"Some people have a job. We have a calling."

[Irish_Mist]

I was driving to work early this morning and happened to notice a billboard advertising a quite large hospital system in my area. "Some people have a job. We have a calling." It got me thinking about this website. It seems to be a constant debate on various topics throughout All Nurses. Does your place of employment insist jobs within healthcare require a calling? Do you think it is a calling? What do you think about this large hospital system using this line of thinking in the form of advertising?

[fetch, BSN, RN]

I admit it -- in my job interview for school nurse, I said I felt "called" to it. Really I felt called to the schedule matching my wife's! But I didn't want to admit that. In reality though, I agree: nursing is a career, and if you feel called to it, more power to you. But I don't think that's the majority of nurses, and I don't think it should be thought of as the norm.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

another dissident here....

I can't say I had "a calling" all along. But I do think I had the nature to be a nurse. You should nurture your nature if you really want to be happy. I looked into nursing because my dad said I would be a nurse (long line family of nurses)...it was a "good job so you never have to depend on anyone for your support". (I miss you Daddy) I was a young high school graduate and I was 16 when I was admitted into nursing school. My first year instructor told me I would never make a good nurse because I was too independent and not a good team player....little did she know...LOL.

But when it was all said and done after 35 years I can't think of anything else I would rather be...nothing else I'd rather do...but be a nurse. I love my patients...even the ones that drive you crazy. I LOVE critical care and emergency medicine. While the frequent flyers and local drunks can be frustrating...I love going to work...I love being a nurse.

I love critical patients, I love teaching every day. I love the human contact. I love what I do. I always have. I love that I am privileged to be able to share in the beginning and end of life. Yes, I have had days when I thought maybe the food service industry might be an easier choice...I would never change it for the world.

When I started nursing...we didn't make money but it was a steady job. We barely made over minimum wage. Shift diff was non existent and we worked very hard. But I loved my job...and I think it shows in my care.

I think many nurses have a "calling" so to speak. We have to have some affinity for what we do other than a paycheck because the Lord KNOWS we aren't paid nearly enough for what we do everyday. I have seen this wax and wane over the years and whenever the economy dumps and everyone flocks to nursing gor a steady job...this "I'm in it for the money" conversation occurs. When the economy imporves and people can find jobs that pay as well OUTSIDE of nursing...you have the nurses left that have a certain afinity, or calling...a certain je ne sais quoi that stay

I think police officers and firefighters have an affinity for what they do...especially firefighters...who in their right mind runs into something that everyone else is running from? Someone who is a pyromaniac and has a calling.

But I am a crusty old bat....old school all the way.

[HappyWife77, BSN, RN]

I get called all the time....especially on my weekends off!

[NurseDirtyBird]

My 'calling' was, "Well someone has to do it. Blood and guts don't bother me, so I suppose I can."

[lub dub]

I have a career. I don't have a calling.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Is it a calling? For me, yes. For everyone, no. And there is nothing wrong with that.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Even if you have a calling, it is still your career

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

Sounds like an advertising slogan dreamed up by MBAs who have no idea of the debate between pre-nurses about whether or not "a calling" is necessary or even desirable. Like most advertising slogans it better off immediately forgotten. (Although some of them -- I'm thinking "Plop-plop fizz-fizz, Oh what a relief it is!" -- turn into earworms.) It's all part of the customer service mentality -- "Our hospital is better because our staff have a CALLING." I sincerely hope the pendulum soon swings the other way on THAT![/quote']

Precisely my thoughts. This billboard has MBA written all over it. As long as the hospital staff is competent, a calling isn't necessary to me. The people whining about a calling on the pre nursing board seem to fall along the lines of "I failed A&P1 5 times" yet they are still more "called" than the ones who have good grades.