To be fed up with the nurse-bashing going on here this weekend

[fledtoscotland]

Just that really.

Most of us are hard working people who do our best to remember everyone's name and not eat kettle chips when we should have a broom up our arses to ensure we don't slack

I just want to be treated with respect as I do my patients and do my job.

I think MrsDV hits the nail on the head, as so often.

I had an operation about 18 mos ago which failed and I had to be re-admitted as an emergency case. Now, most of the staff I saw were fine: every single nurse and HCA on the ward. They smiled, cared, and even remembered who I was when I was re-admitted, which I was dead impressed by as they must get so much traffic.

But, I now have to have that op again on the other side. And I must admit, my dominant memories are now having to go and argue with 3 different doctors when I was throwing up with pain, just to be re-admitted to the hospital (they thought I was exaggerating a bit of post-op pain.... till they saw the scans!!).

This is unfair on those HCP who were great. But I will go into hospital again thinking 'What if this all goes wrong again, are you going to blow me off?'

Equally, I try as a patient to be aware of HCP's experiences. For example, the nurse who bawled into my face 'ultrasound scan now, that means COLD JELLY' actually didn't offend me, because I just figured she dealt with lots of hard of hearing, older people. I try to be a 'good patient' as I'm aware they must have a rough time with some people.

It cuts both ways, and as with so much in life, a little common sense and good will helps a lot......

Another nurse here.

I always do my very best with the resources available to me. Sadly they're not always adequate

It's nice to hear some positive stories.

All professions get a bashing sometimes (I'm a civil servant) but nurses are not above reproach and not should they be.
I have seen some great nurses in ITU and HDU but when it came to the general ward they were terrible! They did all sit down all day and watch me (visiting DH) feed elderly people, get them bottles to pee in, arrange bedclothes and seek help when buzzers were not answered. I know nurses aren't highly paid but I wasn't paid at all and yet often did more than they did!
I think all professions have a responsibility to help manage out the bad apples. I certainly know crap and lazy civil servants so why do nurses find it hard to take the same view?

The problem when you elevate an entire profession to sainthood is that there is one hell of a way to fall .
The press have systematically tried to destroy nursing as a profession.

There are often very complex cases reported in the press where despite failures on the part of medical teams to ensure complex cases are treated appropriately , the emphasis is on the nurses role. Despite complex medication being needed to stop a patient passing so much urine they actively dehydrate, the way it is reported is that nurses wouldn't pass the patient a simple glass of water.
Jesus Christ I have caught so many medical mistakes its frightening .
I don't want chocolates just recognition for my profession.

Shitsinger - true. Also what the general public think a nurse's role is and the work nurses actually have to do are increasingly divergent concepts.

Programmes like the Midwife one don't help either.
Its very misty eyed hark back to the old days type stuff.

The author of those books wrote a piece for a weekend paper , she described how babies born prematurely and under 4 lbs were put aside to die as there was nothing they could do. She then described nursing/midwifery these days as "complete nonsense" .
"Complete nonsense" that saves the lives of these babies and many smaller than that and ignoring the reality that we save many people who would have died in those days.

I have to say though, the up coming generation of nurses are not like us. I know that's a generalisation but, they approach thing so differently I do wish we could go back to the old days. Not the 1950's though!

Shitsinger -

Yes lighthouse it is a generalisation and quite an offensive one at that.

If you want to give me specific guidance on where my attitude towards nursing is wrong I'll be happy to try and adjust any I am guilty of. Though please bear in mind I've not actually started yet.

There is continual 'bashing' on Mumsnet - usually teachers/police/traffic wardens/bankers/celebrities/royality/public sector employees/WOHMs/SAHMs/advocates of controlled crying etc etc etc - is it really 'bashing' or is it trying to have some form of discussion and express your own experiences/opinions?

YNBU

I have had my fair share of good and bad experiences with nurses when in children's ward with DD.

Unfortunately I think its our circumstances - DD has special needs /sensory issues and some nurses do not have the training to understand what that means re sleeping in cubicle v ward bed. Does not make them bad nurses just not a good experience when dd is very ill anyway.

Not really offensive. The training is totally different so are expectations of newbies. It's not always for the better. I would hate to go bak to call the midwife days but I do think abit of the old fashioned style of nursing wouldn't go amiss. I've been in the game twenty years and I would not say all things have changed for the better. Too many bloody formalities and time spent on paperwork and other jobs that secretaries should be employed to do. We are stretched from all angles.