If you did not need the money...?

Nurses General Nursing

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If you did not need the money would you work like you are? I was talking with a co-worker (also went to school with her). I don't remember the exact conversation but I thought it raised an interesting question that could get a good discussion going. We were talking about farthing our education and I made a comment about how it would be nice to make that much money. She got very high and mighty and said something like well nursing is not about money; money has nothing to do with me being a nurse.... She made me feel very small. But honestly, if nursing paid min wage then I don't think I would do it. I could not afford to.

If every job in the word paid the same and school was free, then yes, I'd pick nursing.

If I woke up tomorrow and won the lottery, I'd quit a few of my jobs and maybe take a weekend off (in the middle of a 25 day stretch right now-Zzzzz) but I'd keep at least one job. Because I do love so much about nursing.

But I'm sorry, if they stopped paying me, I stop showing up for work. I'm sorry, but a girls gotta eat!

So, if you did not need the money would you work like you are?

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oh no I would not be working at all. I'd be a professional student and enjoy my hobbies full time.

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Specializes in Ortho/trauma acute care/med surg.

I don't know your financial situation and I am not asking, but I have worked with nurses that lived way beyond their means. I'm talking a $800,000 home in California on a RN's pay and I use to get so frustrated because she would want to give me the shabbiest of reports so she could get to her next job to make money and money is nice and it does pay the bills but don't live beyond ur means either where the patient is suffering because the nurse has to work 7 days straight just to make ends meet. I have seen this a lot and it's bad for the patients well being! I'm just saying

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Specializes in FNP.

I don't need the money, and I don't work more than a day or two a week, so yes. I left a far more lucrative career for nursing. 99 days out of 100 I am very pleased and proud to be a nurse.

However, that doesn't mean I agree with the OPs colleague. I am not a saint or a sucker, and I am not a Nurse out of pure beneficence. I get something out of it besides money, or I wouldn't do it, because the money is a pretty paltry sum to tell the truth.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

I didn't need the money going into Nursing. I do enjoy working.

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Specializes in Internal Medicine.

Obviously it takes more to be a good nurse then money, but one of the reasons we all get into it is because it provides job security, mobility, and a good middle to upper-middle class lifestyle. Those that ONLY are in nursing for money are the ones that end up failing in the profession.

Your colleague can get on her soap box and preach, but the bottom line is most good nurses got into nursing because it is a rewarding job that can also pay the bills. Being a CNA is an important job that can be rewarding, but you don't see people knocking down the door to get into CNA school like you do with nursing. If being a CNA paid $25 an hour you can guarantee there would be more people doing it.

That said, if money was not hugely important, I would still want to do something like school nursing, or work a couple of days PRN because it is enjoyable.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

I would enjoy owning a bookstore/cafe combo...:D (Though we see how well

Borders did with that...! lol)

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Specializes in CVICU.

The short answer to your question is, no. To the people who say that nursing isn't about the money, I humbly disagree. It is ALL about the money. And until nurses start feeling OK thinking this, the pay will never compare to what other professionals make (or at least used to).

The "It's not about the money" line is one that management loves to throw out there. Don't have enough nurses, well if you throw enough money at the problem you will have enough nurses. Problem solved.

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Heck! I paid money to get to be a nurse! Not to mention endless anxiety over exams, clinicals, and my waning social life!

Would I work ANY job for free? Heck no! Thats crazy talk!

Would I work like I do now if I won millions of dollars...no way!! I'd still work as a nurse tho, but I'd hold out for my dream job after I put in my two weeks and took an around the world vaykay!!

Poo on your coworker, moneys not everything, but it has something to do with everything!

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Nursing is important to me, but I'm a second career nurse with loans. I had a good paying job prior, so if nursing didn't pay well, I wouldn't be doing it. However, if I won the lottery, I would still work as a nurse, just not as often. I'd travel instead.

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I only work a few nursing shifts a week and it's purely for the money. I work in a lower paid area most of the time..i am happier and better off for it. If i didn't have a mortgage I would not need to work as a nurse as I have no other debts.

If i could pay my mortage off tomorrow I would not bother keeping my nursing registration.

Oh to dream.

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Specializes in Cardiac step down unit.

I love nursing, but I have only been a RN for almost a year and a half. I tech'd before that for 4 years.

I would definitely still work. However, I would not be doing 40+ hours a week. Maybe 3 days. Just because (at least on my floor) 40 hours physically kicks my butt!

I don't think I would ever quit entirely though. Even through the bad and crazy days, I went to school for this for a reason. In the end, I love it.

Kelly

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