And yes, I chose to be one. But I can still rant anyway. Just like you can choose to gorge yourself silly and complain about how fat you are.
The doctors in my ward were complaining on nurses day that they docs do not have a day. I checked and realised it's on the 30th of March. I guess we don't celebrate it much 'cos docs are respected pretty much everywhere, especially in the Asian context.
I'm not saying it's easy being one or that they have no difficulties or problems. I'm just saying they're being respected a lot more than the nurses.
One good example is this; I've met so many families who're too scared to ask their surgeons questions. I never get their logic. When the docs are there, taking consent and ever ready to answer whatever questions you have about the procedure, no one has any questions. When they finally leave, the questions come flooding in. They look around, grab a nurse, any nurse and ask away, without even realising that she's not in charge and won't know a thing.
Do they even realise that there is a reason why the doctor is the one taking the consent, not the nurse? Because the doctor is the one doing the procedure, because you're supposed to ask the doctor questions, because they are the ones making decisions regarding the treatment plan, not the nurse, damn it!
Then you tell them nicely you're not in charge and don't know about the case, they give you the "how come you don't know" look. Wanna ask, at least find out who is in charge and ask la!
It's like them walking into a phone shop, grabbing the first salesperson they see and asking "you know last week I came with my Ah Boy, he wanted that red don't-know-what-model phone, where is it ah?"
What is this?!
A loved one is in hospital and you allow them to do whatever they want to your loved one without getting info about what is going on. It's like allowing the contractor to build a house according to his fancy, not yours.
When a relative of mine is in hospital, I'll be damn sure to research on their illness and think of questions to ask the doctor. It's not that I don't have faith in our healthcare system. But knowing what's going on is my way of staying sane. And I did this even before joining nursing!
I don't understand why some people let respect/fear of doctors get in the way of making a really informed choice. The doctor may offer you a treatment plan but unless you read up and research, that's the only way you'll go because you're not aware of the other alternatives that may be as effective, if not more.
I wanted to go on, but something random came to mind. I think the lighting in fitting rooms are super nice! Makes me look nice in them. Now I know why people like taking pics in fitting rooms.
Excluding my retarded looking stoned face, this is actually quite a good pic. Oh ya, I remembered my original train of thoughts. I think, the best nurses' day gift to us is an extra day off which can be 'redeemed' say anytime in August.
In case you forget, nurses are human beings who get tired. And don't believe anyone who says that we're overpaid. We do crazy amounts of work day in, day out, 24/7 and still people demand, still people think we're very free.
Do you know why relatives make so many demands of nurses? Because they're not the patient, the patient knows how busy the nurse is because they're watching us all the time. The relatives only come during visiting hours, when all the action is over and when the other shift is coming in to take over so all they see is one bunch of nurses crowding around the counter doing nothing but talking.
I'm not saying they're (patients) very happy waiting for us to go help them to the loo when they have a bladder that's so full it might burst anytime. I'm just saying, they probably understand better.
The thing about nurses is this. People can complain about us all the time but very few nurses actually stand up to defend the profession. All we do is swallow it and continue working.
But just because the accused is not defending herself doesn't justify the accusations
I wonder how long it'll take before nurses, especially Singaporean nurses will stand up for themselves. I wonder how long it'll take before we realise we're professionals, not overpaid maids. I wonder how long it'll take before before the public can tell a difference between a maid and a nurse. We're nurses, medical professionals, not your maids.
Oh well, but it'll take a long time I suppose. If they can't tell a difference between a bookstore and a playground, a bookstore keeper and a babysitter...
People don't appreciate the little, yet important parts of society. For example, the bus drivers, the maids, the garbage collectors and the healthcare workers.
These people are transparent until something goes horribly wrong...
3.8.08 11:32 PM
