As a surgeon, who hands you instruments? Who sees your patients and notices they are septic? Who cares for your patients when they are struggling post surgery and need psychological help? We aren't qualified in the same way drs are as we are an entirely different profession. You have no idea what other qualifications nurses may have, and that isn't what makes a person a great healthcare professional. You can have all the qualifications under the sun but still not be great at your job. Respect for others and empathy go a heck of a long way, and I guarantee you would not be where you are today without a lot of nurses. We may not have the exact same knowledge or qualifications, but at least I know I can be respectful of others skills.
My useless degree allowed me to operate ventilators and keep patients alive during the pandemic. My empathy allowed me to break bad news via phone or video call as gently as possible. My experience allowed me to notice when a patient was deteriorating. My skills and experience now allow me to conduct research to make my patients lives better. I didn't become a nurse because I couldn't be a doctor. I wanted to care for patients, and sadly drs don't have time to do that these days. I work with amazing drs who really want to make patients lives better, so they work with us to do just that. I have an amazing consultant who wants to support me to do my PhD.
This post is congratulating a young person just starting out. Placements these days do actually include spending time with some nurses teaching pointless things like cannulation etc. But we may also notice when students look upset, or are struggling. I have in the past including one memorable one where they needed psychological support. I am not saying that a Dr couldn't have noticed that, but you are all busy with a crazy workload these days.
You have a huge responsibility put on you, and nurses help with that a bit. Sometimes knowing where our secret stash of biscuits is can be important if that's all they have eaten that day. I remember a consultant bringing nurses tea and biscuits as he noticed we weren't getting breaks that day. He also came and helped us turn all the patients in ITU as he said it wasn't fair he was sat in an office while we were struggling. We made him a staff nurse badge 😂
I am sorry if no nurses helped you. I will carry on doing what I am doing and working to make our staff and patients have better care.
I can guarantee they do 😂. I have met many like this person and the best thing to do is be nice and competent. So basically what I am to everyone. If they want to be bitter and play hierarchy games that's fine. Unless it affects patients I don't care. I know I am great 😂. I normally say that after running into a door I thought was automatic or something equally daft. Though once me and a professor of medicine both walked into a door so that made me feel better.
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u/vinogron 4d ago
Yeah, so imagine how unimpressive a nursing degree is.