Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Nurses Are People Too

Sometimes I don't understand people. I don't understand why they do the things they do, say the things they say, or act the way they act.

I realize that in my work as a nurse I see people at their worst. I see them when they are scared, frustrated, and at their wits end. I know that the area that I work in is a difficult one for patients to accept. When I see them, they are learning how to live their lives again... while dealing with the changes life has dealt them.

However, I don't think that being a patient in the hospital entitles you to be rude. When I chose to be a nurse I wasn't choosing to be any of the following:
~A doormat
~A personal slave
~Silent

I am here to help patients heal. I am here to educate, to push you, and to help you while you learn to do hard things. I realize that patients aren't always going to like the things I'm making them do. But...

That doesn't give you the right to be mean to me.
It doesn't give you the right to call me names.
It doesn't give you the right to attack me on a personal level.

I am still a person. I have feelings.

And it hurts when I don't get the respect that all human beings deserve.

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6 comments:

Kristina P. said...

Man, can I relate to this. Being a social worker can be tons of fun! :P

WonderKitty said...

I'm sorry Annie. I know a little about what you are going through. Dealing with peoples money brings out the worst in them. Feel better!

Charlotte said...

My husband works in an emergency room and gets sworn at all the time. He was even assaulted once (and threatened often). All get people the help they need. Go figure.

Untypically Jia said...

I get how people can be scared, but I don't understand why you'd ever be rude to someone who kind of holds your life in their hands. Never upset the pest control specialist, doctors, nurses, or landlords. Seriously.

Lisa @ Pulsipher Page said...

ouch. I had no idea this was going on. My daughter is in nursing school right now. I guess she'll have some hard days coming.

Caroline C. Bingham said...

I am SO NICE to the nurses because they're the ones that can make your stay super fantastic or super horrible. AND they have access to morphine. I mean, why WOULDN'T you love them?

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