What are some of the most well-known nurse stereotypes that challenge nurses? Have you ever been confronted with a stereotype (such as a patient referring to you as "Nurse Ratched"?) What can nurses do to battle these stereotypes?

When someone says that I should go back to school to be a DR.. Obviously they have no idea of what they are talking about as if nurse and DR are practically interchangeable. NOT!

CherylF says ...

I think that the only way to battle any stereotype in nursing is to be the best you can be.  There are always going to be people out there that will stereotype you and you need to over look their short comings.  As for SEVOFLURANE (do not be offended) but by hitting on every nurse in the hospital aren't you creating another stereotype?  I know alot of male nurses that no one wold think of as gay and they don't need to it on every female in site.  Be more secure in our choice of career. 

 

 

  WOW , gosh.. thank you for the advice.. I will begin doing that now..

 

You actually thought I was serious?

sorry but i guess cherylF is right on that, if its a joke, sorry but it;s not funny=(

SEVOFLURANE says ...

leng says ...

sorry but i guess cherylF is right on that, if its a joke, sorry but it;s not funny=(

 

 

Yeah, and I will bet you do not think South Park is the funniest thing on TV either.

i dont, do you, sir?!

to me making fun of others just to get attention or profit from them is not a thing to be admired for, i am personally not in favor of that.

let us just respect one another...

"Respect begets respect"

Ok, I just have to get behind sevoflurane a bit on this regarding the sarcasm which, I felt, was blatantly obvious.  It was a joke folks, and yes, a harmless one.  I see no desrespect meant in it either.

SEVOFLURANE says ...

To be honest I think South Park is the funniest thing I have ever seen on TV. Briliant writers and timely social commentary .

 

And don't call me sir....  I did not like being called sir in the military and I like it now even less.

Fine with me, guess my calling you sir since you are senior to me is just a simple gesture of respect, if you dont like it, then no more "sirs" for you.

Stereotypes is all South Park is about.  I would think that if you hate stereotypes about nurses, then you would also hate stereotypes about others. 

As for Sevoflurane's remark, I am sorry RNdude, I do not see how it was a blatantly sarcastic. Yes he may have meant it to be sarcastic, but I do not think it came across that way. If it was a joke, it came across as a very disrespectful joke to women. 

Lea, you are 100% correct...."Respect begets respect"

Can I ask mmullican what stood out to her as obvious sarcasm?  I just can't see how it is funny.  I have a great sense of humor but just didn't get the punch line in this one.  Please explain how you under stood that it was sarcasm?

Absurdity of the remark.  Explain!  What stood out in your remark that made it obvious sarcasm?  Maybe the person knew you and knew that it was a joke.  Not sure but @ this point we are beating a dead horse and so I have posted the last I will post on it and just get back to the topic at hand.  STEREOTYPES.

I think that nurses are stereotyped ~~ just look @ the new nursing shows that are coming out.   In all of them the nurses are hooked up with doctors.  I watched an interview with Nurse Jackie today and she sees  nothing wrong with the way her character is written.  When asked if she has input into the script she said no.  She just shows up and does her job and they write her how ever they want.  You would think that she would want a little more control.  She found it amusing that she slips her wedding ring off before she goes to work and that she doesn't mention to anyone she is married.  Yes I know some nurses that flirt with the doctors and some of them are married.  But in the 3 years I have been there I have never known of any nurse to go to on call room and have sex with a doctor.

I think that stereotypes come from some valid event at some time or other. Not that every nurse does the thing, but at some point ONE or a FEW nurses did something outrageous and it became popular gossip. Then became a steroetype of all nurses. The only thing we can do is act professionally and educate the public about what nurses are and are not. Closet relations do happen, SOME gay males do happen to be nurses, more than a few nurses seek out relations with doctors and vice versa. Im sure SEVO has hit on his fair share of fellow nurses (the female ones) but probably not to prove his heterosexuality.  :-P   No, I dont know him and we have more than a few differing opinions on things but I appreciate his sarcastic humor.