Everyone wants to be a nurse...

MystyqueOne, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2012

I was just wondering if this picture of Batman was appropriate considering three mass movie theater shooting that just happened last month in Colorado.....

SunDazed, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2012

I became a nurse because of the perceived notion of job security, but not necessarily the actual take home pay. Also the flexibility to relocate and find work... and maybe a little because of multiple options for career paths, if bedside nursing wasn't as glorious as it appeared. I was a home health aide first to make sure I didn't have aversions to doing the hands on care for strangers.

I love bedside care at the med/surg level. I am glad there are other kinds of people who go into nursing though... because I don't want to work in ICU or L&D or dialysis. I don't want to be a nurse manager or director and go to meetings all day...

I appreciate a good manager who still pines quietly to do a little bedside care. Unfortunately, there are a lot of new nurses who seem eager to get the next degree, promotion, or certificate just to get as far away from the bedside as possible, as fast as possible. Envying the charge nurse position because they see it as a way to not be assigned patients...

I am not against nurses moving up. I would just hope they see the value of doing the job they agreed to do (that they are getting paid to do), and do it well. Some seem to have no ability to put the patient first.

SalineFlush · Aug 22, 2012

Well, I was a traditional college student when I obtained my nursing degree. I went straight from high school. I don't think there is any other profession that allows for more direct amelioration of the lives of others, and I wouldn't trade that aspect of the job for anything. That being said, I sure as heck wouldn't be doing this for free! There are many who pursue the field exclusively for a reasonable paycheck, and as long they are professional and care for their patients as they are supposed to do, there should be no judgement of that. Bedside nursing doesn't pay that well, and it is often unpleasant...we should be glad there are so many people willing to do it.

SusanRN82 · Aug 22, 2012

I was a nurse educator in a community college setting. We were inundated with people who were out of work and must have just woken up one morning and thought "I want to be a nurse" without even having an idea of what this really meant.

I'm not talking about the moms who had to put college and career on hold to raise kids, but people who worked in IT, in an office, or on an assembly line. It wasn't because these people weren't intelligent (they were), but some of these people had no, nada, zilch "people" (aka soft) skills. Even after some career counseling and gentle persuasion from our wonderful counselors, these people would become downright defensive if you mentioned that they might consider something not so much in the front line of care, where they could still earn a decent wage. Speaking of which, this seemed to be the primary reason that attracted people to nursing - not "caring" for others, but thinking that they could earn a great salary and have some job security.

It was helpful to require being a nursing assistant first before applying to the nursing program. At least this weeded out those folks who thought nurses didn't have to get their hands dirty (or thought they were "too posh to wash").

billyboblewis · Aug 22, 2012

I was busy but after reading the very rude comments decided to join. There are no jobs available for nurses in many areas because of the glut and the decrease in positions available. My institution is privatizing and many are losing there jobs. Some found positions elsewhere only to have those places announce closing shortly after getting their new jobs.

My sister lives in a totally different region of the country and the situation is the same there. You can hold your head high but that may not get you a job. I have been an RN for 40 years and know people almost everywhere in my area so I can squeak by. If you are just starting or have less experinece you will have plenty of problems and this is not the simpe issue that the one writer suggests.

There's a high demand in nurses. Everyone wants to become one!
Do you think this is part of the economic recession and people just needing a job that is in high demand? Or, do you think people are genuinely interested in becoming a nurse, helping others, caring for others?
If you have any tips or inside knowledge please share.
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About A Nursing Student - Nursing Cartoon Series
About A Nurse - Nursing Cartoon Series

Theguest2012 · Aug 22, 2012

so what if everyone wants to become a nurse......whats really the problem?

Shihar · Aug 22, 2012

I am appalled by the rude comments..and "holy than thou (I know more than you comments)."

KUDOS to sourpickles for keeping the high ground! This a DB for everyone!

Nobody should have to should feel threatened or ganged up on.

Keep it classy people.

SunDazed, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2012

so what if everyone wants to become a nurse......whats really the problem?

I think the biggest issue is that schools are propagating a myth that there are jobs and careers and opportuities for all takers... so bring us your tuition dollars because opportunity abounds.... when in reality there is not a shortage everyday on every unit in every hospital... that flexibility in scheduling flies out the window as soon as you agree to be a full time employee... and that the current economic issues often mean nurses work harder with fewer resources while hospital administrators cash in....

so as long as you know going into nursing that ultimate flexibility only comes after you have slogged it out a few years in a job you may not completely like, even if you do want to really be a nurse... it is even harder to slog it out if you don't really like "nursing".. and often harder on the patients because they can tell when a nurse doen't want to be there...and the harder you work and more efficient you become... the more resources they will take away... resources meaning co-workers

being a nurse usually doesn't burn nurses out.... it is all the stuff that goes along with being an employee for people who are more concerned about money than patients.... i know it is money that keeps the doors open, but the funneling of profits to hospital execs is done on the bad backs of nurses to the detriment of the culture of the place... the place being where ever you work..

as long as people go to nursing school knowing there is no guarantee they will like nursing, their job, their options... then i don't have an issue with everyone becoming a nurse... it is just incredible that people are promised something that is not even close to reality and demonstrates the widening gulf between nursing education and real world nursing

Gilead86 · Aug 23, 2012

I used to be in in finance, well audit. The salary was great, however lately all the external audits we have done those companies either go under or lay off a LOT of people. I simply decided one day I don't wish to be in a position where you tell businesses 'in order to churn a profit or make money, you lot must get rid of all these sods under you.' Honour and all that, so that's why I love Nursing. I am proud and happy of the fact how the salary is great, and there are advancement opportunities out there. I honestly don't know if there's a shortage or not as I haven't even started schooling yet (I do work as a sitter at a local nursing home for very little money so I can appreciate how grueling it is having spoken to people, and I have done rough studying before) but nonetheless, I love how caring for people can carry a good chunk of money too.

PrincessRN101 · Aug 23, 2012

Aug 18 by [COLOR=#003366]libran1984

I think most people are just wanting the paycheck. It is, perhaps, one of the highest paying entry level associate degrees available. However, many of those people will never become a nurse. Nursing schools know how to weed out the wannabes versus the truly dedicated

to me, i find the wannabe's are still getting through.

bnmekiki · Aug 23, 2012

Well I've been in healthcare for a while. I was first a CNA. I did that for several years then I thought it was back breaking and no matter where I worked it we were always short staffed the pay wasn't the best but if I worked an extra shift or two I was good. I tried getting a industrial job I can remember in the interview the guy told me that I should stick with nursing because that was the only experience I had. I thought ok well I'll do the LPN program it'll pay more and less physical well I was an LPN for even longer than I was an CNA conditions were still the same except I wanted to work more in a hospital or clinic. I wanted to get more experience and have more opportunity to do more within the healthcare field. Now I'm a RN and I'm still searching. Patient care doesn't change. Having feelings of compassion and empathy doesn't change. I've been in healthcare for almost 15 years and sure sometimes I feel like I don't get paid enough to deal with all the personalities from patients doctors families and other coworkers but at the end of the day I feel good knowing I did the best I could do to help the people I care for and most of them are appreciative and that's what matters the most. I always say to myself I have to think about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it then I say money is not everything.

There's a high demand in nurses. Everyone wants to become one!
Do you think this is part of the economic recession and people just needing a job that is in high demand? Or, do you think people are genuinely interested in becoming a nurse, helping others, caring for others?

If you have any tips or inside knowledge please share.
Click Like if you enjoyed it.
Please share this with friends and post your comments below!
Want more nursing cartoons?
About A Nursing Student - Nursing Cartoon Series
About A Nurse - Nursing Cartoon Series

xInspiredx · Aug 23, 2012

Sadly, a lot of the people who are switching into nursing now only want to pursue it due to the salary (and only that). Everyone has the same right to pursue this career, but it annoys me that these individuals don't have the right intentions. It's like they're forcing themselves to love it, but then they end up being the same ones who complain the most about the profession. Anyway, just my opinion.