Got No Job? Come be an RN !

It seems to me anybody and anybody can do nursing, doesn't matter if you are really interested or not, not important if you care about people or not, not relevant if you have a passion for nursing or not just come along we will train you and then you can look after our sick, elderly, frail, poor homeless, drug seekers. Without passion, without caring, sometimes with little comprehension of what that poor sick person in the bed needs. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

I am fed up with hearing about people seeing nursing as a quick route to money it is so much more and it offends me that nursing is used as a short cut to being employed. We should have stricter entry rules and by this I mean more screening to make sure the nurses coming into the profession actually want to be a nurse for the right reasons and employment not being one of them.

We all know nursing is a hard profession it takes from your soul sometimes but you know who has the passion because they ride the storms better than the nurses who dont have it.

I have had a passion for nursing most of my life and I am now struggling with some of the harsh realities-but give me a patient any patient and I come alive, I thrive. I forget why I am tired after all my years, I forget why I want a new job, I forget why the management make my life harder each day.

For me nursing is almost like acting I can be somebody else with a patient I can be who they need me to be for that person and their family, I have the ability to calm a tense situation, I can bring trust to the room, I can make that patient feel like they are the most special person in the hospital and that nothing is too much trouble for me. I have knowledge and can educate. I can make that person feel safe, I can make them laugh even when they don't want to, I can be their advocate, their confident, their friend, but also I can persuade them to take the shot, to take the medicine, to go for the test. I can hold their hand and I can be firm. I can predict their mood and can listen to their worries and woes. I can educate their families and friends and I can educate and train their future RN's.

It doesn't matter that outside that room chaos is happening, that 3 other pts need me as much if not more than the patient I am with. They at that moment are the most special important person in my working day.

In 20 years I have had this ability it has shone out of every bone in my body. I have smiled constantly even if my world is falling apart. I have the passion I can make somebodies life better, I know my 'stuff' and I care.

Specializes in ICU, M/S, Psych, Tele..

:yeah::yeah::yeah:

I was so inspired by your post. I have been a PCA for a long time, and can always tell which nurses I am working with. There are those that came into the profession to simply make money...working with them as a PCA and an RN student sorta gives me an advantage to look and say to myself, "okay I want this quality to be a part of my nursing, or not that part"...You can always tell who cheated, who hid from their teachers during clinic, and who actually READ their books....what is really amazing is the OBSESSION that some of these nursing students have to get into the profession...I'm like hello?

If you cheat in school, you'll cheat at work...if you said you did it and didn't now, you'll lie in someone's chart. When I was in first semester RN school, I was maintaining the only "A" in the class because I have been around (15 years acute care experience as a PCA) long enough to to know that writing a care plan, for instance, is really common sense...and a nurse MUST POSSESS this very important quality if she wants to get through her day. Some students were stuck on different aspects of the Nursing Process, some couldn't figure out a diagnosis, couldn't annunciate what to do in a given situation. It was understandable because we were all b beginners~~~but I did my own research/comparison of some of the people and most of the time if they couldn't do a care plan, then they didn't understand CARE...Nursing is not a job, not a profession, it is simply who I am. I nurse me first, then my family, then my community, in that order. I have to because if I don't care for myself, how am I going to care for others?

What? :confused: I am giving and taking insulin at the same time? I'm smoking a cigarette, and teaching my patient about the effects it has on the respiratory system at the same time? I'm giving Effexor, and taking some at the same time? No! There SHOULD BE some sort of battery testing that goes on to NURSING STUDENTS that will determine if a person is even suitable for the profession! :nurse: Whether I can do dimensional analysis, or can read and write shouldn't be the FIRST testing that I receive! Am I a CAREGIVER?~~ should be the first question asked! I am so sick and tired of going behind these people who got into nursing because their mom did it, or they came to this country to buy a house, or they want to drive a Hummer...

I worked once with a couple "challenged" nurses, and I say that because they were clueless about caring for the patient~~they knew how and when to chart, but no time management, bad clinic skills, no patient teaching, rude to coworkers, lacking the ability to communicate and delegate ...for them it was an assignment from the registry, and they would get through the night by asking a gazillion questions, and doing each other's work. Thank God Joint Commission is FINALLY making HAPU's (hospital acquired pressure ulcers) the responsibility of the hospitals now! I have seen so much neglect from uncaring nursing that I worked as a mental health worker and took a pay cut for a while just to air my head out...:cool:

People die from uncaring nursing...this is truly an issue that MUST come out into the forefront of our society...:mad:

This is a very important issue for me, because one day I will be old, prayerfully, and who will nurse me?

Nursing is more than giving meds, or charting, or calling Dr's...it, to me, is the essence of what God says we are supposed to do which is : love our neighbors as we love ourselves:redpinkhe...all of the backbiting, politics, cheating, and lying I have seen go on in large hospitals over the past 15 years taught me a lot about the human experience.

It is really sad and disheartening when I come across future nurses so obsessed with the thought of making the 40-50/hr that they will go to ANY LENGTHS to cheat, be selfish, or lie to get ahead. As an older person in this profession I really do believe that it is our responsibility to give younger people who want to become nurses more insight into THE HEART OF NURSING which is caring...

If I don't remember to take care of my own spirit, how can I give something to one of my patients:confused:. I can only give what I have inside of me...and if all I have are my bills and mortgage on my mind, then that's all I'd be able to give...

Like you, I am disgusted with people wanting to become nurses for the money...go do another job! Please! :mad:

They COULD NEVER PAY NURSES enough for what we do.

God bless!

:heartbeat

:yeah::yeah::yeah:

I was so inspired by your post. I have been a PCA for a long time, and can always tell which nurses I am working with. There are those that came into the profession to simply make money...working with them as a PCA and an RN student sorta gives me an advantage to look and say to myself, "okay I want this quality to be a part of my nursing, or not that part"...You can always tell who cheated, who hid from their teachers during clinic, and who actually READ their books....what is really amazing is the OBSESSION that some of these nursing students have to get into the profession...I'm like hello?

If you cheat in school, you'll cheat at work...if you said you did it and didn't now, you'll lie in someone's chart. When I was in first semester RN school, I was maintaining the only "A" in the class because I have been around (15 years acute care experience as a PCA) long enough to to know that writing a care plan, for instance, is really common sense...and a nurse MUST POSSESS this very important quality if she wants to get through her day. Some students were stuck on different aspects of the Nursing Process, some couldn't figure out a diagnosis, couldn't annunciate what to do in a given situation. It was understandable because we were all b beginners~~~but I did my own research/comparison of some of the people and most of the time if they couldn't do a care plan, then they didn't understand CARE...Nursing is not a job, not a profession, it is simply who I am. I nurse me first, then my family, then my community, in that order. I have to because if I don't care for myself, how am I going to care for others?

What? :confused: I am giving and taking insulin at the same time? I'm smoking a cigarette, and teaching my patient about the effects it has on the respiratory system at the same time? I'm giving Effexor, and taking some at the same time? No! There SHOULD BE some sort of battery testing that goes on to NURSING STUDENTS that will determine if a person is even suitable for the profession! :nurse: Whether I can do dimensional analysis, or can read and write shouldn't be the FIRST testing that I receive! Am I a CAREGIVER?~~ should be the first question asked! I am so sick and tired of going behind these people who got into nursing because their mom did it, or they came to this country to buy a house, or they want to drive a Hummer...

I worked once with a couple "challenged" nurses, and I say that because they were clueless about caring for the patient~~they knew how and when to chart, but no time management, bad clinic skills, no patient teaching, rude to coworkers, lacking the ability to communicate and delegate ...for them it was an assignment from the registry, and they would get through the night by asking a gazillion questions, and doing each other's work. Thank God Joint Commission is FINALLY making HAPU's (hospital acquired pressure ulcers) the responsibility of the hospitals now! I have seen so much neglect from uncaring nursing that I worked as a mental health worker and took a pay cut for a while just to air my head out...:cool:

People die from uncaring nursing...this is truly an issue that MUST come out into the forefront of our society...:mad:

This is a very important issue for me, because one day I will be old, prayerfully, and who will nurse me?

Nursing is more than giving meds, or charting, or calling Dr's...it, to me, is the essence of what God says we are supposed to do which is : love our neighbors as we love ourselves:redpinkhe...all of the backbiting, politics, cheating, and lying I have seen go on in large hospitals over the past 15 years taught me a lot about the human experience.

It is really sad and disheartening when I come across future nurses so obsessed with the thought of making the 40-50/hr that they will go to ANY LENGTHS to cheat, be selfish, or lie to get ahead. As an older person in this profession I really do believe that it is our responsibility to give younger people who want to become nurses more insight into THE HEART OF NURSING which is caring...

If I don't remember to take care of my own spirit, how can I give something to one of my patients:confused:. I can only give what I have inside of me...and if all I have are my bills and mortgage on my mind, then that's all I'd be able to give...

Like you, I am disgusted with people wanting to become nurses for the money...go do another job! Please! :mad:

They COULD NEVER PAY NURSES enough for what we do.

God bless!

:heartbeat

Reading your post I got the distince impression that you did not bother to read any of the other posts, or you completely ignored the excellent logic that many others responded with. If you didn't read any of them, please do. If you didn't, then there's probably not much I can say to change your perspective.

I just wish to point out that the question in bold above is an excellent one but in complete opposition to the rest of your statements. How many nurses do you think there would be if there was some litmus test for becoming a nurse and only those who passed with the correct amount of passion or selflessness or disregard for adequate compensation for the job we do??? The shortage of nurses would be so great that hospitals all over the country would close so fast your head would spin! Besides, your last statement about not paying nurses enough tells me that you are not totally selfless in the profession.

Specializes in ICU, M/S, Psych, Tele..

:smokin:You're right. I am new to the site, and just learned how to navigate my way through...

I apologize if that irritated you. I really hope what I said didn't hurt your feet when I stepped on your toes...

Hospitals closing??:confused:

What about PEOPLE DYING?:eek::eek:

It's bad enough that nursing has had to succumb to the direction of DONs with zero knowledge

of what ACTUALLY goes on on our units, but it is downright disheartening to hear that flagrant attitude come from

someone who is supposed to be a patient advocate...

I would never want a nurse at MY mom's bedside who didn't care about whether if she had a

bedsore, or if the vital signs that were taken are real, or if she is responding appropriately to her

tx plan...or something as common as dry skin...

Specializes in ICU, M/S, Psych, Tele..

...btw, I will never respond to anyone's appeal for an argument..

My point is simple: Patient first. Business second....

That's all I am really saying.

Nursing schools as well as hospitals have money as the

primary purpose.

Meanwhile there are killers being sent out into the patient

population who can chart on time, but don't care for their

patients at all because half of them view the profession

as a means to a personal financial crisis.

They drive nice cars, wear expensive jewelry, but hate

their jobs....

and this is very sad.

Re: compensation...

What my point was meant to be was how can someone

place a value on someone caring for them while they

potentially maybe dying. That is worth waaaay more than

50/hour to me!

My breath alone is worth like, 1000/hour...

All I am saying is we as a team do something miraculous

every shift...and I believe we are undercompensated, unless

we're CRNA's who make more than doctors now...

I hope you are not offended. I tend to be very blunt.

Years of seeing neglect have made me feel sorta

iron faced about this subject. It's painful to watch...

:smokin:You're right. I am new to the site, and just learned how to navigate my way through...

I apologize if that irritated you. I really hope what I said didn't hurt your feet when I stepped on your toes...

Hospitals closing??:confused:

What about PEOPLE DYING?:eek::eek:

It's bad enough that nursing has had to succumb to the direction of DONs with zero knowledge

of what ACTUALLY goes on on our units, but it is downright disheartening to hear that flagrant attitude come from

someone who is supposed to be a patient advocate...

I would never want a nurse at MY mom's bedside who didn't care about whether if she had a

bedsore, or if the vital signs that were taken are real, or if she is responding appropriately to her

tx plan...or something as common as dry skin...

No, you didn't hurt my feelings. And I get what you're saying...to a point. But in my opinion, it has nothing to do with a person's motivation for going into nursing. Others have pointed out that you can actually hate what you do and still be great at it. The point has also been made that if money is THE ONE and ONLY reason for going into nursing--however unlikely that may be--the process of becoming and working as a nurse will weed them out.

As for people dying, why is it that that happens? One reason is that nurses are frustrated and burnt out from being stretched to the max now. They can't adequately care for patients because they are expected to take care of so many. The responsibility and accountability are enormous, ESPECIALLY considering current compensation, and if people are kept out of the profession because they want to make a good wage, you will see many more patients die for the lack of nurses to provide any kind of care.

...btw, I will never respond to anyone's appeal for an argument..

My point is simple: Patient first. Business second....

That's all I am really saying.

Nursing schools as well as hospitals have money as the

primary purpose.

Meanwhile there are killers being sent out into the patient

population who can chart on time, but don't care for their

patients at all because half of them view the profession

as a means to a personal financial crisis.

They drive nice cars, wear expensive jewelry, but hate

their jobs....

and this is very sad.

Re: compensation...

What my point was meant to be was how can someone

place a value on someone caring for them while they

potentially maybe dying. That is worth waaaay more than

50/hour to me!

My breath alone is worth like, 1000/hour...

All I am saying is we as a team do something miraculous

every shift...and I believe we are undercompensated, unless

we're CRNA's who make more than doctors now...

I hope you are not offended. I tend to be very blunt.

Years of seeing neglect have made me feel sorta

iron faced about this subject. It's painful to watch...

Not offended here...just passionate about the subject. :anpom:

Nursing schools and hospitals can't keep their doors open for long if they operate in the red. SOMEONE has to think about the money. It's impossible to NOT place a value on patient care! You may feel that your breath is worth $1K/hour, but can you afford that??? Can hospitals afford to spend that kind of money if you can't pay for it? Do you expect nurses to take care of you for nothing? I know I won't.

Where is the discussion about DOCTORS who provide less than stellar care? Or do you assume that they are all passionate about their professions and will provide expensive care regardless of anyone's ability to pay, and that none of THEM go into the profession for a good wage???

I see that you work in ICU. You have 15 years experience, so there must have been times when you have either refused to triple, or you have had to take that third patient and all you can do is pray that you make it to the end of your shift with all three still alive. That has nothing to do with your desire to provide good care, it has to do with not having appropriate staff to care for those patients.

Just because people consider the potential financial benefits of nursing doesn't mean they will suck at their jobs and patients will die because they are only in it for the money. People going into all professions consider the potential compensation to some degree and there's nothing wrong with that. Frankly, I'm tired of nursing being the only profession where we are expected by some to be altruistic and throw the idea of good wages in the wind, especially by fellow nurses.

BTW...you won't see a discussion of this sort amongst doctors. Something to think about...

...btw, I will never respond to anyone's appeal for an argument..

My point is simple: Patient first. Business second....

That's all I am really saying.

Nursing schools as well as hospitals have money as the

primary purpose.

Meanwhile there are killers being sent out into the patient

population who can chart on time, but don't care for their

patients at all because half of them view the profession

as a means to a personal financial crisis.

They drive nice cars, wear expensive jewelry, but hate

their jobs....

and this is very sad.

Re: compensation...

What my point was meant to be was how can someone

place a value on someone caring for them while they

potentially maybe dying. That is worth waaaay more than

50/hour to me!

My breath alone is worth like, 1000/hour...

All I am saying is we as a team do something miraculous

every shift...and I believe we are undercompensated, unless

we're CRNA's who make more than doctors now...

I hope you are not offended. I tend to be very blunt.

Years of seeing neglect have made me feel sorta

iron faced about this subject. It's painful to watch...

Yea thats bad I get it, but not that many people think this way, you cant just sign up do be a nurse and start that day, going on hating your job. Its a profession, and you make it sound like half the nurses in a given hospital hate their job like ticked off McDonalds cashiers. People may gripe about their job every now and then (its a tiring job you are on your feet all day and are in a stressful environment) but I really dont think many of the nurses out there today are just in it for the money. Every nurse is bound to make a mistake but a downright neglectful person wont keep that job very long (as with any career).

Like I said a few posts up, It isn't exactly the smartest idea (lets even assume you could care less about a single patient AND are certain you will keep your job as a nurse despite all of your poor performance) to start over and go back to school to become an RN, it isn't just a midlife decision anyone would make during a financial crisis. It takes years of full time school, and sure, some people may not fit the profession as well as others, and maybe they find out after nursing school that it isnt the right job for them at all. But nobody entered the field JUST for the money or job security.

And How would you go about means-testing these people. I feel that the 3-5 years of school and clinicals already did that, and if someone is that determined to still take the job for monetary reasons (wow), I don't think they will keep the job very long. I guess I can go up to any nurse and tell them that they dont care enough about their job, but who am I to judge? The compensation anybody in the healthcare field receives comes in the forms of money, job security, and most importantly the satisfaction of helping others. Besides, I think that there is no better judge of a nurses level of commitment than their employer. Any nurse who has gone through with all of their schooling and training has every reason to go above and beyond; and they do; and that takes a lot out of them which may lead to a little bit of negative attitude here and there, but there is definitely no shortage of that on this forum either.

And those CRNA's making more than primary care physicians article refers to base pay, meaning a doctor fresh out of school vs. a new CRNA. The CRNA already had a ton of experience in the nursing field on top of going through with more schooling. After a few years of work the physician will be making more, especially an anesthesiologist.

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
:yeah::yeah::yeah:

What? :confused: I am giving and taking insulin at the same time? I'm smoking a cigarette, and teaching my patient about the effects it has on the respiratory system at the same time? I'm giving Effexor, and taking some at the same time? No! There SHOULD BE some sort of battery testing that goes on to NURSING STUDENTS that will determine if a person is even suitable for the profession! :nurse: Whether I can do dimensional analysis, or can read and write shouldn't be the FIRST testing that I receive! Am I a CAREGIVER?~~ should be the first question asked! I am so sick and tired of going behind these people who got into nursing because their mom did it, or they came to this country to buy a house, or they want to drive a Hummer...

God bless!

:heartbeat

I don't entirely disagree with everything you've said, except to say that I haven't met many uncaring nurses. A few, perhaps, but my experience has been that the vast majority of human beings do have compassion, and empathy, and a conscience. Often, those who may seem lacking in those qualities are so pressed by their own problems that they become self-absorbed, and their own pain, worry, or fear overwhelm their better instincts. Which isn't to excuse them. I'm just saying bad people are rare, and even some of them aren't as bad as they seem.

But I really do have to disagree with the quoted paragraph. First off, I don't see how taking a medication precludes giving that medication. Are you saying taking insulin is evidence of a character flaw? A lot of the patients I take care of take insulin, and I don't look down on them for it. I know there are those who might say an obese person with Type 2 diabetes is paying the price for their own bad choices. As it happens, I am an obese person with Type 2 diabetes. I don't feel I owe you or anyone else an apology, nor do I feel my patients owe me an apology. If I wanted to judge, I'd have gone to law school. My patients don't need me to show them why they have no one to blame but themselves, nor do they need me to be a shining example of good behavior. The need me to care about the person they are and help them make the best of the hand they're dealt. And that generally keeps me busy enough.

I don't dispute that being a caregiver is important. I can't imagine how anyone could test for it. And while I share some of the frustration that started this thread, I do think it is entirely possible to be caring and conscientious without feeling a holy vocation. I'm a nurse. That's a big part of what I am, but it will never be all that I am, and I had a number of perfectly decent qualities before I ever dreamed of being a nurse. I was a kind, caring carpenter, too. One of the kindest things ever done for me was by an IRS agent. Nurses have no monopoly on caring, but in certain situations, we do have the practical knowledge to put caring into effect. And that's special enough, in my book.

I am so happy to hear so many nurses out there who really have a passion for what they are doing. I chose to get into the health field by attending an LPN program a couple of years back. It was extremely hard for me....I knew at the time my heart wanted me to stay with the program, but it was too mentally stressful/combined with having no healthcare experience..boy, did I feel very overwhelmed! I chose to leave the program, regretfully. I was so depressed over it, because I, like you, really had such a strong feeling in my heart for this, and sadly, the feeling in my heart wasn't enough at the time. My brain could not handle the excrutiating hours of studying/juggling family. So, I switched schools, attended a cardiac tech program which was easier, finished and have been working in a hospital as a cardiac tech for a little over a year. I love every minute of my job, but I find myself wanting to stay longer with the patients, and my job doesn't allow me to do that. I hate leaving them. I am also interacting with nurses all day long and I find myself listening to them converse throughout their day...wanting to do the same things that they are doing. I have decided to re-apply to the original nursing program all over again. My timing wasn't right, but when it's in your heart, it won't go away. You should want to help/care for people. I feel so good just bringing them an extra pillow or a cup of water! It makes my day. I commend the nurses out there who really care about what they are doing. I see it where I work. Some nurses seem better with the patients than others. You can see who really loves what they are doing. You should love it, or you shouldn't be in the profession. These are the lives of living, breathing individuals. You should want to make a difference. At least that's how I feel. I have been wondering all this time to myself whether or not the feeling in your heart/calling you feel even mattered. Now, after hearing many of you, nurses for years yourselves stressing the importance of truly caring and wanting this for the right reasons means alot to me. You made me realize I am not crazy for wanting to try this once again! Just what I needed to hear today! I thank you! You should very proud of the kind of nurses you are!

Specializes in ICU, M/S, Psych, Tele..

...RE: What? I am giving and taking insulin at the same time? I'm smoking a cigarette, and teaching my patient about the effects it has on the respiratory system at the same time? I'm giving Effexor, and taking some at the same time?

I believe that I can teach good health when I'm in good health....seems less hypocritical...

I know it happens everyday, just making a point about the importance of nursing ourselves first, then our patients.

...RE: What? I am giving and taking insulin at the same time? I'm smoking a cigarette, and teaching my patient about the effects it has on the respiratory system at the same time? I'm giving Effexor, and taking some at the same time?

I believe that I can teach good health when I'm in good health....seems less hypocritical...

I know it happens everyday, just making a point about the importance of nursing ourselves first, then our patients.

I can see your point with smoking and even agree, but you're way off base with insulin because that may not be something a person could ever change. I'll leave my opinions about antidepressants out of this discussion--they would open a whole other can of worms!

Hello my name is Gisele.I live in orlando, FL right now Iam a CNA/HHA/CMA but still can't found a great job, so I was looking at becoming an R.N. but scared that iI'll not pass the teas test. I was looking for someone in Orlando who is a R.N. or who pass the teas test that can help me . I can be reach @ [email protected] or be reach @321-3049762 please. Thank you. ps my number can always be change:crying2: