What to Expect as a Nurse: Truths, Myths and Stereotypes
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Nurses are vital to the health care system, providing care, support, and education to patients, families and communities.
Nurses are innovators, advocates, and leaders of health and social change.
So, it’s definitely a rewarding career, but what you really want to know is the good, the bad and the ugly truths of nursing.
What are the joys and pains of being a nurse?
What are the facts and what are the myths that surround nursing?
What is nursing really like?
And is it worth it to choose nursing as the career of your choice?
Nursing is Easy and Low Skilled
Surprisingly, one of the biggest myths about nursing is that it’s easy and low skilled, meaning that anyone can be a nurse without much education or training.
Some people believe that nurses only do simple or boring tasks like taking blood pressure or making tea – usually bad tea in their opinions.
This myth is obviously, insanely false because nursing requires a lot of knowledge, skills and abilities in many areas like anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, assessment, diagnosis, intervention, evaluation, communication, leadership, ethics. And the list goes on.
Nurses do complex and important tasks like giving medications, monitoring patients, managing emergencies, teaching patients, coordinating care and doing research.
But don’t let this scare or discourage you.
Even though nursing can be difficult, like many things it’s something that you can learn and master and can be transform into something that you can be proud of and enjoy.
✾ Nursing is not easy or low skilled; it’s the complete opposite in fact, and nurses should be proud to be nurses!
Nurses Only Work in Hospitals and Care Homes
It’s understandable that people outside the nursing profession can be confused about the different roles and settings available for registered nurses, especially when most nurses don’t realise this information themselves.
Nursing is a broad and diverse profession that involves caring for people of all ages, backgrounds and conditions in many areas like clinics, schools, homes, communities and more.
(Like, seriously, have you ever thought about the nurses who work at NASA or on yachts?)
✾ Nursing isn’t a restrictive profession, it’s brimming with diversity and offers a world of opportunities.
Nurses are Doctor’s Assistants
This is a very common stereotype that is still very evident all around the world.
Nurses being at a doctor’s beck and call. Nurses not being able to challenge doctors. Nurses only being able to function when a doctor is present.
This way of thinking severely undermines a nurse’s knowledge and skills, and makes it seem like nurses can’t make their own decisions and judgements in practice.
Nurses have their own body of knowledge and skills based on their education and experience, and they can make decisions and judgments based on their scope of practice and standards of care.
Yes, there will be some things that need confirmation from another health care professional first, but that is team work.
Working in collaboration with doctors and others within the multidisciplinary team is valuable, as each person can share their expertise, insights and feedback to provide better care for the patients.
✾ Nursing is not an inferior or dependent profession, so don’t let anyone make you feel like it is.
Nursing is Not Suitable for Men
It’s true that nursing is a female dominated profession, but we may have this stereotype to blame.
Nurses need to be caring, nurturing and compassionate. As these features are usually associated with women, people have automatically categorised nursing as a feminine or girly profession.
This stereotype also leads people to believe that men who want to be nurses are weak or less than other men (*massive eye roll*).
Nursing is a universal profession that needs traits like empathy, respect, and professionalism.
These traits are not just for women. They are for anyone who wants to provide quality care and promote health and well-being.
Men who want to be nurses are strong, diverse and valuable members of the health care team.
✾ Nursing is not unsuitable for men. It’s suitable for anyone who has the passion and dedication for it.
Nursing is Glamorous and Sexy
Now, I’m all about not letting working stop you from looking good, but seriously?
I mean, the last thing you’ll want to be focused on is how sexy you look whilst inserting a catheter or performing CPR.
It may seem totally harmless, but this type of thinking leads to the stereotype that nursing is a shallow profession that only involves wearing cute outfits and flirting with doctors (trust me, we don’t have the time) or patients (not really professional, wouldn’t advise).
Nursing is an important profession that involves providing respectful and dignified care to patients and their families while keeping their privacy and confidentiality maintained.
✾ Nursing is serious and shouldn’t be glamourised, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t express and enjoy yourself. You can still choose your own style and personality in your work attire and accessories.
Just because you’ve heard or read something, it doesn’t mean it’s true. Always check the facts!
Nurses Know Everything
Nurses may know a lot, but how realistic is it for one human being to know absolutely everything there is to know about nursing?
As much as we want to be able to, there is no way that anyone has all the answers to any health-related problem or question.
So, there will obviously be limits and gaps in knowledge or skills, as with all other professions, but nurses shouldn’t be afraid to admit that.
Nurses are always learning from their patients, colleagues, research and feedback to try and improve their practice through continuing education and professional development.
However, take pride in what you do know as nursing requires confidence. Trust your judgment, intuition and experience in your practice and demonstrate this knowledge and your skills.
✾ Just because nurses can’t know everything, it doesn’t mean that nurses don’t know their stuff!
Nurses are Superheroes
Yes, nurses are superheroes. I see no problem with this.
…Except if you factor in that nursing is a realistic profession that needs normal abilities and reasonable devotion.
To ask a nurse to be a superhero is to ask them to constantly go above and beyond.
To demand them to dedicate their entire selves and save the day, even if it becomes detrimental to their own health and needs.
It asks nurses to become the sick in order to help heal the sick.
Nurses get tired. Nurses get sad. Nurses get annoyed.
But that is because nurses are human beings. They are just humans who do their best to provide quality care to the loved ones of others.
So, no, nurses are not superheroes.
But this doesn’t mean that nurses do not deserve recognition for their efforts and achievements, because it’s important for their contributions, impacts and successes in practice to be acknowledged.
Just don’t go overboard and make other nurses feel inadequate for wanting to take a break.
✾ Nurses are humans, so there will be tired days and mistakes might be made, but nurses shouldn’t be condemned for not always being at 100%.
So there you have it.
Some of the truths, myths, and stereotypes about nursing.
I hope this post helps you understand what nursing is really like and what you can expect if you choose this valuable career.
Question Time
Read the questions and if you have the answers, flaunt your knowledge and share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below.
What other myths and stereotypes have you heard about nursing?
How confident would you feel correcting someone who is sharing false information about nursing?
What methods do you think could contribute to improving the attitude towards nursing?
