If you have been a nurse for any length of time, you know how precious the seats at the nurses’ station really are. These seats are a rare commodity; one to be cherished and guarded once you snag one. It is also true that the coveted chair can be very revealing regarding the professionalism of the person occupying it.

I will pose to you a question that I recently asked a class of students: registered nurses who are taking their first course in their journey to their bachelor’s degree and are studying the art of professional nursing. Many of them have been practicing nurses for 20 years or more. Here is my question to them: “As a professional courtesy, would you willingly and gladly give up your chair at the nurses’ station to a… to a… wait for it… a doctor? How about a doctor who was nasty to you a few minutes ago? Would you give up your chair for this person? In response to this question, you would have thought I had asked if they would wear their pajamas to work! It would be an unthinkable assault to their personal pride! In fairness, there were many who said that they definitely would offer their chair as a professional courtesy, but most said they would absolutely NOT give up their chair to a physician. Read more…