The Money is my motivation

[RNDreamer]

I never thought I would say this so early in my career. I am a new grad working in an acute care setting. I haven't even reached my 6 month mark, let alone my one year mark. Today, I realized that I have become numb. I feel nothing when I am at work. Isn't that sad? Aren't I too 'young' to have gotten to this point. Where's my honeymoon phase?

While money wasn't the reason I wanted to be a nurse as a teenager, it was the reason I pursued this career as an adult. But still, I had my dream job in mind, so I expected to love my job and the paycheck would be the icing on the cake.

It's not the stress, I can deal with that. Actually, after reading new grad horror stories, I feel quite lucky with my unit's pleasant environment. I can't exactly pin point what is it that has gotten me to this point. I do know that I am not happy with where I am in my career. (I want critical care). While I don't hate my job, I don't like it either. I do like that I'm learning everyday, but I'm just not happy.

I'm so sorry, my feelings are so scattered right now, I can't seem to put my thoughts together. I can't quit because I have bills to pay. But then again, I don't want to quit because I'm learning so much. I'm just not happy. And now, I have quickly reached the point where the only thing I look forward to is my paycheck.

Am I the only one? Has anyone gotten to the point that the paycheck is the only reason they go to work?

[EmergencyNrse]

you're pretty harsh. are you willing to do all the above things you mentioned for free? i think not! wake up and welcome to the 21st century. you don't need to have altruistic reasons to be a nurse. as long as my nurse is empathetic and knows what s/he's doing , s/he's a ok in my book.

as a matter of fact i do this sometimes for free.

just as my motivation for serving in the army was for patriotism

and not the "college money". i do medical mission trips with some frequency.

mexico, haiti, dominican, and planning n. africa when my current assignment is done.

yep, i volunteer. and i do so while actually having to pony-up for all my

travel expenses as well. i also volunteer @ natural disaster relief shelters.

i would like to think of nursing as an obligation first and just so happens

something they pay me for... oh, and i'm not above working for the most money

they are willing to pay out either. but i do not do it for the paycheck.

my point is that people get sick, they get injured and some just need help. it

takes people willing to step up and care each and every day. question my dedication?

i work 6 12's in a row before my days off. not 3, not flex-40... and i do it all in the er.

if i wanted to just do something just for a paycheck i might do cath-lab, or, pacu,

or maybe interventional radiology. somewhere i could hide with minimal patient contact.

this site is inundated with plenty of people that are more than willing to give

all these whiners the big they are all panning after. so y'all get together and create

this big support group for those that realize this is actual work. pat their lil' behinds.

tell them it will be okay... oooooh, the warm fuzzies.

know this: for those of us that are actually dedicated to patients you people make this less of a "profession" than it was before. you saw the dollar signs and jumped in with both feet. you graduated and held your hands out... you wanted paid the same or more than that 20-yr nurse. you wanted that instant gratification without paying your dues. without experience. now you're bummed that it's not all coffee and pastries??? yes it's actually work.

you want sympathy it's between **** and syphilis in the dictionary.

is it any wonder we're not hiring new grads??? love this "entitlement" generation....not!

[whodatnurse]

One person's 'whiner' is another person's human being wanting to be heard and understood. I consider actively listening to the personal experience someone is having to be an essential component of MY nursing practice.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

As a matter of fact I DO this sometimes for free.

Just as my motivation for serving in the Army was for patriotism

and NOT the "college money". I do medical mission trips with some frequency.

Mexico, Haiti, Dominican, and planning N. Africa when my current assignment is done.

Yep, I volunteer. And I do so while actually having to pony-up for all my

travel expenses as well. I also volunteer @ natural disaster relief shelters.

I would like to think of nursing as an obligation first and just so happens

something they pay me for... Oh, and I'm not above working for the most money

they are willing to pay out either. But I DO NOT do it for the paycheck.

My point is that people get sick, they get injured and some just need help. It

takes people willing to step up and CARE each and every day. Question my dedication?

I work 6 12's in a row before my days off. Not 3, not flex-40... and I do it all in the ER.

If I wanted to just do something just for a paycheck I might do cath-lab, OR, PACU,

or maybe interventional radiology. Somewhere I could hide with minimal patient contact.

This site is inundated with plenty of people that are more than willing to give

all these whiners the big they are all panning after. So y'all get together and create

this big support group for those that realize this is actual WORK. Pat their lil' behinds.

Tell them it will be okay... Oooooh, the warm fuzzies.

Know this: For those of us that are actually dedicated to patients you people make this less of a "profession" than it was before. You saw the dollar signs and jumped in with both feet. You graduated and held your hands out... you wanted paid the same or more than that 20-yr nurse. You wanted that instant gratification without paying your dues. Without experience. Now you're bummed that it's not all coffee and pastries??? Yes it's actually WORK.

You want sympathy it's between **** and syphilis in the dictionary.

Is it any wonder we're not hiring new grads??? Love this "entitlement" generation....NOT!

I don't expect anyone to coddle to anyone's whining but when you have a new nurse isn't it our resposibility to teach them how to have compassion and do proper care without chasing them off ?

[dianah, ASN]

As OP has indicated in previous posts she has received appropriate and helpful responses to her original inquiry, am closing this thread now.

Please in the future confine posts to the subject or issue at hand, refraining from personal attacks and insults.

Thank you.