Maybe I'm just old and cynical, but....

Nurses Relations

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But I read one more post where people say they aren't into nursing for the money, I am going to scream.

Seriously? Is anyone THAT naive? :confused:

NOBODY does work for free, out of the love of their hearts, unless they're independently wealthy and need something to do, giving back to their fellow man and all that. :smokin:

All these people who are horrified at those who do nursing or doctoring or lawyering or any other profession for the money -- really??? And you personally would do it for free because you love your fellow man so much?

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for helping one's fellow human along their road of suffering and trying to help them as we are able, I've done it for years. But I would not do all the down and dirty work of nursing for someone I didn't personally love or respect for free. :no: And when they say they're not in it for the money, that's what it implies to me, that they'd do it for nothing if they had to.

Anyone with an ounce of sense in their head picks a career that they have interest in AND pays enough to live on!!!!! You don't see lines forming to dig ditches for free. BUT.... a lot of people are taking up technology type jobs - interesting, not dirty and they pay decently.

Maybe I just didn't get enough caffeine this morning, but I read several posts in a couple different threads about how the money didn't mean a thing to them and it makes my brains curdle!! Horse freakin' feathers!!!!!!!!:banghead:

(And no I'm not in financial difficulties and yes I make decent money).:yeah:

Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I sure wouldn't do this job for free but I don't only do it for the money. Yes, nurses can make pretty good money but we work our butts off for it. There are some nurses who only do it for the money and it shows. Just like there are some doctors, lawyers, etc who only do their job because of the money. I could never do something I didn't like just because it paid well. I tell people all the time (when they can't figure out what career they want to pick) that they have to find something they enjoy doing. That doesn't mean you shouldn't worry about what you will get paid. Would I do this job for half of what I make? No.....but I also wouldn't do a lot of other jobs even if it meant a lot more money.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
but i read one more post where people say they aren't into nursing for the money, i am going to scream.

seriously? is anyone that naive? :confused:

nobody does work for free, out of the love of their hearts, unless they're independently wealthy and need something to do, giving back to their fellow man and all that. :smokin:

all these people who are horrified at those who do nursing or doctoring or lawyering or any other profession for the money -- really??? and you personally would do it for free because you love your fellow man so much?

don't get me wrong. i'm all for helping one's fellow human along their road of suffering and trying to help them as we are able, i've done it for years. but i would not do all the down and dirty work of nursing for someone i didn't personally love or respect for free. :no: and when they say they're not in it for the money, that's what it implies to me, that they'd do it for nothing if they had to.

anyone with an ounce of sense in their head picks a career that they have interest in and pays enough to live on!!!!! you don't see lines forming to dig ditches for free. but.... a lot of people are taking up technology type jobs - interesting, not dirty and they pay decently.

maybe i just didn't get enough caffeine this morning, but i read several posts in a couple different threads about how the money didn't mean a thing to them and it makes my brains curdle!! horse freakin' feathers!!!!!!!!:banghead:

(and no i'm not in financial difficulties and yes i make decent money).:yeah:

at the risk of seeming old and cynical, i agree with you!

Those who say they aren't in it for the money are more than likely the ones who come across as being hypocritical about other matters too.

i attended a baptist nsg school...

and recall that in the first week, one of the instructors words echo in my ears:

"YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL, AND SHOULD BE COMPENSATED AT ALL TIMES".

she was so emphatic about it, that never did i consider NOT being paid for my services.

if anything, my salary requirements have always been on the high end.

...because i'm worth it. (thanks, l'oreal;))

leslie

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I suspect that the ones who claim altruism are the first to bail out when they realize how demanding nursing really is.

Specializes in ER.

I worked with one RN many years ago in a small ER that did it to get out of the house. She and her husband were multimillionaires and she said some days he really got on her nerves so she became a nurse as an excuse to get out of the house. It was always funny when accounting would call looking for her because she hadn't cashed her last 8 or 9 paychecks. Of all the people I've worked with over my 19yrs as an ER nurse I miss her to most. Not b/c of her wealth but just her outlook on life and how she lived. I'd worked with her over a year before I knew her financial background and then it was by accident. I walked into the break room as she was writing a 1/2 million dollar check to her daughter to buy a house. I tried to get her to write me one but got a hug instead. Looking back on it, I'd take the hug over the check any day.

As far as myself, I liked the money. I traveled for the last 7yrs of my nursing career for the money. I figure if I'm going to get hit, spit on, cursed out and belittled then I might as well get paid good for it. For anybody that thinks it's a calling or altruistic to become a nurse then I invite you to mail your checks to me if money isn't that important.

Specializes in geriatrics.

I chose nursing because I wanted to help others, nursing offers diversity, and I like to travel. Of course, if the money wasn't decent, I wouldn't have bothered to take the loans and return to school. And why shouldn't nurses be compensated? We have people's lives at stake. IMO, that notion of a "calling" is a little airy- fairy.

"Nursing is probably one of the very few professions that pays a godawful amount of attention to the motivations of its members. Are you doing this for the money? Are you a nurse because you love fellow humans? Are you a nurse because you're caring?"

Same thing with Teachers. Parents want teachers to be in it for the love of the children or the love of teaching. June, July, and August, Dec., and April too are a lot of the reasons why teachers teach. They can be darn good at their job and love the kids but still have chosen the profession for the time off.

Why shouldn't nurses get paid big bucks........THEY DESERVE EVERY PENNY AND MORE!

I'm a teacher and admire nurses to the point where I honestly put them on a pedestal.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTAC, Critical Care.

I ain't even gonna lie. I got into nursing because I couldn't find anything else that payed good and offered job security. Once I got more into I discovered I actually like nursing and then decided to advance my education. I still only suffer through weekends and nights for the shift diff.

Specializes in OR, CVOR, Clinical Education, Informatic.

I actually had an instructor in nursing school who declared that there were three types of nurses: those who were "called" to nursing; "appliance" nurses (her term) who were in it for the money (presumably to buy more appliances?) and nurses who went to school because they thought that getting their RN meant they could get an MD too. (She always laughed at that little personal observation).

She made it obvious that unless you were "called" to nursing you were just taking up space in her class as far as she was concerned. That was 25 years ago and it is sad to know that we are still dealing with the same martyr mary attitudes that leave nurses vulnerable to being treated any other way than as an appropriately compensated professional.

I have always heard that the justification for high MD salary is because they have so much debt from school. If that is the logic then compensation for nurses needs to be looked at across the board....I'm due a raise!

Specializes in geriatrics.

I wonder, how is it exactly that nurses are "called"? And if so, does that imply that they don't need to be paid, or will work for a stipend? Not in this day, I'm sure.

Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.
"Nursing is probably one of the very few professions that pays a godawful amount of attention to the motivations of its members. Are you doing this for the money? Are you a nurse because you love fellow humans? Are you a nurse because you're caring?"

Same thing with Teachers. Parents want teachers to be in it for the love of the children or the love of teaching. June, July, and August, Dec., and April too are a lot of the reasons why teachers teach. They can be darn good at their job and love the kids but still have chosen the profession for the time off.

Why shouldn't nurses get paid big bucks........THEY DESERVE EVERY PENNY AND MORE!

I'm a teacher and admire nurses to the point where I honestly put them on a pedestal.

I'm an elementary school nurse--the best of both worlds!! :-) LOVE LOVE LOVE my job!

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