Why do people go into nursing? Is it just the money?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med/Surg since ‘96; PACU since ‘16.

I graduated from nursing school 13 years ago and now I'm wondering, sheesh, can anyone can get into nursing? Can anyone get a license to work? Is the NCLEX failing anyone?

Pretty good pay attracts many and schools seem to be passing anyone through to fill the job openings. It is not an academic group so far in my experience which I think is so weird because I think medical issues are very complicated and difficult-- pathophysiology and understanding multiple organ system function/failure-- heavy stuff.

I am sadly disappointed by the caliber of some of the nurses. I've been working over 10 years in the hospital setting and I still feel I don't understand so much and someone with 1 year experience acts like they know it all. So what is in their head? I think taking care of sick people is a huge responsibility. So much to be on top off. Just being aware of what changes to be concerned about-- you know, when someone is going bad. Much responsibility. This is a serious business, nursing and most go to work to socialize. It makes me so angry.

Second issue, but not less important is that the majority don't want to take care of patients- they whine and complain -- so much negativity. Yes, if it wasn't for the money, they'd be out of there. They don't appreciate having a job and not being unemployed-- come on, have they looked at the unemployment rate? Too many have gone into nursing for the pay. The "caring" factor is down at the bottom of their list or just gone. I feel sorry for the patients. I have very hard shifts- up to 10 med/surg patients sometimes and it is so stressful. But really you gotta try to treat the patients like you'd want your family to be treated. Bring back the :heartbeat to nursing!

Let me hear from you. Thanks for reading!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Yes, the NCLEX is failing people. I've been told that it's actually gotten harder over the last few years.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Seriously,

There are people I just graduated with that SCARE me if they get their RN....I know of 3 people who STILL haven't passed a exit test....and won't get their license anytime before september....

these are the same people who scare the bejezzus out of me, and if I saw that my family member had them as a nurse, I would request someone else....

Caring is at the bottom of a lot of people's lists...not mine. I always say if being a CNA and working at McD's paid the same, I'd probably still work as a CNA.....

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Well there is a shortage.. so it must not be attracting enough people.

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Specializes in Government.

I'm a community health nurse (which I love, BTW) so I'm out in the public and in the halls of government every day. For a lot of people, I'm the only nurse they know. So when they have a kid who doesn't know what to do they always send them to me to get "psyched" about nursing :rolleyes:. Everyone hears about the pay and the job security.

The young people come to me and I'll tell them what I do. And they think: "Great! 10 hour days, 3-day weekends off, no on call, I am so there!". I then have to tell them about the 12 years of hospital experience I had before I landed this gig. Experience I needed to do this job. I also point out that my state has exactly one job like mine and only a half dozen similar. Then they are a little less optimistic.

The feeling I get is that everyone wants a low stress, high paid, lifetime security job. I had a young man tell me he wanted to get a job that was "easy going". That's not nursing. I think flexibility & portability apply. You can make a decent living. You do need motivation and heart.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Well there is a shortage.. so it must not be attracting enough people.
Wrong. There's no true nursing shortage, because 500,000 actively licensed nurses in the US are doing things other than working in the profession. There's only a shortage of nurses who would willingly work at the bedside to get abused from all angles, disrespected by many people, and poorly paid by employers.
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Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.

oooohhh I so agree with everything you said...

mind you, I'm not an RN yet, still in school, but some the work my classmates don't put into their courses scares me.....

I do think it is the $$ and a job that is attracting people......that's why I'm happy my school requires CNA certification prior to beginning Nursing courses. It's a little bit of a pain for me cuz I am not a CNA, but instead have many years experience as a PCA home health aide, etc. So I feel my eyes are pretty open as to what patient care entails, but whatever. I'm doing it this summer and want to be an RN enough that it's no biggie.

I just wish it wasn't $800.00 :)

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Yes, the NCLEX is failing people. I've been told that it's actually gotten harder over the last few years.

really??

i'm glad to hear that.

at least some standards are being raised.

you know, after 12 yrs of in-the-dirt nursing, i have to say these days, money is becoming the major attraction for me.

yes, i recognize the emptiness that has dominated my-once-fueled-spirit.

but-

it's not my pts who are experiencing my discontent.

rather, it is my pts where i seek refuge from.

no, their care is not affected at all.

but still...

when i think of jobs these days, i have come to conclude that a supportive environment is next to non-existent:

and that only a premium wage will console me....

for now.

who knows what my future holds?

leslie

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing, ICU.

Good point prologic!!!

Nursing is about caring, but it seems as though if a fellow nurse (or future prospect) talks about entering nursing becuase of the money they get shuned. I mean how many other professions are entered because of pay and truth be told nurses don't make that much (without overtime). I just found out today, that my friend a probation officer will start out making $6 more than me. I was shocked. People may enter nursing because of the money...but it takes a fool to stay in the profession, once they realize what they're up against. Understaffed, underpaid, ungrateful management, belittling docs, and demanding patients.:smokin:

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Yes, the NCLEX is failing people. I've been told that it's actually gotten harder over the last few years.

I'm a recent nursing graduate and our instructor mentioned this to us several times.

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Wrong. There's no true nursing shortage, because 500,000 actively licensed nurses in the US are doing things other than working in the profession. There's only a shortage of nurses who would willingly work at the bedside to get abused from all angles, disrespected by many people, and poorly paid by employers.

There's an article about this in the other news forum that was just posted a few days ago. It's absoolutely true that many nurses are going into different aspects of nursing and I have no doubt poor staffing ratios, stress, and disrespect are at the top of the list.

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Specializes in Government.
I just found out today, that my friend a probation officer will start out making $6 more than me. I was shocked.

I was a probation officer for 10 years before I left it for nursing. If I had stayed I would have seen double my current pay in my working life and I'd be retired now. And compared to the work of nursing? Probation was a breeze.

Still, I love nursing and am not starving to death. But there are easier ways to make a buck.

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