We’ve all heard them… those phrases that people say to nurses that people direct at nurses because they do not have any idea what we do (and my sarcastic answers). :)
- “You are so lucky to be a nurse because you get to date all those sexy doctors.” Yes, you’re right. My day at work is exactly like you see it on Grey’s Anatomy every week.
- “The nurse at my doctor’s office says…” Again with the mistaken assumption that anyone in scrubs is a nurse. The medical assistant at your doctor’s office, however capable she may be, is not a nurse. The fact that she can take your temperature, your blood pressure, and has a stethoscope does not make her an RN. Neither is the receptionist at the front desk or the phlebotomist who draws blood for your lab work. They are all vital members of the health care team and they have challenging jobs in their own right; but unless their nametag says RN or LPN, they aren’t nurses.
- “Why don’t nurses wear white caps anymore? They looked so nice.” Seriously, kids?
- “I bet you make a lot of money.” Yep, I’m set to retire at 45 and head to the south of France. Know any more good jokes??
- “My call light’s been on for 45 minutes—where were you, on the computer at the nurses’ station?” Absolutely! And while I was at it, I Googled myself and my family just for the heck of it, bought a Playstation3 on eBay, played solitaire, and searched Craigslist for leaf blower. Did you actually need something or can I get back to my desk and start my session with the masseuse?
I love my job and my career; I just wish the community as a whole had a little more appreciation for what we do.
My favorite is when people hear that I work three days a week and their reply is, “geez, must be nice to ONLY work three days a week!” Yes it is but I am so tired from not sitting down for at least 36 hours in one week, sometimes not urinating nor eating in that time, that it takes me two days to recover. Or the fact that I have to work both days and nights, along with holidays and weekends, yes we absolutely deserve those four days off. Plus I don’t see anyone else besides firemen/paramedics and sometimes police officers dealing with the amount of puke, poop, and pee we deal with. Not to mention when the aforementioned bodily fluids end up on me.
I like that one too Jackie :) My 4 days off generally don’t feel like I actually have 4 days off with catching up on sleep & chores around the house that I’m too exhausted to do after a 12 hour shift.
Oh, it’s so true! I always correct people when they talk about clinic nurses. They aren’t nurses! Same goes for when people say “my nurse last night was so rude, she was on the computer all night”. I have to correct them to tell them she was probably CHARTING all night.