Nursing is pathetic...

vawoman123 · May 21, 2000

i dont think nursing is what it use to be. i have always wanted to be a nurse, cause i like careing for people, but not when you work shorthanded and the patients are not getting all the care they should.you tell administration, and still no extra help. they want you to do all this work with less workers, and then wonder why everything is not done. they are running nurses into the ground.

RN2002 · May 28, 2000

Originally posted by jbresolin:
The last post poingnant- as nurses we can all relate to the value of trying to enjoy and live each day to the fullest. To MIRN, Nurse Dude, and Kate I have been a nurse for 12 yrs. (before that I was a welder for 10 yrs.) I make 35.66 benefitted and would make over $40/hr without benefits. I am thankful for the struggles of CNA to help ensure a decent wage (I participate in political action). I returned to school for MSN/FNP and expect to make less. Community clinics pay $30/hr with benefits which is considered good. Planned Parenthood pays $20/hr for FNPs. Benefits and work load are negotiated by the FNP. Education may sustain interest in your career, but in a materialistic culture it is hard to appreciate the benefits of education in nursing. We must recognize the importance of personal values and context in answering the question of nursing as a career. I remember making more as a welder than my brother -in -law who had a PhD. He went back for an MBA in his field and does much better financially in marketing and development. I wonder if there will be comparable benefits to getting a graduate degree in nursing? I do appreciate the flexability in scheduling that nurses have, it has enabled me to volunteer, go to school and have time off whenever I need it. Both sides have valid points to make, nursing is a hard job and sometimes the efforts we make are not rewarded. I had heard that it was difficult before I started out but I was idealistic. I think I still have some of that but each person has their limitations. Perhaps a prospective nurse would benefit from interviewing and following nurses on the job before embarking on the educational process.

JBRESOLIN, thank-you! I did just that. I am in my mid-thirties and 'followed' several of my close friends on the job BEFORE finally deciding to become a RN. I, also feel that too many nurse wannabes go into the profession planning on making big bucks. Wrong! If you don't love and respect your career/profession, no amount of money will make you 'truly' happy. I am extremely excited and proud about my new profession. I will be entering into the profession with realistic expectations thanks to my friends and my taking the time to 'check it out'.

Julie, RN · May 28, 2000

Hello All Nurses!

Yes, I would recommend nursing as a career!

Especially military nursing, I was a medic in the military for 4 years before I became a nurse. I have to say that in my opinion, nurses are treated with much more respect in the military than in some civilian agencies. They are also very supportive of continuing your education and career advancement. I feel lucky to be in a field with so many different job opportunities. I do agree though, that the military, just as nursing, is not for everyone.

This is just my 2 cents......

lita1857 · May 28, 2000

my 2 cents...would not do this again, been a nurse 23yrs (half my life)would not recomend it to anyone. I believe nurses should be paid what they are worth-combination of education/skill/experience etc. I don't think just because you value yourself and your career that it's money grubbing...If I could start with a number I'd say $50 for RN, 4yr degree of some kind required, but I'm open to business/teaching etc.$75 for masters/NP per hour.$25 for LPN and $15-20 for CNA bet we'd get the best and brightest doing their best work from everyone plus decent work conditions.nursedude you got the fur flying(that's a good thing)I enjoyed all the food for thought from everyone.oramar, I left the bedside to do what I could to change circustances- so don't feel alone, next I will leave the profession. I can't change others behavior only my own. I value me and my work so I'll just find another arena to still "care for people" and get my fix.

angelm97m · Jun 1, 2000

hey nursedude, and all others:

it's too bad that nursing isn't better when it comes to benefits and salary, etc,i agree, but you know what? i wouldn't give nursing up for the world. i've had this calling to help people as far back as i can remember. it's not the "career" that i want, i would do it for free. i've always wanted to make a difference in somebody's life, so with my nursing job, that's what i've set out to do. Hey nursedude, it's too bad, that you don't realize what a difference you can make. Think of what you have done in the past, whether you have felt appreciated or not. to think that, i have helped somebody's grandmother, son, niece, father, etc, is all that i need to get me out of the bed in the morning. i don't want to go drilling holes in the ground, or sitting down at a computer doing somebody's math problems all day long, no matter how much money they are willing to pay me. i know that deep in my heart, that my job in this world is to help others enjoy their life, and it's too bad that you don't see the gift that you have. maybe you should go do construction work so you can go home everyday, and say "yeah!! i made a whole in the ground today!" that ought to make you feel a whole lot better, live a better life, and we shall never hear you whine again!

deathnurse · Jun 8, 2000

Wanna' buy a bridge?

deathnurse · Jun 8, 2000

I see from your "profile" that you are a CNA. Great. That's just great.

nursedude · Jun 9, 2000

You know,

I originally posted this topic "Nursing is pathetic" a pretty long time ago under the "Would you recomend nursing as a career?"

So many people who have responded to me seem to be SO upset that I took the stand that I did.... SO many people feel that "Helping people is their calling" and well, that's great but that's not what this forum is about...I could understand why so many people would take offense to what I originally said had I posted under the topic "Would you recomend helping people as a career" or "Would you recomend helping people as a calling?".... Brian asked "would you recomend NURSING as a CAREER?" not "would you recomend nursing as a CALLING?"

Hello? Wake up Susie nurse. Wake up Florence Nightingale...The profession known as nursing is a sham! How is it that a calling such as "nursing" is nothing more than a thankless profession, yet the (same) calling (helping people) that hits people who become physicians are regarded as "elite" and "vital" professionals in health care? For crying out loud! When will the majority of nursing professionals wake up from the deep denial that they are in? When will you realize that yo are being sold short? When will nurses decide to drop the martyr mentality and accept the fact that they are being replaced by other less qualified people? When will nursing professionals realize that they are viewed as "the ugly stepsisters" in healthcare? A necessary burden on the revenue of healthcare dollars?

So there are my opinions....Maybe I am a pessimist, maybe I am burned out, maybe I am wrong but I beg your pardon. I think that nursing is crashing and burning before or eyes and for some reason the majority of nurses out there cannot or will not see this.

What do you say? Let's all give it another 5 maybe 10 years. Do you think that in 5 or 10 years that healthcare is going to improve? Do you think that the era of HMO's and Managed care will give way and return to a fee for service based platform OR do you think healthcare budgets will shrink even more, that HMO's will reimburse less and less, that medicaire will cut back further? Based on that, how do you think that will affect nurses salaries? How then, do you think that will affect the quality of nursing care?

Come on. Wake up and see the writing on the wall nurses! It is clear! We are nearing the end of "Professional Nursing" as we know it!

All replies welcomed...

lita1857 · Jun 10, 2000

I agree 100%...takes guts to admit it nursedude/saying it like it is well it's harsh...but truth be told you are right on the money.There are two groups in nursing Pollyanna's and well the group no one talks about and tries to shut up. I for one am not interested in being a martyr, don't have that rescue syndrome, want to enable w/ caretaking blah, blah. I want to use my brains, push the envelope, be a valued member and recieve compensation appropriate to education and skill.

sonnie · Jul 8, 2000

Would I recommend Nursing as a career? YES!! Having been a RN for 13 years and a CNA before that you can bet your bottom dollar I would if and only if the person I was recommending it to was sincere. I would be honest and tell them about the hours and the pay. I would also tell them of the rewards of seeing a new life come into the world, of comforting a spouse who just lost the love of their life. The good with the bad. I guess you could call me one of the pathetic ones, but I am very very lucky. I work in a small hospital (40 beds total) as an Assistant Director of Nursing. OHHHH NO not management!!! I can here most of you screaming! Let me walk you through my day. 23:00 Report time and make assignments for my coworkers ( 1 CNA and 3 RN's one of which will work ER) After report I make rounds with the CNA and help her take vitals if needed and/or help evening shift get things together to get them out of there on time. Then I retreat to my spacious office which I share with Social Services and the ADN on evening shift. The office is 8x10 and just holds the community computer and desk. This is when I switch hats and become either the Infection Control Nurse or Staff Development Coordinator. At about 3:00 I start getting people off to breaks (which some don't want to take!!!) Sometimes depending on the staff mix and the patient load I labor a patient or help the CNA make rounds on the patients to turn, fluff and puff. I also must answer the doctors answering service and pass on calls and check to see that staffing is adequate for the next shift. Each month I review approximately 30 -40 charts for infection control and QA, and I am responsable for Nursing's yearly competecies. 7:00 comes and I'm not done yet I need to call all the people who I cannot call in the middle of the night and check with medical records for missed reviews. I usually get out of the hospital by 8:00. I am not complaining I wouldn't give up my job for anything I love the diversity and I am soooo glad that there are nurses who want to work in the larger hospitals because I would definately go crazy there. My pay? $23.25/hr salary no overtime but I do get 3 weekends off a month. (weekend call is shared by our DNS, Social Service, and the other ADN) I have known other nurses who have left nursing to find the perfect job and have returned with their cap in their hands because the other jobs were very similar or worse. So those who want to go into nursing GO!!those who don't, don't those who want the mega bucks become a professional ball player of somekind perferably in the NBA. Then maybe you will get paid what you are worth.

cynthia L. Green · Jul 11, 2000

First ? . . . do you have a BSN?

Why then don't you get out of acute care and go into medical sales or something that has more monetary reward? There are many avenues you can take nursing with different levels of rewards. If you have a BSN, you can get any job you want, even if it has nothing to do with nursing. Your skills used encompass any industry and you will get hired on the spot, and revered by your coworkers for having so much experience.

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biscuit · Jul 12, 2000

Originally posted by mirn:
If we are "pathetic" , "ignorant" and "make you laugh" , perhaps it is time you find others with whom to share your opinions and let us continue with our camaraderie...

I think you missed our point that we would recommend nursing as a career IF you are dedicated to patients and not dedicated to chasing the almighty big dollar.

I don't know where nursedude works (geographically), but where I come from, nurses are quite well-paid...upwards of $25-$30 per hr. in most areas, and we are experiencing a shortage, which means large sign on bonuses for many new employees.

where are you located.Curious.

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