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 Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
I have to respectfully disagree.

Being employed and making a living for yourself is in and of itself more than a lot of people are willing to do. Someone who decides welfare and public support is not the route they want and see's nursing as a way to make a living shouldn't be chastised for not feeling like they had some "calling from above".

Lots of people in every profession are in it simply for the check. They go to work, do what they have to do, make a living and get on with life. I don't understand the constant insistence that nursing should somehow not allow this individual in. People of this nature are vital to nursing's survival. We are packed with the "higher calling" types, and in my experience, they are the ones who burn out, not the one's who just see nursing as a job. The one's who simply see themselves as punching in and out tend to keep their cool while the "higher calling" nurses are getting their panties in a bunch over issues that are none of their business.

I see it on my current unit. The "God speaks through me" types get all worked up when staffing and the budget are cut, spend all day in a tissy fit over being told they have to do things differently, and completely lose any pt. focus because they are preoccupied with preaching about how "REAL pt. care is being threatened". Meanwhile, the less emotionally invested ones go about their business as usual and give about the same level of care despite the staffing ratios not being as good.

Besides, you can't mandate "caring". If you tried, people would just lie and do things the way the planned to anyway.

I don't entirely disagree with the quoted post, or with the OP. Frankly, I still believe a lot of what I wrote on my essay portion of my app to nursing school, that this is useful work that I think I could do well, and do well for myself. Nursing to me is a job. It's a job I like, and sometimes even love. I'm not so sure I was ever called by God, but it's hard not to feel like God steered me into this, since I took such a roundabout way of getting here. "Called by God," seems to suggest that God sent me as a gift to my patients, but my feeling is more that God sent this opportunity to me, and doing my best for my patients is my way of showing appreciation. And I suspect that's what a lot of "called" nurses really mean.

I've read enough of Madwife's posts to see a dedicated nurse, rather than a martyr. There's definitely a big difference. Martyr's welcome suffering. Hell hath no fury like a dedicated nurse. We need dedicated nurses.

But as much as we don't need martyrs, neither do we need mercenaries. I worked for about six months with a classmate, whom I actually like, who wanted to get in on the opportunities in nursing, but didn't care a lot for the actually taking care of patients. So he got an administrative job and got away from the bedside. I'm happy(-ish) for him, but I wonder what it would be like to work for him. I'm skeptical that dipping one's toe in patient care is going to lead one to get what it's really about.

There probably are more productive uses of our time and energy than fretting about others' motives. But how can we help it? How many members are people who care enough about nursing to waste soome of their precious time reading and posting on a discussion board about nursing?

From time to time, we see a thread that mentions wiping butts. Over the years, the responses seem to become pretty predictable. Not many of us want to see our profession reduced to a series of menial chores, but not many of us actually think we're too good to wipe an occassional butt, if it needs it. My pet peeve, at the moment, is nurses who come out of school thinking this is a Profession with a capital P and that their role will be to oversee UAPs who do all the actual butt wiping. My tongue tends to swell up if I say the words "Nursing Process," but I'll risk writing them in order to observe that it doesn't stop with A,D,P. Without Interventions, you aren't really doing nursing. But still, I have to admit that I sometimes feel frustrated that it's so hard to find time, in the course of a typical shift, to really stop and think about what I'm trying to accomplish.

What's needed, I think, is a mix of work ethic, book smarts, and common sense, and no two of those are sufficient to be a good nurse. I'm enough of an optimist to believe that most posters on Allnurses have all three. Most of the experienced nurses I work with have all three. Some of the newer nurses have two and are working on developing the third--usually, common sense seems to be the hard part, which makes sense, since it's usually gained through experience. But I'm right with the OP in not wanting to be around nurses who lack a work ethic, and I'm not sure it's possible to seperate work ethic from caring about patients. I'm not saying your heart has to bleed, but I can't think of any job I've done where indifference and diligence were compatible. Our product is patient care. I want to work with people who get that. I don't want to spend my time with people who think showing up and clocking in is enough, or that they're too good for the work I do. And while we may all tend to read these threads in the light of what gripes us most at this moment, it's my strong suspicion that pretty much everyone here wants pretty much exactly what I want, and that's why we're here.

I understand that many RNs feel their profession has been demeaned. A lot, though, depends on one's definition of 'demeaned.' Some may feel that a compressed option for second degree students demeans nursing. After all, there's not a single medical school doing that. Management can also be demeaning and ungrateful patients probably don't help either. Undoubtedly, the influx of people to the profession as a result of this recession is demeaning to some people.

I don't know if it can be stated in absolute terms that folks who are drawn to nursing for money and job security do any less of a job than those who are supposedly here for more altruistic reasons. But, I think it can be said that you can only go through the motions on anything before you are overwhelmed. From an HR perspective, it will show up in performance reviews and if you get enough bad reviews, you'll probably get fired.

Everybody who graduates from an RN program deserves a chance. Not all who pass the nclex will make it in the field. I just think that it is a mistake to torpedo folks before they get a chance to prove themselves.

And of course no one now in nursing would ever be so worldly as to realize that erecting additional barriers to entry might have their own financial interests in mind, eh?

BTW, just how are we going to screen out those unworthy to be allowed into nursing programs because they've actually considered employment prospects and likely earnings in a career decision?

Specializes in Med-Surg.
I can understand your frustrations. I am sure there are a lot of people out there who decided to pursue nursing for the money or security. However, you shouldn't make a blanketed statement about those currently going into nursing because it doesn't apply to all of us.

This is what ticked me off the most about your blog post, MadWife. All I could think of was, "How dare you? Who are you to question my motives, or my passion, or my compassion, or anyone else's here on this board?" And what is it to you, or anybody else, why I chose this profession? I have a lot of reasons for choosing it and I don't have to explain them to you. I'm good at what I do, too, with the knowledge I've acquired to this point. I've got a lot more to learn. Everyday I'll be one day better. Because, you've run into some new nurses who don't live up to your standard, it's not fair for you to paint us all with the same brush. I'll tell you, I've met quite a few old nurses who don't live up to mine. I certainly wouldn't write a post calling ALL old (not in age, but experience) nurses a bunch of burnt out, lazy hacks!

So, it's generalizations that will get you into trouble "generally" everywhere. If somebody gets on your nerves, gripe about them. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. You know some people make generalizations about people based on the color of their skin, or the church the go to, or the fact they don't. You've been a nurse long enough to know you can't do that. At least, not and get away with it. Not in a place like this.

Specializes in Surgery, ER.

I am pursuing my accelerated 2nd Degree BSN, after 20 years as an engineer. I am still employed, and will need to quit my stable job once my full time curriculum starts. It upsets me to see all of these posts (and not only in this thread) with nurses bashing students. In my current profession, no one would think twice of someone becoming an engineer as a second career... and in most cases this person would be welcomed, especially if they were educated and qualified... and no one would question their motives... afterall what business is it of a co-worker as to why anyone chooses their career path.

However, I believe that I am one among many that is choosing this career change later in life, because we now can. Personally, my children are now school aged, my husbands career is stable, we are financially established, etc... all of these things allow me to pursue a "calling" that I ignored as a younger student.

My oldest son was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme at birth... we started chemo at 3 weeks, and spent 2 months in the PICU, he developed psydemonus and was intubated by the time he was 6 months (for over 2 months)... not to mention the several neurosurgeries, central line care, and feeding through a g-tube that I was exposed to as a new parent. I lived at St. Louis Childrens Hospital for almost a year, leaving only to shower and go to work. I had the opportunity to "job shadow" PICU, NICU, and Hem-Onc nurses as well as our neuro-surgeon. I loved and respected our nursing staff, and became close to several of them. 10 years later, I have experienced being the mother of a cancer patient, a hospice patient... and now my son is gone.

I chose this profession with open eyes and arms!!!! I believe it is where I belong. I will be taking a pay cut to do so. As a student, I ask all my future peers not to judge... you don't really know why many of us are choosing to enter the profession, what our previous background is, or whether or not we will make it. Don't forget, you were once a student too.

Specializes in med surg,.

I think it takes all kinds of people to be a nurse. The program I was in not only graded on knowledge and skills but also interactions with pts and other staff. We were critiqued in clinicals. It was hard to take sometimes but it made me a better nurse. I have been a cna, lpn and now a RN and I dont mind wiping butts. I like to work with people who know what needs to be done and dont need anyone to go behind them and check on them or dont spend the day trying to see how much work they can get out of. I cant do my job and everyone else. I dont know what can fix it but I am tired of being treated like a fast food worker by managment and some pts. Just get it done fast and make the customer happy.

Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.
I understand that many RNs feel their profession has been demeaned. A lot, though, depends on one's definition of 'demeaned.' Some may feel that a compressed option for second degree students demeans nursing. After all, there's not a single medical school doing that. Management can also be demeaning and ungrateful patients probably don't help either. Undoubtedly, the influx of people to the profession as a result of this recession is demeaning to some people.

First of all, great post!

I agree with you regarding the perception of the profession being demeaned. Frankly, I don't feel at all threatened or devalued by the proliferation of accelerated courses for second degree students because many of the best nurses I've known have been second career people. I am glad there are more options available to give second career students an opportunity in nursing and think the profession is well-served with an emphasis on further education for everyone who wants it. Moreover, I want to support today's students because they might be taking care of me tomorrow!

I do feel demeaned, however, by management attitudes that a nurse is a nurse is a nurse and that we're all just warm bodies who happen to have nursing licenses and can be replaced in a blink of an eye if we're not good little girls and boys and do exactly what management wants. I've seen that sort of attitude in far too many places and it's gotten worse with the bad economy. There's precious little recognition for a job well done---not that I'm looking for pats on the back from management for everything I do. It would just be nice to have the feeling of being appreciated and valued as a person and an employee. Is that really asking for too much, to feel at least respected by an employer and my direct supervisor?

I also feel demeaned by the song and dance from people outside of nursing who have no idea what the job entails and spout, for their own reasons, the propaganda that nursing is a way to "easy" money. I remember a friend who used to go on and on (and on) about how well-paid nurses were and how he was pushing his wife, who had NO interest in becoming a nurse, to go into an accelerated program so she could make "the big bucks". I asked him once, if he thought nursing was so easy and that well-paying, why didn't HE go into an accelerated program to become an RN! Interestingly, he had no answer.

I also once knew a woman who was a highly paid health care consultant. Once, when she was spouting her ideas for solving every problem in health care, I asked her if she'd ever put anyone on a bedpan, ever given an injection, ever had her hands so deep into someone's dehisced wound that she could touch their internal organs. She was horrified. Why, she would never be anything as lowly as a NURSE. She was a consultant and knew EVERYTHING about nursing without being a nurse, without ever having to do a day of nursing school or even shadow anyone actually in the trenches doing direct patient care.

That's the nonsense that gets raises my systolic. I don't have a problem with the person who enters nursing primarily to get a steady paycheck. If he/she is able to do the job and put up with everything, why should I question his/her dedication or motive? Do the job and do it right and it isn't a problem. It is, however, a problem when the pearls and pumps set---particularly those who are too "good" to do direct care---starts to dictate what nursing is and should be, start promising the moon and stars to hopeful students who just want jobs---without any grounding whatsoever in reality.

Gosh, it felt good to vent!

I do not agree with the statement, "shortcut to being employed". I did not enter nursing to live in my car or to live on the street, and do not appreciate the assumption here. Since I am an unemployed nurse and I have lived in my car as an unemployed nurse, I suppose I must be something lower than the mercenary who works as a nurse to support self and/or family? When I am unemployed, I can not support myself or my family. It does not matter that I am an unemployed nurse. And it does not mean I am not worthy of the means to support myself. Kind of difficult to sing the praises of nursing when people look at you and say, "Well, why don't you have a job?"

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Ok so I have read all the responses everybody has made to my blog!

What I now ask you all who have got hot under the collar is why you assume I am actually talking about you?

I made a statement that

'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'

I did not say everybody I am refering to a certain type of potential RN-How do you interpret that I meant every student nurse, every RN and every potential RN?

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
I do not agree with the statement, "shortcut to being employed". I did not enter nursing to live in my car or to live on the street, and do not appreciate the assumption here. Since I am an unemployed nurse and I have lived in my car as an unemployed nurse, I suppose I must be something lower than the mercenary who works as a nurse to support self and/or family? When I am unemployed, I can not support myself or my family. It does not matter that I am an unemployed nurse. And it does not mean I am not worthy of the means to support myself. Kind of difficult to sing the praises of nursing when people look at you and say, "Well, why don't you have a job?"

I am interested to hear why you think I am talking about you?

I am talking about a new wave of thinking which is happening around the country the advertisements, the propaganda, the colleges especially the underscribed ones who are prostituting nursing as a quick fix!

I am not and I repeat I am not discussing every person who comes into nursing or who wants to be a nurse I am talking about a certain population!

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
This is what ticked me off the most about your blog post, MadWife. All I could think of was, "How dare you? Who are you to question my motives, or my passion, or my compassion, or anyone else's here on this board?" And what is it to you, or anybody else, why I chose this profession? I have a lot of reasons for choosing it and I don't have to explain them to you. I'm good at what I do, too, with the knowledge I've acquired to this point. I've got a lot more to learn. Everyday I'll be one day better. Because, you've run into some new nurses who don't live up to your standard, it's not fair for you to paint us all with the same brush. I'll tell you, I've met quite a few old nurses who don't live up to mine. I certainly wouldn't write a post calling ALL old (not in age, but experience) nurses a bunch of burnt out, lazy hacks!

So, it's generalizations that will get you into trouble "generally" everywhere. If somebody gets on your nerves, gripe about them. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. You know some people make generalizations about people based on the color of their skin, or the church the go to, or the fact they don't. You've been a nurse long enough to know you can't do that. At least, not and get away with it. Not in a place like this.

Again I ask why you think I mean you? Am I asking you to defend your reasons for entering nursing, NO?

I have had the pleasure and priviledge of working with some of the most outstanding new young nurses recently that I have ever met, but I am not talking about this kind of RN/Student. I am not talking about you so why you would be offended I dont know. All I can say is I apologise if you took it personnally.

Specializes in Surgery, ER.

Hi....I previously replied to your thread that I was an engineer entering nursing after 20 years as a professional, and that I had been exposed to the nursing "lifestyle" during my son's 6 year battle with a brain tumor.

I actually began thinking of entering the profession several months after my son was diagnosed in 2000, but it obviously wasn't a good time to be focused on anything new. This desire stayed with me, and I began to investigate programs in 2007 (a year after his death)... and finally got the nerve up to tell my husband in 2008 about my crazy notion. To my surprize, he said "why aren't you pursuing this... quit talking and "just do it"". I started my pre-req's in 2009, one course at a time, because of my current work schedule (I work 50 -60 hours a week and travel frequently). I will finally be done with pre-req's in the fall of 2010.

I found this site a couple months ago and have been pouring over the posts under the student and regional tabs, gleening whatever tips or information I could that will help me be successfull in my endeavor. You see, I would eventually like to pursue my CRNA. I currently hold my B.S. in Engineering, I complete my MBA online from University of Phoenix in June 2010, I am concurrently taking my nursing pre-reqs, holding down a full time job, I am the mother of a 3 and 5 year old and a wife.

I am putting my future on the line to pursue this career change or calling. I do live in MI, and I do work in the automotive industry...this is one of the factors is pushing me into a career change... the industry sucks, I am fed up, and I am a woman in a man's world... the politics in engineering may be different, but they are just as present as they are in nursing (or any other career I would imagine). These reasons, plus too many other to mention were my catalyst for changing.

What I have found in these posts, from current nurses, is a constant theme of resentment towards the new student nursing population in general. Many bashing accelerated secondary programs, second career students, and those changing from factory work to nursing. There are many generalizations, from both the nurses and the students. It is disheartening to those of us who are really looking forward to our future in healthcare. I can only speak for myself, but I took your post as just one more attack on career changing students... as your post is one of many with that theme. I am sure that you can imagine how difficult the change is for many of us... after all , who wants to start over at the age of 40, in a new career,for less pay. Many of us do this because we are drawn to the profession for one reason or another... and to constantly be told that there are no jobs, we will not make it, we are flooding the profession, we are only in it for the money, its not fair that we are allowed to get a 2nd degree in a year, and that the colleges and universities are just wildly churning out grads is demotivating and demoralizing. We hear this from everyone, including posters on this site to the nurses in the doctors office (if we are bold enough to let them know of our plans).

I just ask for any current professional RN to think back to when they were in school. How well would they have faired, if all of their future mentors and peers had nothing but what seems to be negativity and contempt for them as a student? I imagine that many would have become hypersensitive to the comment... which is what I imagine is the reason you recieved the responses you did.:o. Thank you for replying that you did not mean to lump us all into a negative category.