Yesterday, while walking from the subway to work, I noticed a familiar (bald with a three-hair comb over) head up in front of me a few feet. I caught up with him and asked, “Hey – you work in the ER, right? What year resident are you?” He told me that he was actually a first year resident in General Medicine and that, yes, he recognized me too. We chatted as we walked to the hospital together and then we had a real gem of a doctor-nurse moment:
Bald doctor: So, you’re in school?
Me: Yeah, I go to NYU – I’m getting a second bachelor’s degree in nursing – oh, and my program is also dual-degree, so I am working on my Master’s starting this semester.
Bald doctor: Your . . . Masters?
Me: Mmmmhhhm. Yep.
Bald doctor: (with absolute incredulity): Wait, why would you want a Master’s? What can you do with that?
Slowly, and in very simple terms, I explained that there are a number of advanced degrees in nursing. I tried to explain that NP’s can prescribe – and likened them to the (very autonomous and fabulous) Physician’s Assistant’s that we have working in our ER. He was utterly baffled and soon returned to talking about himself.
Maybe nurses are like Sanitation Workers for him. They serve a very important role – life would be horrible without them and everything would be much messier and smellier. But, imagine the Garbage Man telling you he was getting his Master’s in Refuse. You would be incredulous I think.
Thankfully, the majority of the ER doctors are really, really great to work with and this guy is an exception. But, come on!
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Or w/out MDs!
I don’t really mean that, but what a crock of shit (I love that term by the way. Imagine, a cute little crock pot full of shit). Anyway, I hope you set him straight.
f-ing doctors! I had an apt. today w/ my psych who I have not seen in 3 months and he just didn’t show up! No phone call, no “sorry I’m going to be late”, nothing! The medical prof. might be better of w/ NPs and PAs.
master’s in refuse! amazing! (you).