Becoming a nurse for the money...

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...just wondering who's becoming a nurse for the eventual excellent pay???

I am. :D

please note that my original message was not directed at any person in particular. it was a general sentiment regarding the entirety of this thread.

personally, i'm quite sure the op was looking to get reaction from the board...and he definitely succeeded at "stirring the pot". kudos! lol

oh, i know that your message wasn't directed specifically towards me, but i just wanted to clarify the things that i have said. yeah, the op's pot is really going to be stirred when he gets a fart in the face, on the nursing floor, like the other poster said above. i wonder how much the 100k is going to matter then. :lol2:

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.
What money??

50-70K isn't A LOT of money to me. But I guess some people might think thats A LOT of money.

I'm sure people who are making less than $10,000 a year (those living in poverty) would think that 50-70K is "A LOT" of money. I personally think it's an adequate amount of money. I guess it all depends on what sort of life you're interested in living.

Now, I'm not necessarily saying that nurses shouldn't be paid more for what they do nor am I saying that there's anything wrong with being in this profession for the money as long as that mindset isn't reflected in the quality of care for a pt.

I won't say that the eventual pay hasn't influenced my decision to become a nurse but the versatility and flexibilty of nursing has also had an influence.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and he isn't the only person in this world who is a nurse for the money or wants to be a nurse because of the pay. I just hope he isn't like the majority of those I've worked with (lazy)

Good luck to the OP and to all others who are still in nursing school!

Take care,

Tiff

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Specializes in GYN/GON/Med-Surg/Oncology/Tele.
oh, i know that your message wasn't directed specifically towards me, but i just wanted to clarify the things that i have said. yeah, the op's pot is really going to be stirred when he gets a fart in the face, on the nursing floor, like the other poster said above. i wonder how much the 100k is going to matter then. :lol2:

i've had my face farted in for $9.15/hr and feces thrown at me. i wouldn't have care so much if i was paid 100k

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Specializes in Case management, occupational health.

I think the attitude of the original poster throughout this thread has brought out the worst in people. He has made it clear that he is so smart that he will not have to study. I think that is what is upsetting people much more so than the fact that he is in it for the money. It is the whole general attitude.

Still waiting for him to come back and enlighten us with how far along he is in the nursing program

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I wont lie, I have to agree with the above post that the general superior attitude of the OP is perhaps more unsettling to many of us than the fact that the motivation is money. Of course, I recognize that this is an online forum, and none of us here should expect to fully understand each other.

Personally, money was certainly not a reason I chose nursing. And while I don't think that *the calling* is necessary for being a good, caring nurse, I can say for myself that I feel called to this profession. I currently live in the same area as the OP (San Francisco), and I support myself off a minimum wage job (9.79/hr). It's not always easy, and definitely not glamorous, but I get by and I enjoy my life. I don't see myself drastically altering my lifestyle after finishing school and getting a job as a nurse, so whatever money begins to fill my bank account is really just a bonus. Aside from my general excitement for caring for and promoting wellness in other people, two things come to mind when I think 'why nursing': I want to help support my mom who lives off of workers comp (600/mnth) while caring for her mother who has Alzheimer's, and I want to volunteer in struggling areas of Latin America............

It seems that many here are arguing whats better: brains or passion. I fully agree with a few of you who have insisted that patients deserve both. I believe a nurse's attitude goes a long way towards affecting the patient's health, and that being technically smart and competent does not necessarily mean a positive experience for the patient. Maybe I have a more holistic perspective than some, and I would never expect everyone to agree with me or judge those who don't, but personally, I think how the patient perceives their experience as a patient can affect his or her health just as much as the medications they receive. In other words, it's my belief that health care should go beyond medical (physical) treatment. But that's just me.

To the OP, I also live in San Francisco. You're right that nurses here make enough to live very comfortably (by my standards anyway). However, I know more than a few nurses who live in this city and have to commute 2 hours one way because there is not a nursing shortage in the city. I'd lovelovelove to get a job here right away, but I'm not counting on it.

Whatever your motivation, I wish you luck and hope that both you and your patients leave at the end of the day feeling better.

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... I didnt realize that was such a long reply. sorry! :p

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my little anecdotal input to this discussion is this: one day about a year ago i was helping 3 of my colleagues perform a spinal dressing change on a 550 pound woman. I had to hold up her hips.........aka the business end of her body.

this 550 pound woman farted in my face:lol2: as i was trying not to laugh in the room(thankfully she couldnt see my face) i thought to myself: self, why are you doing this with your life? The answer was most definitely not for the 21 bucks an hour i get paid!!

I've been at it for 3 years now. I guess i keep doing it because i like it.

21 dollars an hour!? Oh no!!! I would not even bother! SF public hospitals at a per diem salary is 54 hourly. UCSF, about 62.

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oh, i know that your message wasn't directed specifically towards me, but i just wanted to clarify the things that i have said. yeah, the op's pot is really going to be stirred when he gets a fart in the face, on the nursing floor, like the other poster said above. i wonder how much the 100k is going to matter then. :lol2:

well, all i got to say is everyone farts, everyone ******, and everyone *****. **** is ****, i dont know why everyone makes a big fuzz about it? next time you take a **** think of this. i was being honest about earning a comfortable living as a nurse.

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Specializes in Case management, occupational health.

MARC 86-

you still have not answered the question about how far along you are in the program, and what program you are actually in

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Hi Shann106, well i was about to respond to your query earlier today when i was logged on but my laptop battery died :/ But i'm here! So do not fret, i will respond since you are eager to know, lol. I just got done with my 1st year for the CNL program at USF! I know much of the first year classes are theory, but they were just like any other class i have taken in my undergrad. So where are you going to school, or where did you graduate from?

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I have been reading this thread with some interest since I am beginning nursing school myself shortly. I find myself wondering what the point of the original post was, since it seemed to get lost in all the varying opinions. I wish Marc86 (and all other nursing students) the best of whatever it is that you need to get you to where you want to be.

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Specializes in PCU, LTAC, Corrections.

I am becoming a nurse because I want to work within a specific population-neonates and other sick newborns. I realized that I did not want to go through 4yrs of med school, residency, and then specialization to fulfill my dreams...and I also did not want to really be a doctor.

The good pay is only a fringe benefit (although it is a great fringe benefit :) ). Entering nursing only for the pay might not be a great idea.....you might find the stress and other bs* not worth it. Besides with the way the economy is right now nursing jobs are few and far between in certain areas. Maybe it would be best to reevaluate your goals.

I know quite a few people who went into nursing for the money alone......most of them did not stay in the profession for more than 5 yrs.

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