Why do we continue to do it?

anotherone, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

Simple question.. why do we continue to do it? Certainly not the money? Absolutely not the FUN?
Why do we keep being nurses? Well better yet, why do we keep working as nurses? What would they do if we stopped?

I ask myself this every single day. I have no idea. Some times it is for the money, which I admit it isn't much. I don't know what else to do. It is easier to stay then to leave. I guess some people like the abuse and being martyrs or heros etc. If we stopped there are plenty of replacements.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Apr 17, 2011

I do it for the intellectual stimulation. What would they do? Hire someone else.

jammin246RN · Apr 17, 2011

We do it because we care about our fellow man.... or woman. We like to see that what we have done has made a difference for good in someone's life.

KellyRPNinOntario · Apr 17, 2011

Yep, it's those days that are few: when you get home and feel great about the day and what you accomplished.

Chin up · Apr 17, 2011

I started because of two nurses who left me in awe, caring for my son, I continued because i was trained and good at it. I went though years loving it ands looking forward to it. When I got restless, I stayed because I was trained and the flexibility was unbeatable. As I got more and more disillusioned, I stayed, because I could not make as much money working five days in another field, as I was making in two Baylor shifts. When my body said enough, I transferred to administration knowing my training and years of experience had prepared me. The beauty of nursing lies in it's many aspects, that accommodate to every stage of ones life.

simperato · Apr 17, 2011

I believe that we do it because there is much more of a reward than most jobs. I rather make a difference in someone's life than please my boss because I invented another useless computer program.

criticalRN10 · Apr 17, 2011

Because we can! Not many people have what it takes... and we do :)

resumecpr · Apr 17, 2011

Because I'm good at it.

steelydanfan · Apr 17, 2011

I USED to do it because the occasional miracles, or just moments of connection were enough to get me past all the other frustrations.

Now, I do it because I like to eat and stay out of debt. I still use my brain and my body, but my heart and goodwill are pretty much divorced from this career.

BrookeeLou_RN · Apr 17, 2011

I started because it was good money for 2 yr degree, I loved helping people and making a difference. When I got burnt out, I changed into another area. I was good at it and loved it. Then I found it was not so much loving it as it was a job. I made a difference but many patients expect so much more, we turned into customer service reps, not professionals. Hospitals now are practically call centers with nurses being pushed to the limit and beyond every day. I mean what else could I do.. Then I stopped in 2010, I stopped for combined total of 5 months and was "nurse" for my parents. I had to fight the system, the nurses ( not all) the doctors, all to get anywhere near the level of quality of care I expected.

For past 4 months have been searching for a job. Few interviews, offers that i was unwilling to accept.

Maybe it is because I have grown weary, maybe it is because I lost the 2 patients I tried hardest to save...but I am not sure I want to continue to do this anymore.

Yes if we stopped, there are others waiting, but to read the posts on this site every day, new grads are miserable for the most part and really wondering why they are doing this. Things are changing for nurses.

Being a nurse is what we all wanted to be. But continuing to work as a nurse has changed and I fear it is a downward trend causing more unhappiness........I just wonder what it will be 10 yrs from now:confused:

GRUNGE · Apr 17, 2011

yea... i do it for the money. id rather be working the ground crew but i like to live comfortable