Whether you're thinking about becoming a nurse or are just curious about what the profession is like, odds are that you have at least a few misconceptions. The vast majority of people are cared for by nurses at some point during their lives, and nurses routinely complain that patients simply don't understand certain things. By gaining a better understanding of where nurses come from, you will have better experiences when being treated by them, and you will have a more practical idea about what to expect if you become one yourself.
Without further ado, here are 10 things that nurses today wish that everyone knew:
1. They do care.
In the chaos of the typical health care setting, nurses often come across as no-nonsense and maybe even unfriendly. However, despite outward appearances, the vast majority truly do care. Their work is just so rushed and demanding that they don't often have time for pleasantries.
2. They have lots of patients.
Unfortunately, people often act like they are their nurse's only patient. Nothing could be further from the truth. When being helped by a nurse, it's important to remember that you're not her only concern. She more than likely has many other patients on her caseload, and they have a right to her attention too. If it seems like your nurse isn't spending enough time with you, remind yourself of this.
3. They want you to leave.
Don't take it personally, but nurses want you to go home. After all, their goal is to get you better so that you can leave. Sometimes, you might start feeling like you are wearing out your welcome. It's not because the nurse doesn't like you; it's because she's frustrated like you that you are still stuck there.
4. Nothing fazes them.
It's normal to feel self-conscious about things when in a medical setting. The human body can do some pretty weird things without warning, so you might find yourself in an embarrassing situation. Keep in mind, however, that nurses have seen it all. Bodily functions and the like don't faze them one bit. This may not help you to feel any less embarrassed if something happens, but rest assured that your nurse forgot about what happened immediately. More importantly, she probably doesn't care because she's seen it many times before.
5. You're not being judged.
All too often, patients are afraid to raise concerns with nurses because they're afraid the nurse will laugh or treat them poorly. First, there are no dumb questions. Second, nurses are there to care for you and to help you get better. Nothing that you say will make them bat an eyelash. Moreover, it is crucial to be straight with your nurse about your health and well-being. That's true even if the truth is pretty awkward or embarrassing to share.
6. Nurses believe what you say.
Sometimes, patients don't bother complaining or otherwise expressing themselves to nurses because they are certain that the nurses won't believe them. However, nurses are trained to take what patients say at face value. If you say that you are in pain, for instance, a good nurse will believe you. They won't start interrogating you or making you feel like you are on trial. Most of the time, when you tell a nurse something like that, they will take the information and act on it to help you.
7. Short staffing is a legitimate problem.
In many hospitals and other medical settings, a serious nursing shortage is underway. This means that nurses often have to cover far more patients than they should. Unfair though it may be to patients, this problem isn't nurses' faults. Unfortunately, however, patients and their families often take out their frustrations on nurses because RNs are the ones they usually deal with face to face the most.
8. It's okay to ask questions.
Some patients worry about "bothering" nurses and hold off on asking questions or getting help because they are sure that their nurses are too busy. However, nurses are there not only to care for you but to answer any questions that you may have. If they don't have the answer, they can and should go and find it elsewhere and report back. Regardless of how seemingly silly your question or concern may be, don't hold back. Go ahead and ask your nurse because you're sure to get the answer that you need.
9. Nurses don't want to hurt you.
When you're feeling unwell already, the poking and prodding that goes along with being in a hospital can get old fast. Patients often get the feeling that their nurses somehow enjoy causing pain, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you complain, you may feel like your nurse doesn't seem very concerned. That's not the case at all. Rather, it's that she knows that you are fine and that a bit of pain is normal.
10. Working in a hospital isn't that dramatic.
Thanks to the preponderance of TV shows, books and movies that revolve around hospitals, it's easy to get the idea that working as a nurse is a very dramatic profession. In reality, however, the work is often pretty mild and mundane. Like any workplace, there are social dynamics to deal with as a nurse, but there is no truth to the idea that all medical facilities are hotbeds of scandal and other issues.
Now that you've reviewed these points, you should be better able to put yourself in registered nurses' shoes. Going forward, you should be able to have more effective experiences as a patient. If you want to become a nurse yourself, you now have a sneak peek into what others will mistakenly think about your profession.
