I think:

Has to wear scrubs, cares about people, works long shifts, knows about health, had to go to extra school for nursing degree.

Anonymous wrote:Impressed. Nursing is a hard job that takes caring and courage. Respect.

+1. The nurses I've had long-term interactions with (in the NICU and on the oncology floor) were some of the most caring, smart, incredible women I've ever met. They held my hand through my mom's cancer diagnosis and treatment, explained to me what kind of medications my son was getting in the NICU, and coached me while I was learning to breastfeed.
Almost every nurse I've interacted with was smart, kind, and helpful. I have a lot of respect for them.

I wonder why they didn't become a PA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That they're the soul of healthcare and know the patient better than the doctor does. One thing I haven't seen mentioned: they're mentally tough as a cohort

+1 -- the nurses I know are smart, caring, and resolutely capable -- and often they're better communicators than the docs (BTW, I'm a doctor's daughter and have a son in medical school)

Ditto. I also wonder what their specialty is because "nurse" is not one thing. My sister is a nurse and over her career has been a regular floor nurse in ICUs, unit manager, taught in a nursing program, and is now a clinical nurse specialist and leads training and process improvement for a hospital. Throughout in casual conversation if someone asked she'd say she's a "nurse".

Anonymous wrote:That they're the soul of healthcare and know the patient better than the doctor does. One thing I haven't seen mentioned: they're mentally tough as a cohort

+1 -- the nurses I know are smart, caring, and resolutely capable -- and often they're better communicators than the docs (BTW, I'm a doctor's daughter and have a son in medical school)

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the type of nurse. My opinions can range from, "whoa! smart cookie!" to "he/she probably smoked a lot of weed in high school and barely got through community college."

But in general, I think they're underpaid for the heavy lifting they do.

Agree with the first part for RNs. Agree with the second part for nurse technicians who call themselves nurses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they are an LPN or an RN.

Most facilities require staff to wear badges with their credentials, so you should be able to tell.

Most people I meet in social settings don't wear name tags.

I'm an RN. My friend who went to school with me said she always identified herself as an RN (socially), never a nurse. So that people know she is not a LPN.
I thought it was so crazy to care what people think like that.

Impressed and jealous (many facets of nursing, good pay even for RNs, and can literally work *anywhere*). I'm going back o school this war to become a nurse. TV doesn't pay!

I think about how stupid I was for not going into nursing.

Maybe its not too late for me. I'm 51 and have come to the realization that I have ZERO passion for my job. I am starting to have a visceral reaction to it. I've always been interested in all things health-related, but my fear of failure is what has kept me back. Instead I fall back on what I know I'm good at....Finance. Boring as hell.

Grateful. Such an important job and under appreciated.

I actually wish I had gone to nursing school. I think it would have made me a better mom.

Anonymous wrote:I feel gratitude since I've generally had very positive experiences with nurses. There is nothing better when you feel like crap or wake up after surgery and there is a caring nurse trying to help you feel better. I could never do what they do.

I was very partial to a few nurses when I was going through chemo. They were generally better than my doctors and much more available. I especially appreciated the one who remembered what flavor of popsicle didn't make me nauseous and would happily keep out visitors when I felt bad. It seems to be a pretty thankless job.

That they're the soul of healthcare and know the patient better than the doctor does. One thing I haven't seen mentioned: they're mentally tough as a cohort

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if they are an LPN or an RN.

Most facilities require staff to wear badges with their credentials, so you should be able to tell.

I wonder if they are an LPN or an RN.

Anonymous wrote:Unless they are an LNP, i figure they dont makenmuch money, work shitty hours and don't have much flexibility. I'm basically glad it's them, not me.

What an LNP?
A nurse practitioner? NP?

Btw, I worked straight days and was done at 3pm as an RN. Not bad, I also worked prn and part time when I wanted. I took 2 years off with each child I had.
You?