I woke up thinking this morning about what the difference was between nurses and soldiers. Aside from the obvious enemy shells and mortars, we also face death and disease daily and have to overcome our own reaction to how fragile life is. There is disease as deadly as grenades, and we’re faced with our own impotence daily.
But soldiers are comrades, they team, they cover each other’s backs. Unfortunately, we as nurses haven’t learned to do that yet. It makes me sad, but aside from that, it also disempowers us more than we know. Have any of you as nurses had a different experience?
Carol Gino
Carol,
Sadly I have to agree, we don’t have each others backs. I remember reading an article many years ago about ,” nurses eating their young”, and have seen over the years how true it is. Not sure what that’s all about, instead of building each other up, staying strong as a team…we divide and don’t support each other. With all the changes in health care I think sticking together, supporting each other is needed more then ever. We’re a great group and need to remember power is in numbers.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101222/news/712239870
I’m originally from Chicago and as a nurse, appreciate the sacrifice first responders make. This article really made me think. These firefighters may not know one another personally, but they will take their day off to show respect at the funeral of a fellow firefighter. I’m sure there will be much pomp and circumstance for these two fallen men, but gosh I wish nurses felt the same way about each other!!!! What is the difference between them and us???
Carol,
If you find an answer to this divide and conquer attitude, please keep me posted. I’m new to a department and have 1 nurse who I just can’t “win over”. I’ve been a nurse 12 years, a paramedic for 8 and an EMT for 1 year. I’m a great team player and can’t understand this mentality. I would bend over backward to help anyone in my department and find it so sad to see this behavior. I’ve delt with it before, but like someone said above that EMS and firefighters would do anything to save a fellow commrade. Why can’t we as nurse’s realize the power we have together.
Shawna, I have a friend who teaches “team” to his men who are usually combat soldiers and I’m going to ask him what he’d do in such a situation. I have some ideas but I’d have to speak to you to find out what you’ve already tried and what you’re “feel” for it is. If you want to give me some details, we could talk or you could send me a message on facebook. I’ll be getting back to you. Where do you prefer I send what I find out?