When I first discovered Dr. Glener's comments, I was absolutely appalled. Although it is no secret that there are certain physicians that become hot tempered and short with nurses, it surprised me that such a statement could be posted online degrading the most trusted profession in the United States, and perhaps the world.
Yes, being a physician and being a nurse are two completely different things, and I would never discredit the education, dedication and skill level of a competent and safe doctor. However, why is it seemingly so acceptable for them to degrade the profession that works hand in hand with their ill patients?
The world of medicine and healthcare is built on a team effort. First responders, nurses, doctors, respiratory therapy, occupational and physical therapy, social work, technicians and assistants and everyone in between all rely on each others' expertise, knowledge, resources and competency to bring one patient to their new state of normal after an illness or procedure. Specialties rely on other specialties to help out in times of need because not one person can know everything regarding medicine, and not one person should. Scope of practice exists for reasons of safety, education and community - not superiority.
Physicians who have a lesser opinion of nurses only because they do not have the same credentials, as opposed to role-specific competency within each scope of practice, are absolutely hindering the movement of the healthcare industry. As just stated above, healthcare is absolutely a team effort, and that team should be respected to the utmost degree because within each case there is a life that is being protected. Ego's should be left in the facility parking lot.
My heart was filled when I was able to see the out pour of support from the healthcare social media community. Nurse, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant accounts were ones that I specifically saw myself; they were showing love towards the nursing profession - defending the work that RN's do on an hourly basis for at least 40 hours a week. The majority of that work is gone unnoticed and unrecognized by most, simply because others are not around to view it themselves.
Throughout my clinical experience as a nursing student I have been able to work with and witness some absolutely amazing nurses. The ones that are completely in their element, both competent in skill, knowledgeable in practice, and compassionate at bedside. These are the nurses that I personally admire and aspire to become as I near my December 2017 BSN graduation. These are the nurses that should receive the utmost respect from physicians, as they are the ones that are intricately watching their patients and updating the physicians in timely manners with important concerns.
As a nursing student who is reading this, I wholeheartedly urge you to become that "absolutely amazing nurse". Be that nurse to save your patient, to help their family, to impress yourself, and to put Dr. David Glener to absolute shame. You are more than a nursing student, and more than a nurse - you are an absolute vital part in the healthcare team that is focused on helping individual people in their absolute hour of need. Do not lose the purpose of your profession because of comments that are soaked in ego and perhaps based off of personal poor clinical experiences. Allow those comments to fill the portion of your soul that is dedicated to nursing and have it be set on fire. Become that much more motivated to competently show each physician that you work with that you are on the ball with your patients as much as possible, and that you are not a hospital babysitter in a pair of scrubs wearing a toy stethoscope.
You are a nurse, and you are skilled, competent, compassionate and important.
We are nurses.
- Michelle.
Hello, I also would like to comment over all the points mentioned in this blog. I agree with essence of few point but somewhere I found myself on other place. I hope, there might little opinion of others as well.
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