Nurse Blogs

I have a question I am thinking about doing some research on...

 We know there is a huge waiting list for a limited number of nursing school spots; we also know that a large percentage of new nurses leave the professions for good within the first years. Despite the hysteria of the "lateral violence" crowd, I think a large part of that loss is from people getting into and through nursing school that have no idea what the job is, or involves...

How do we fix that?

Read my thoughts, and add your own on my blog here...

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Yesterday, a patient looked at me and said, "You're so smart. Why aren't you a doctor instead of a nurse?"

"So," I replied,  "do smart people always have to be doctors? Isn't it good to also have smart nurses?" 

"Well, I guess you're right, but aren't doctors usually smarter than nurses?"

I guess I was feeling impatient but tried to still be kind. "But what does that really mean? Does it mean that as a smart nurse I'm wasting my time not being a doctor?" 

She looked at me. "Well, as a doctor, you could help so many more people than as a nurse. You could make people well." 

"Don't I help people now in my role as a nurse? Don't I help you a lot?"

"Yeah, I guess you do. And Dr. __________ is away so often, I usually come to you with questions and you answer them for me. You always seem to be around and willing to talk." 

"Exactly. If every smart nurse became a doctor, there'd be too many doctors and almost no nurses. Nurses don't just do what doctors tell them to do. A lot of nurses work on their own and think on their own. When we talk about your problems, I don't ask the doctor for her opinion. I tell you what I think from my own knowledge and understanding. Don't you think that that's important for me to be able to do?" 

"Yeah. You're right. If you were a doctor, then you'd be busy like Dr. __________and I'd never be able to see you anymore. Then I'd need another nurse to answer my questions. Wow. I never thought of it that way before." 

"So, do you still think I should be a doctor?" I asked. 

"No, no, no---I want you to always be a nurse, because then you'll have time to talk to me! I hope I didn't offend you with what I said about you being a doctor." 

"No. Don't worry about it. People need to realize that nurses can be smart too, and just because they're smart doesn't mean they need to be doctors. Smart nurses are important, too, y'know?" 

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Ok, so there are almost 400 people who are members of Nurse LinkUp? Where are they? It's time for people to post on the forums, write some blog posts, and connect with each other! 

The other nurse networking sites have lots and lots of members, but there are also lots and lots of advertisements and other commercialism that turns me off.

I appreciate NurseKeith's articles, and I can see that he's trying hard to provide us with fresh interesting content every day. Yes, the site is not as jam-packed as the other nursing sites, but there's still a lot here. 

So, where is everyone, anyway? 

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Today I accepted a temporary position as the Interim Public Health Nurse for my town of residence, ten hours per week! The nurse who has been in the position is leaving after thirteen years (to become a school nurse, of all things) and I am stepping in for at least three months and will be responsible for disease surveillance, immunization tracking and clinics, and other public health issues. I am excited and nervous, and could be in the running for the permanent 26-hour position at the beginning of 2009!

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Oh, how I love studying nursing theory!

I am in my theory class right now in my Master's program, and my brain is awash in the various theories. I never realized there were so many.

If you want to read my thoughts on the theory that applies most to my current occupation, you can read them here on my blog...

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