This was part of an ad that I saw somewhere, to work at a children’s hospital:

Kids have heroes…so do we, they’re called nurses. Our nurses face complex medical challenges head on and provide exceptional care with sensitivity and compassion. They do it all, knowing that there is nothing more rewarding than helping a kid believe anything is possible.

While it’s not a really hokey ad for nursing jobs, it makes it sound like taking a job at this hospital is akin to some heroic episode. It mentions that the nurses are sensitive and compassionate (like sweet angels should be), but what about skilled? And helping a child believe that “anything is possible?” What do the nurses do, take courses in the Secret and from Tony Robbins, and then drill the kids?

And of course, these ad never say much about the reality of working in their facility. They just hope that nurses will get all teary and dreamy eyed about tiny tots, that they won’t ask such obnoxious questions like:

What is your nurse to patient ratio?
Do I get sent home if you are overstaffed and lose a day’s pay?
Do I get forcibly floated to units where I am untrained, and don’t have any desire to work on?
Do I get treated like day old bread that’s starting to grow mold?
What is your turnover rate?
How does your pay compare to other facilities in the area?
Is your hospital unionized?
Do you have mandatory overtime?
Are your units staffed with aides, housekeepers and clerks, or are nurses supposed to be the jack of all trades while doling out sensitivity and compassion?

Yes, the questions that no hospital wants to hear….

Hey, just be an angel and shut up!