Be a nurse, only if you care about people

I volunteer at a setting where I see nurses at work. I really respect the profession and the people who dedicate their time to caring for patients and at the same time maintaining themselves in a workplace that can be alittle hmm stressful.

But one thing that I have definetly picked up - no offense to anyone, this is simply my view and understanding of it.

There is a difference between a nurse who wants to be there and one who is there for the bucks. This can be true for many professions, not just nurses. But a hospital is a setting where the staff and their attitude are so important. So if you don't enjoy it, seriously - don't bother to give attitude to patients who probably don't want to be there in the first place.

Yes, the hospital can be a miserable place. It's so important I believe for nurses and other staff to simply smile, and show a simple gesture that show you care!

Today, a volunteer and I ran into a nurse that completely didn't think it to be worthwhile in showing some form of "kindness". She ignored us as volunteers completely, even though we are individuals who actually exist, yes we do! I guess, she decided to put us on a hierarchy of importance and decided that volunteers are probably not capable of delivering a simple piece of paper. After ignoring us - she decided to tell the patient that she should "live with it". To tell someone to live with their pain and condition, how wonderful of a phrase.

Complete disappointment. I want to pursue a role and career to help. And for me to see this, ugh! Maybe I'm alittle naive at this point, I haven't entered the working world yet and not knowledgable about the stress involved.

But there is a difference between a nurse who wants to be there, and the one I saw today. If you don't want to be there, then stop hurting and showing attitude to other human beings who's life is on the line, simply so you can have a bigger paycheck?