“The beatings will continue until morale improves.” The sadistic madness of this statement is obvious, yet in a more subtle form, it’s mainstream thinking in nursing. So desperate to enforce our ideals of perfection, we’re often brutal towards each other. We even “eat our young.” We need to stop beating ourselves up, stop beating on each other. We can’t make real progress by relying on punishment and fear. We need to learn more effective ways to work. Beatings will never get us there. They never do. As for OCD, it’s ironic how often nurses claim this label, even in jest. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a devastating anxiety disorder involving “intrusive and unwanted thoughts” and/or “repetitive behaviors… that the individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly… aimed at preventing or reducing anxiety or distress… [but] not connected in any realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent, or are clearly excessive.” (DSM DR p129) Rigidly applied rules and behaviors to avoid anxiety and prevent getting in trouble: doesn’t that sound like mainstream nursing? Yet unrealistic or excessive… we can do better than that, surely. We deserve better. Some [...]Image may be NSFW.
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