True nursing comes from the heart, not just from the pocketbook.