nurses week: our want
It's Nurse Week again. It used to be marked by the giving of some trivial item, such as a coaster or an umbrella emblazoned with some corporate symbol. Most health systems have taken that away saying it was too costly. It used to be marked by food but even that isn't really done anymore. And honestly if we nurses want food we can organize amongst ourselves a potluck with our own peeps/crew that is more meaningful than a Little Debbie cake or a Snickers bar thrown in our direction. The intent behind these gestures is good I'm sure, but it's not necessary.
What is it then that nurses want?
It's what we want every single day. Not just on "nurses day."
We want to be respected. That's it.
And if there is one thing that has come out lately in the news the past couple years is that nurses aren't respected. They aren't respected by police officers. Officer Jeff Payne forcibly arrested Nurse They aren't respected by senators. Nurses play cards for considerable amount of the day They aren't seen but stereotyped. Guinness tells nurse she can't break marathon record without wearing dress These cases come out on the news as "extreme one-offs" but there is an undercurrent behind each one of them.
Myth 1: Nurses don't know what they are talking about.
Societal Result: Disagree or don't understand what they are saying? It's ok to bully, scream, and even assault them.
Myth 2: Nurses don't work that hard.
Societal Result: It's ok that they work mandatory overtime, have no personal life, no recovery time; They're not working hard anyway, what's an extra mandatory shift? So what if they don't get an uninterrupted 10 minute break in a 13 hour shift? They are only playing cards a lot of that time anyway, right?
Myth 3: Nurses are caped and capped caricatures - white uniform, compression stockings, with a funny shaped hat.
Societal Result: It's ok to minimalize a nurse. Let preconceived notions and outdated stereotypes stand. Since we don't understand what a nurse really does, it's up to us to dictate what they should dress like, what gender they are, and whether their contribution is truly substantial.
And these are just what can be picked up via pursing the news headlines. Imagine what nurses face from their own employers, managers, and some patients every shift across this nation.
There is no nursing week want. It's a daily want. We advocate everyday for our patients. We advocate for their safety. We advocate for their voice to be heard. We advocate for their care. What we nurses want is to not have to advocate everyday for the basic respect that we should already have. xo
What is it then that nurses want?
It's what we want every single day. Not just on "nurses day."
We want to be respected. That's it.
And if there is one thing that has come out lately in the news the past couple years is that nurses aren't respected. They aren't respected by police officers. Officer Jeff Payne forcibly arrested Nurse They aren't respected by senators. Nurses play cards for considerable amount of the day They aren't seen but stereotyped. Guinness tells nurse she can't break marathon record without wearing dress These cases come out on the news as "extreme one-offs" but there is an undercurrent behind each one of them.
Myth 1: Nurses don't know what they are talking about.
Societal Result: Disagree or don't understand what they are saying? It's ok to bully, scream, and even assault them.
Myth 2: Nurses don't work that hard.
Societal Result: It's ok that they work mandatory overtime, have no personal life, no recovery time; They're not working hard anyway, what's an extra mandatory shift? So what if they don't get an uninterrupted 10 minute break in a 13 hour shift? They are only playing cards a lot of that time anyway, right?
Myth 3: Nurses are caped and capped caricatures - white uniform, compression stockings, with a funny shaped hat.
Societal Result: It's ok to minimalize a nurse. Let preconceived notions and outdated stereotypes stand. Since we don't understand what a nurse really does, it's up to us to dictate what they should dress like, what gender they are, and whether their contribution is truly substantial.
And these are just what can be picked up via pursing the news headlines. Imagine what nurses face from their own employers, managers, and some patients every shift across this nation.
There is no nursing week want. It's a daily want. We advocate everyday for our patients. We advocate for their safety. We advocate for their voice to be heard. We advocate for their care. What we nurses want is to not have to advocate everyday for the basic respect that we should already have. xo
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