Professional Nurse

Hello everyone,

I started my nursing career off as a LPN. I did this simply because I wasn't sure if nursing was something I wanted to do. After working a year in long-term care I got the hang of caring for patients, taking off orders, unclogging g-tubes, administering tube feedings amongst other things I did as a new nurse. At the time I thought I was doing it big. I can appreciate this job because I was recognized by the "higher up" that I was doing a good job. I finally decided to apply for the bridge program at a local community college. One reason being was that I was doing the work of two when it was actually one of me. I was put in charge of the facility on more than one occasions which was a RN supervisor position. It was only fair that I be compensated for doing the job. After graduating with my RN I was the proudest person, I was a Registered Nurse. Eventually after working for a few years I started hearing in random conversations that I wasn't recognized as a professional nurse. I didn't understand what they meant at the time because I was doing the same job as they were (very naive). I guess I should have thoroughly reviewed the nursing scopes of practice. Anyway, for years I kept hearing this comment in my head and it pushed me to seek my BSN so that I can finally be recognize as professional nurse. I still feel that we are the largest in the healthcare profession and continue to have the most problems. We still continue to "eat our young" instead of being leaders and making a pathway for our future nurses. I think we can treat each other with a little bit more respect than what we do. We should have each others backs at all times. Maybe one day we will come together and support our profession and what we stand for.

Future Plans

I am planning to embrace my profession. I want to experience nursing in all its grandness by attending professional seminars, attending nursing association meetings, and getting involved some way in the political scenes of nursing. As a teen I participated in political caucuses and competed in oratorical contests. I think that my personality would be well suited to some of these activities in some way. A great leader is a better follower. I would love to work behind the scenes and have professional nurses represented to our policymaking leaders, as well as to the people.
It's funny, I never felt this sense of pride about being a professional nurse. For the first time, I was asked to be a part of a committee at work. I didn't have to ask and it wasn't something delegated. It was because I made a statement denouncing negativism on the unit, and encouraging unity and supporting our nurse manager, offering solutions to identified problems.
The greatest thing about nursing, it is so diverse. And just like it takes all kinds to make this world, it takes all kinds to make our profession truly great.

Nursing

You know, Parkland has an RN position that is listed as "Call Center RN." The blog posted by Professor Anderson immediately reminded me of seeing this job title while I was job searching last summer. I checked again today, and there is a Call Center RN position available. Same one? I have no idea, but it was listed as open since Sept. 2009. While I don't necessarily think it is fair to exclude those individuals who lack manual dexterity or fine motor skills from being nurses, I don't really see any other options. Nursing by definition is, "the provision, at various levels of preparation, of services essential to or helpful in the promotion, maintenance, and restoration of health and well-being or in prevention of illness, as of infants, of sick and injured, or of others for any reason unable to provide such services for themselves" (Dorland's Medical Dictionary, 2007). The American Nurse's Association states that the "function of a nurse involves the physical intimacy of laying on of hands." The basis of nursing involves interaction with patients and acts (by the nurse) of healing and caring to some degree. Even if later on a nurse becomes a Call Center RN, or an Advanced Practice Nurse who is more removed from bedside nursing, he or she still has the previous experiences and the knowledge gained from hands-on caregiving to refer to when practicing. Training is an important part of being a nurse...would you want a doctor who had graduated from medical school without ever palpating an abdomen, giving an injection, or closing a wound with stitches? Would you want a lawyer to defend your life who has never been in a courtroom, practiced giving depositions, or been in a mock trial? The point is that certain professions have specific skill sets and duties that only people who hold that title can perform. Society expects some level of performance and mastery of these skills by those individuals within such a profession. No, I do not think that someone who cannot perform the physical duties of nursing should obtain the title of Registered Nurse. I think that their own knowledge, book learning, and unique personal experiences can provide them with great insight on nursing, but this is not the same as actually "being" a nurse.

WOW...

This week I spent sometime with my preceptor. I helped her write a capital expediture request for $150000.00 equipment. She and all the nurse managers got together to work on it. I was impressed with their collaboration efforts. This took up a great deal of time, because it had to be clear, concise and convincing. I was only discouraged by the sentiment that the benefit to the nurse was greatly under emphasized on purpose. I think that nurses sometimes undermine their own authority and value to other professionals and we generally suffer for it at the bedside. I am grateful for this experience.

I learned that I had to approach this project from a leadership position, using a politically correct perspective, instead of from staff nurse position. For example, I had to consider that if I emphasize the benefits to the nursing staff in way of efficiency, that leadership may consider ways to cut nurses on the other hand.

After it was all said and done, I thought about what a more experienced nurse told once, "When you go to the interview, don't just get interviewed, make sure you interview that person, to see if you are a good match to them." I want to work for a place that values my contribution enough to make sure I have what I need to do my job well, not just get it done.

Nursing and Publishing Our Perspectives

"We do not publish in newspapers, online lay journals, and books that describe healthcare from our perspective."

--Why not?
Maybe because we are unfamiliar with that venue. Technology is advancing rapidly, and seemingly so complex. Bottom line--if not desire, probably ignorance...

--How can we change?
Knowledge and networking. Get informed and learn to use the technology.

--...Consequently making waves?
I think nurse professionals may not be so readily to voice their views because, you can get fired from your job if you state something that might conflict with your place of employment mission statement or policies. Look at those getting fired for doing really stupid stuff on my space accounts. It can become really complicated.

--How can we manage those waves as individuals and as a profession?
I think that you must seek approval from your place of employment. Give them (their legal department) the opportunity to review any statements before publishing them. Work with various associations and community health organizations to make sure that you a publishing your opinions supported by indisputeable facts and peer reviewed reasearch. Make as few enemies as possible. Be careful not to get caught up in propaganda stuff. Make sure you have a lawyer on retainer.

Getting a BSN

This will not be my first 4 year degree, but it is a step towards my dream of becoming a nurse practitioner. When I joined the military in 1993, I was given the occupation of 'combat medic' an EMT-B. I ended up managing a multi-speciality clinic my first year as a Private First Class(PFC), because all other Americans ended up rotating out at the same time. I was surrounded by wonderful people, professionals who encouraged me to move forward with my career and education. I was a first generational high school graduate and the thought of college and a real profession seemed unattainable to me. After working with Physician's Assistants and Nurse Practitioners, I knew then I wanted to be a family nurse practitioner. I applied to the nursing program in the Army, became an LVN, and after exiting the military, I started my journey to that dream by becoming an RN. It has been a long and tedious journey. Nonetheless, I am excited and I still look on that day when I decided this was for me. I have been sidetracked, discouraged, and all that stuff...but I know, it's worth all of it. I believe that it takes a 'calling' to be in this profession. Though money is necessary, and the flexibility that nursing offers is second to none, I am proud in knowing that I have an honorable occupation that is gratifying to me.