"A lack of empathy"

I was sat in a waiting area of The Leeds teaching hospitals medical buildings. A group of nurses were waiting for a lift. One of the nurses was telling the group how she hopes she does not see the same patient again this week.

She then goes on to tell the group that she tries so hard to pretend to care for patients but in this case she hates him and she hope he "suffers a slow and painful death".

"Some of them lay their in beds with those faces - you know, the ones that say, I can't help being here".

This was followed up by her telling the rest of the group that she does not care why he is there and many others and that she really struggles not only to care but she hates some of them especially the ones with mental health issues. She then went on to tell the group that she (will) make a great mental health nurse.

To say I am disgusted by her publicly voiced opinion and then to think that she feels able to voice this opinion in this manner brings into question not only the professionalism but moreover the attitudes of some of the staff who work within nursing.

Nurses do a great job and I have myself have in the past been looked after by some great nurses as well as doctors but this casual conversation has really disgusted me.