By now, those of you that read (or sporadically check, more than likely) my blog may have noticed that I have some issues with nursing education, the people that enter into nursing education, the people that populate nursing education, and the people that have completed nursing education.
Did I miss anyone?
Oh yeah, the nursing unions, we'll get to them in later posts.
I'm glad we've cleared that up because widespread criticism just isn't the same when you start excusing people from the festivities. In a nutshell, that is why I write this blog; I can't stomach the thought of being the only health professional on the face of the earth with an active moral, ethical, financial, and satirical conscience so I feel led to call out those that I see doing wrong and those allowing wrong to be done. In the course of this calling out I hope that I may meet some like-minded individuals but more importantly, I want to meet and hear from those that disagree and those that know better.
I write this blog because, in my time spent learning how to be a nurse from those that are nurses, I will inevitably learn how not to be a nurse and that's where everyone benefits.
An opportunity for learning and having a laugh at others' expense.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Another QOTS!
They're coming in from all angles! This one thanks to a "resident".
"You know, I've noticed that some of the darker young ladies that work here have a...protrusion on their backsides. What could they possibly be doing with that? I know I wouldn't know what to do with it."
Probably paying the bills...
"You know, I've noticed that some of the darker young ladies that work here have a...protrusion on their backsides. What could they possibly be doing with that? I know I wouldn't know what to do with it."
Probably paying the bills...
Monday, October 4, 2010
New QOTS!
We can ring in another winner!
"You know, over 600 people applied to the faculty this year and only 210 were accepted. Just think that for each one of you, three other people wanted to be in your place. Congratulations, you all must be very smart."
Oh, you'd be surprised...
"You know, over 600 people applied to the faculty this year and only 210 were accepted. Just think that for each one of you, three other people wanted to be in your place. Congratulations, you all must be very smart."
Oh, you'd be surprised...
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Guy, in the Room, With the Problem, You Know?
Ever since I've immersed myself in the world of Nursing, I've been confronted again and again by gobs of things that are wrong.
Things that are wrong with the education of nurses comes to the forefront most often right now: little to no preparation for the world of acute care, too much hand-holding through clinical experiences, unrealistic perceptions of the nurse's role within the healthcare continuum, and the fact that it takes four years to teach students skills and concepts that could be taught more effectively by taking them in pairs to the wilderness and shooting one in the leg while handing the other a belt and a book on nursing diagnoses, to name a few (more on the result of this later).
All in all, there have been a number of disturbing discoveries; none, however, as disturbing as the insistence of the Nursing Faculty to continually refer to those under our care as "clients". As far as I can recall, people requiring medical care from medical professionals were referred to as "patients" and there was a very good reason for this (I don't get tips from patients). Let me begin by being very dry for a moment and pull some definitions from the dictionary.
Things that are wrong with the education of nurses comes to the forefront most often right now: little to no preparation for the world of acute care, too much hand-holding through clinical experiences, unrealistic perceptions of the nurse's role within the healthcare continuum, and the fact that it takes four years to teach students skills and concepts that could be taught more effectively by taking them in pairs to the wilderness and shooting one in the leg while handing the other a belt and a book on nursing diagnoses, to name a few (more on the result of this later).
All in all, there have been a number of disturbing discoveries; none, however, as disturbing as the insistence of the Nursing Faculty to continually refer to those under our care as "clients". As far as I can recall, people requiring medical care from medical professionals were referred to as "patients" and there was a very good reason for this (I don't get tips from patients). Let me begin by being very dry for a moment and pull some definitions from the dictionary.
cli·ent
–noun
ənt
1. a person or group that uses the professional advice or services of a lawyer, accountant, advertising agency, architect, etc.
2. a person who is receiving the benefits, services, etc., of a social welfare agency, a government bureau, etc.
3. a customer.
4. anyone under the patronage of another; a dependent.
You may begin to understand the origin of my disgust after reading the definition. You may say, "Yeah, but #1 and #2 fit the bill pretty well" and I'd agree with you up to the point where we both read #3. Regardless of seeming to fit, I will fight tooth and nail against any insinuation through terminology that health professionals in Canada have "customers".
In contrast, the definition for "patient".
–noun
1. a person who is under medical care or treatment.
2. a person or thing that undergoes some action.
3. Archaic . a sufferer or victim.
I like this much better. Even "sufferer" and "victim" fit the bill better than "client". This is simply because if the individual is under the care of a nurse who feels a little "icky" because they drank too much the night before and just can't seem to locate their self-respect and a doctor who can't remember if he's getting four-hundred or five-hundred dollars per person for selflessly exacerbating drug-seeking behaviour at a walk-in clinic two nights a week then, gosh darn it, they are on the road to victimhood.
Quite simply, I've never heard or, more importantly, read one shred of logic behind the switch that seemingly took place over night.
Honestly, I'm looking for some answers here. Answer me. Educate me. Give me something because I'm not seeing how referring to the people who require medical care in the same way as those who requisition the services of an attractive, ambitious, yet uninhibited woman is doing the medical profession any favours.
Oh, and as for the two scrub-bunnies previously mentioned (I know that's demeaning to me as well, thanks); eventually, one of them will figure out that the belt is for the wound and the book of oh-so-useful nursing diagnoses is for toilet paper.
Friday, September 24, 2010
That Fine Line
Well, it's been a fast-paced first two weeks of class and clinicals and I figured it was about time for an update. I wanted to say first-off that I am very glad that they only let in 200-some students every year to the faculty, any more and I would seriously doubt the capacity of parents to breed more ill-equipped children. But, I suppose we all have to learn sometime, that's why we go to class. I like going to class, because then I get to hear stuff like this:
Ah, the joy.
Yes, I may have embellished little bit, but what's a good anonymous blog if not for a bit of editorial liberty?
Keep those intermittent comments coming!
Ah, the joy.
Yes, I may have embellished little bit, but what's a good anonymous blog if not for a bit of editorial liberty?
Keep those intermittent comments coming!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Orientation Discombobulation
Well, I've had a day and a half of orientation (mostly to clinical and labs) and I've got to say that it can only get better from here. Up front, the nursing orientations are long on rules and short on explanations which makes sense for scheduling because they don't have a lot of time to explain the rationale behind each requirement. However, you must realize that students entering into Nursing (maybe any faculty, for that matter, but Nursing more than any other for sure) are quite a fearful bunch. Upon the mention that they may be required to ask personal health questions of complete strangers they are liable to develop, nurture, and rupture a cerebral aneurysm in short order.
I know I'm in a large minority when it comes to age demographics in my current situation but I still (and will) marvel at the immense amount of stress that young females can conjure up at the instant some requires something of them. The anger, the tears, the defensiveness, the hostility...and that's just when you ask one if they've completed all their self-study for the bed-making lab.
On a brighter note, a quote courtesy of one of the clinical facilitators has spawned a new feature that I will run on this blog: Quote of the Shift. I was going to name it "Quote of the Week", or "Quote of the Month", but both of those put expectations on me and I hate to disappoint, so, an ambiguous time unit fits my style perfectly.
We'll start things off with a bang that's on-theme with this post: rules.
"You can't, as a nurse, do a pulse or a respiratory rate using a digital watch. I've been a nurse for 14 years and I can't, so I don't expect any of you would be able to."
Slow clap, folks.....slow clap while we gaze in awe at the treasures we are about to discover as we work and, more importantly, listen through the next three years,
I know I'm in a large minority when it comes to age demographics in my current situation but I still (and will) marvel at the immense amount of stress that young females can conjure up at the instant some requires something of them. The anger, the tears, the defensiveness, the hostility...and that's just when you ask one if they've completed all their self-study for the bed-making lab.
On a brighter note, a quote courtesy of one of the clinical facilitators has spawned a new feature that I will run on this blog: Quote of the Shift. I was going to name it "Quote of the Week", or "Quote of the Month", but both of those put expectations on me and I hate to disappoint, so, an ambiguous time unit fits my style perfectly.
We'll start things off with a bang that's on-theme with this post: rules.
"You can't, as a nurse, do a pulse or a respiratory rate using a digital watch. I've been a nurse for 14 years and I can't, so I don't expect any of you would be able to."
Slow clap, folks.....slow clap while we gaze in awe at the treasures we are about to discover as we work and, more importantly, listen through the next three years,
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Road to the Road
I have no money to speak of, so I was over at the University today, signing some pieces of paper that will make strangers pay for my education and then hunt me down to pay it back when I get some piece of paper called a "degree". The people that hand out this "degree" require you to spend 8+ months of each of the next four years at their institution where they "teach" you all sorts of useful things and then let you play in a hospital unsupervised when you're done. Sounds great.
I digress, actually I didn't even start out. The point I was getting to was that I realized my view of the next three years of nursing is one of disdain, mostly. I foresee the overlap of my existing knowledge and the nursing training as something to be loathed.
Now, if you're not a fan of copious amounts of sarcasm, then you should probably not be reading my blog now or ever. I use sarcasm (as I always have) to deal with every situation from humorous ones to tense ones and this one is no different. It may seem like I will mercilessly harp on other nursing students, professors, and the general public while not holding myself to any similar standard, but who doesn't?
Seriously, can you tell me that you wouldn't groan inside even a little bit when some self-righteous third-year (I'm technically second year now) nursing student tries to show you the correct way to put a nasal cannula on a patient? You wouldn't balk just a little when an instructor gives you flak for not starting an IV the way you were told to do it in the textbook?
I doubt you could keep your cool or keep it for long (three years?). So, an outlet for that pent up rage is needed and, lucky for all of you out there, I decided to channel it into this blog.
Enjoy...
I digress, actually I didn't even start out. The point I was getting to was that I realized my view of the next three years of nursing is one of disdain, mostly. I foresee the overlap of my existing knowledge and the nursing training as something to be loathed.
Now, if you're not a fan of copious amounts of sarcasm, then you should probably not be reading my blog now or ever. I use sarcasm (as I always have) to deal with every situation from humorous ones to tense ones and this one is no different. It may seem like I will mercilessly harp on other nursing students, professors, and the general public while not holding myself to any similar standard, but who doesn't?
Seriously, can you tell me that you wouldn't groan inside even a little bit when some self-righteous third-year (I'm technically second year now) nursing student tries to show you the correct way to put a nasal cannula on a patient? You wouldn't balk just a little when an instructor gives you flak for not starting an IV the way you were told to do it in the textbook?
I doubt you could keep your cool or keep it for long (three years?). So, an outlet for that pent up rage is needed and, lucky for all of you out there, I decided to channel it into this blog.
Enjoy...
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