Comments on: To every nurse in school: This is what it’s really like

By: Susan R

Susan R — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 06:29:47 +0000

Nursing is a good profession.

By: Da Goddess

Da Goddess — Mon, 15 Sep 2003 08:25:14 +0000

Thank you for that post.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Sep 2003 20:59:17 +0000

My father is a doc, a radiologist. ITs a pretty hard job, trying to find something a few millimeters in size that turns out to be malignant carcinoma. I think docs are human, i think young docs are like young people anywhere, prone to screwing up. They should talk more to their nurses with 20 years of experience. Docs aren’t idiots and nurses aren’t geniuses. Neither is any other cataogorial classification either (except people that have IQ 200 or above).

By: geena

geena — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 14:56:19 +0000

I’m sure over the course of 24 years, you HAVE heard several stories of doctors bungling up. To be sure, there are doctors that write stupid orders all the time.
However, there were even more doctors that were excellent physicians all around, and even wrote exemplary orders.
You just never heard about them because it isn’t as interesting to talk about them as it is to talk about the ones that screw up.
What about all the nurses that mess up perfectly well-written orders?
I’m not saying that there aren’t less-than-stellar healthcare professionals out there, but I think the majority are very conscientous and competant.

By: Redman

Redman — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 12:28:25 +0000

I have been married to a RN for 24 years; when we met, she was still in nursing school and got her degree soon after. First, I would like to admit that I never realized how rigorous the training/education was to become a nurse. My wife is an extremely smart person, and to this very day her knowledge of medical matters amazes me. Second, I have been told many stories by her which mirror the one posted. Dying persons kept alive and in pain needlessly by doctors who frankly did not care what the patient was experiencing. Now, to be fair, sometimes relatives can’t make the decision that “its time” and they allow “another drip” or the allow the crash cart to be called for one more time. Third, if all the malpractice that doctors commit was really known, there’d be an uproar in this country. I can’t begin to remember all the stories of doctors bungling up, writing stupid orders, not writing orders that should have been written, etc.

By: Eye Opener

Eye Opener — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 03:20:53 +0000

After earning my doctorate, but before my state license came through, I worked in an ‘old folks’ hostel, and helped several people there as they were dying.

Denied access to my great-grandmother’s passing, and my grandmother’s passing, I was the ONLY one dealing with those non-family humans, as their licensed, REAL doctors were TOO BUSY with meaningful, important tasks to be with them as they were making that final, all-important transition…

Thank you for your sharing. I was touched, moved and inspired… who among MY students will arise to serve as I leave?

By: NurseMike

NurseMike — Thu, 07 Aug 2003 02:45:49 +0000

Nursing is my second career. I have seen death before and after becoming a nurse. Blogging, while a freedom, is also an eduational tool to be used professionally (since you put RN behind your name). As can be seen by responses, not everyone has the benefit of having worked in an ICU and knowing each ICU professional has the responsibility to do what they feel is necessary for the patient. Your comments make it appear you do not understand the bigger picture of hospital function.

By: SDN

SDN — Wed, 06 Aug 2003 23:59:31 +0000

When My grandfather was dying in ‘92, the doctors were after my grandmother to let them do an operation that only had by their estimates a 30% chance of stabilizing (not improving) him. My mother and I were saying no, but it took a nurse who gave us the real scoop (probably risking her job) to convince her to say no. My wife and I have living wills and durable powers of attorney precisely so that this crap will NOT happen to us.

By: veryretired

veryretired — Wed, 06 Aug 2003 21:43:16 +0000

My ex-wife, a very fine lady, was an ICU-CCU nurse for many years. She often spoke of situations as you describe—hours taking care of someone who was clearly at the end, calling the family and patient’s doctor, having the doc come in at the last moment and start giving meaningless orders. I only hope when my time comes there is someone with your caring heart nearby.

By: Plunge

Plunge — Wed, 06 Aug 2003 20:27:45 +0000

It is stories like these that keep me blogging. Thank you so much for sharing.