Sociological Imagination

In my Intro to Nursing class this week, my professor asked us to find reports of nurses who lost their nursing licenses for various reasons. I searched all over the website she gave us and stumbled upon a few violations that interested me. However, one of them completely caught me off guard. The nurse was stealing the patients pain killers and taking them as her own. She would write on their charts that she had administered the drugs. However, she was using them for her personal use. (http://pr.mo.gov/nursing-publications.asp)

After reading this nurse's account with the law I began think about C. Wright Mills' sociological imagination. Sociological imagination is defined as an awareness of the relationship between and individual and the wider society, both today and in the past. Or, the ability to view society as an outsider might, rather that from the perspective of an insider.(Schaefer)

C. Wright Mills' sociological imagination made me think, "Did the nurse put herself in the patients of the hospitals shoes?" "Did she know how the patients felt when they did not receive their pain medications?"

As we read some of the stories to my professor she told us that many of these accounts have happened many times, and that they usually only get documented once. So, I sat there wondering how many patients this nurse had done this to and how many people on society had she effected?

The nurse obviously did not think of her patients when she stole their Morphine, Demerol, Vicodin, and other prescription pain medications. She not only hurt her patients who had to suffer through their medical problems without any pain medication, but she probably effected everyone around these patients. The patients probably complained to other nurses, doctors, surgeons, and family members about the pain that they were in. These people probably wanted to help the patients, but could do anything about it since the prescribed medication had already been administered to them. These people most likely began to grow worried about their patients or loved ones because they did not seem to be getting any better, and the probably complained more and more everyday about the pain their in.

I cannot help but wonder why this nurse would do this to her patients. Obviously she had some type of dependency on these prescription drugs. But why hurt the people around her to get her much needed fix? If only she took in the perspective of the sociological imagination and put herself in the patients, doctors, nurses, surgeons, and loved ones shoes, she could see how much of an impact she was having on society.

Sororities/ Fraternities

When I arrived at St. Louis University, I decided to become open about new ideas and opportunities that arrived at my door. I knew very few males at St. Louis University and even fewer females. My brother attended SLU before me, and joined a fraternity during his college years. He often raved about how his fraternity opened new doors for him and that he had a blast doing various activities within his chapter. I always thought that the Greek life was not for me. I was not the typical sorority girl, but I decided to give rush week a chance. What would be a better way to meet more girls, let alone hundreds of them?

I entered rush week very skeptical. I did not want to have to act differently in order for the sororities to like me. I wanted to be myself and have them like me for me. I entered my first ‘party’ a little nervous. One of the girls from the sorority grabbed my arm and pulled me across the room to the other side. She introduced herself and began talking. I felt a little awkward but knew that I just had to be myself.

As the night went on the ‘parties’ got more and more comfortable. I began to think that maybe a sorority could be for me. I carefully took note of each sorority I visited and began to make pros and cons of the ones I liked.

By the second to last night I had made a list of the top three sororities that I would like to receive a bid from. I had been to three sororities that night, and I felt I had gotten a better feel of what their personalities were like. My top three seemed to fit well with me.

The last day I was really anxious to go back. I went to the three sororities one more time, and by the end of the night I felt like I knew which one I belonged to. The next day was bid day, in which one of the sororities would extend a bid to you if you wanted to be a part of their organization. The night before I was extremely nervous that I would not get into the sorority that I wanted.

The next day came, and I received a bid from my number one sorority! I was ecstatic! We followed bid day with a massive celebration. I felt so comfortable with all my new sisters.

Since bid day I have been excited about the new events that my sorority has been planning. I looked forward to all the new activities I would be participating in and I would count down the days till they arrived. I never thought I was a sorority girl, but I think that one must look past the stereotypes of groups and organizations and take themselves out of their comfort zone in order to get involved in something that could make a major difference in their lives.

smoking

In today's society it is widely accepted to smoke. Employees, students, parents, and teachers often have to put on hold whatever they are doing for a quick smoke. However, we all know it is unhealthy to smoke. About 70% of smokers say they want to quit (thetruth.com).


Cigarettes contain ingredients from antifreeze and gasoline to rat poison and dynamite (thetruth.com). Everyday more and more people in the world pick up the habit of smoking tobacco. It is believed that peer pressure, stress, and self-esteem issues can cause some to begin to smoke.


The streets and pavements of cities are littered with cigarette butts from people throwing away their no longer wanted cigarettes. The air is polluted from the smoke issued from cigarettes. These factors cause the environment to be destroyed.


Many parents and teachers discourage children from picking up the habit of smoking cigarettes. They scare them as children about the harmful effects of smoking. As the get older they tell children not to get sucked into peer pressure, telling them that it is not cool to smoke despite what people may say. And when they get even older they warn them of the medical risks that come along with smoking. Also, television ads, magazine, and many other media sources spill out facts about smoking and it’s effects on the human body.


When I walk through St. Louis University’s campus I see many students smoking at the designated smoking areas. They are usually chatting with the person next to them while clouds of smoke issue from their mouths. Many people ask others for a light because they forgot their lighter or ask for a cigarette because they are all out. Usually people only smoke one cigarette while they are sitting in the smoke area. However, I often see many people smoke up to three or four.


Once they are done with their cigarettes they through the butts on the ground and walk away. After a few days, even hours, the ground that surround the designated smoking area are covered in cigarette butts. Maintenance sweeps the ground daily and throw away the unwanted cigarettes from the campus’s floor.


I decided to blog about people who smoke because I see it at college more than I ever have in my life. It really interested me how many students and faculty members at St. Louis University smoke. I came from a very small high school of about 600 and hardly anybody I knew smoked. Therefore, coming to a new institution that has a wide variety of students from all over made me see how many people in our world smoke cigarettes despite the knowledge and facts they know about them.