[silly RN]

yes it is!
i truly can't imagine doing anything else.
it is my heart and soul.

[KJB_65]

I wanted to say "not any longer". That was the first thing that came to mind but in giving it more thought I'd say it's not my passion but I am passionate about the care I give my patients. Nursing is my profession and my job but I also do take it home with me. Even after 12 years I have not learned how to turn it off. I love/hate it depending on the day that I have but I always give my all to the people I care for.

[kriseh]

Absolutely!!

[icurn1993]

No, it is not my passion. If I could perform actual nursing, then it probably would be my passion. It's just the mountain of documentation, duplicate paperwork and constant policy additions and changes to conform to JACHO, Magnet aspirations, etc. (as well as constant staff shortages causing mandatory overtime) that takes the joy out of nursing. Days when I have the time and can actually perform all the patient care that the patients need and address their needs are the days when I enjoy being a nurse. Unfortunately, those days are few and far between anymore. It seems that every time I come to work, there is another form, protocol or policy for which I am now supposed to be knowledgeable about. But there is never any additional help. I guess I am just frustrated with the way that healthcare is going. Sicker patients, more patients, more paperwork, no more help.

[sleepyndopey]

Nope. Never was and never will be. I could leave it today and have absolutely no regrets. I have other passions but they don't pay anything. I agree with thecommuter. I enjoy payday. That being said, I consider myself a very competent and caring nurse. My husband is an RN and he feels the same way I do, he could take it or leave it. He works 3 days a week and I work 2 so we have a lot of time on our hands to enjoy our true passions.

[flaerman]

I have been a nurse for going on 22yrs now, all of it hospital based and everything from M/S to ER and now soon to be ICU again. When I started out in school in 1982 and first did patient care it became my passion, I thought that once I got paid for it, then it would even better. That feeling has lasted throughout most of my career. But of late I can't say that remains to be true anymore. I have been a nurse in 4 different states and always as a staff nurse. Right now all nursing is to me is a paycheck because I've done this so long there is nothing else that will pay me what I make. This never comes through to my pt's because I am a professional and my pt's care is number one. I think it is time to go back to school to find something new that I want to do and feel passionate about. When my pt's are truly sick and in pain I do feel for them and try and make a difference for them, but I have seen so much abuse of the system and have had to be nice to so many people who were not worth my time or effort. Maybe ICU will help change this for me. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. flaerman

[sharona97]

I couln't think of another profession I'd rather be in. So yes along with the down times, I get great reward from the good days!