A calling to help others but give me a good paycheck

[runningcrazy]

I have the want to help my patients, and I respect their dignity. I don't like not having a raise in two years, and I don't like the shrinking bottom line of money. I have heard chatter of well I am not in this for the money, and I am only hear to help others.....

I call these statements drivel. Everyone needs to eat, pay mortgage, have gas money to get to work....so please don't devalue what you do by saying I don't need a good paycheck....

Decent pay for a day's work

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

duskyjewel said:

As a person who is currently being shoved along the nursing path by the good Lord, I can understand why some might feel it as a calling. Personally, I feel much about it as you do, but never expected to enter nursing. It wasn't a path I ever considered, but during a long stretch when I was miserable as a CNA, casting around for any other job, and constantly praying for guidance, I kept being directed to stay where I am and move up. Over and over. When it came to applying for school, even then I was balking and unsure, but whenever I did something to work on that app, even when it cost me money I could ill afford, I felt at peace and like I was doing what I'm supposed to. As I wait, the desire for school grows, but I'm still not one of these people who will just die if I never become a nurse. I'm being pushed, and I have to trust that there is a reason.

It's difficult for a person of faith to explain this to a nonbeliever. God still reaches out, but people who refuse to be open and accept that will have a hard time understanding how powerful the influence can be for those of us who seek it. We have the gift of free will, so God doesn't force it, which means that those who don't hear or feel these promptings will have a hard time understanding. Heck, even those of us who do, who beg for guidance and want to be prompted, don't understand clearly a lot of the time.

The irony here is that I am NOT a "non-believer"; I consider myself a person of faith as much as you do, it seems. While I could take offense at the idea that disbelieving in the pursuit of nursing as a 'calling' of a divine nature equals disbelief in a higher power, I won't because I do understand where you're coming from. ?

The thing is, just because something feels right, we pray about it and it seems this is something we just should do (whatever "it" is), why is that a 'calling' to some people?

In other words, if I were a student taking courses in computer repair, and I wasn't sure if I should do it but just felt I ought to keep at it until I'm done....would anyone in their right mind consider that 'a calling'? Not likely.

It's specifically because nurses are seen as "Angels of Mercy" that what we do, because we do it, we MUST be 'called' to do it. And that's what I rebel against.

I did it because it felt right, but I would absolutely not give any credence to the idea that I did it because G-d told me to!

[duskyjewel]

Oh yeah, I hate our when people call us angels. I get that they mean it as a compliment, but we're human beings not angels. We're not perfect.

Do you believe that God ever calls people to their professions? Most of us won't be like the OT prophets, with light and wind and obvious directions, but there are more subtle ways.

Sorry if I offended you, didn't mean to. I took it as a given that a person of faith would accept the idea that God calls some people to certain paths. You learn something every day. :)

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

duskyjewel said:

Oh yeah, I hate our when people call us angels. I get that they mean it as a compliment, but we're human beings not angels. We're not perfect.

Do you believe that God ever calls people to their professions? Most of us won't be like the OT prophets, with light and wind and obvious directions, but there are more subtle ways.

Sorry if I offended you, didn't mean to. I took it as a given that a person of faith would accept the idea that God calls some people to certain paths. You learn something every day. ?

You DIDN'T offend me, as I understand your point. I was just noting that disbelieving in the concept of a 'calling' to ANY job that isn't religious in nature doesn't mean one doesn't believe IN religion.

I haven't really thought about it, but since you asked, I guess I'd have to say that NO, I don't believe G-d calls anyone to do anything. I think that through thought, meditation, prayer, one comes to understand what he or she should do next about any given situation. But I don't suppose I believe in the idea that G-d 'calls' (tells, directs) anyone towards a career path. The exception, I suppose, might be those who feel that they should be nuns, rabbis, priests.....and even then I don't know that I'd consider it G-D's telling this person what he or she should do, but rather the person himself arriving at that conclusion.

I'm more likely to believe that praying for clarity of mind, the ability to make a good and appropriate choice, is more of use than praying to be told what to do.

I believe that G-d gave us brains and hearts and freethinking processes to make these decisions for ourselves.....and that He doesn't TELL us the answer because we prayed on it. But that's my take on it, and of course YMMV!

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

RNsRWe said:

For those that feel that nursing is a calling, that they were 'called'......who called you?

People feel 'called' to become members of the clergy, or religious orders in general, by what they feel is a higher power. The 'call' comes as an urge from a diety.

I chose nursing because I thought I'd be good at it, that the type of work was something I was well-suited for, and I liked the concept of flexible scheduling for work (oftentimes, in my nursing hx, more 'concept' than reality!).

I honestly am puzzled at the idea of a 'calling' to nursing, as to me that just invokes the idea that if someone really wants to be a nurse, they must be 'called' to it, some kind of Heavenly Directive they felt they had no power to disobey. No....I just really wanted to do it. No supernatural oversight, IMHO.

Why can't people just say "I really wanted to be a nurse, I knew it was something I wanted to do" rather than insist they 'heard a calling'?

Why would it bother you if people say "it was a calling"? When I tell people that, I explain that, no I didn't hear God's audible voice, but I believe this was my purpose for my life. It seems that when people mention God, people get offended.

[caliotter3]

I got a raise one time as a reward for my job performance. Other than that, have not received raises above the standard range doing home health. My pay rate has been decreased though. When medicaid drops their reimbursement rates, good things happen! When I have become irate over finding out someone else was getting paid more than me, when I had been told everyone of the same level were being paid the same, my option? Go away. Employers know what they can get away with and what is necessary to obtain and retain those that they want in their organization.

[duskyjewel]

I know we're getting off on a tangent, but I wonder then what you think God's role is? Distant but uninvolved director? Many talk of a personal relationship with Jesus, which is impossible if He's not personally invested in each of us as individuals. I guess we can't really hash this out here, just giving some food for thought.

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

duskyjewel said:

I know we're getting off on a tangent, but I wonder then what you think God's role is? Distant but uninvolved director? Many talk of a personal relationship with Jesus, which is impossible if He's not personally invested in each of us as individuals. I guess we can't really hash this out here, just giving some food for thought.

He is not distant. He is very involved in my life and others' lives. Jesus IS personally invested in everyone who wants Him around. You don't want to hash this out yet you decided to respond, not about the topic at hand, but of a portion of my comment. If you don't believe in God or Jesus, then that's your prerogative. Don't assume something you OBVIOUSLY know nothing about. K? Thanks. ?

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Ok...what happened?

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

LadyFree28 said:

Ok...what happened?

People just getting annoyed at the word "calling" and essentially implying that those who believe that they were called/purpose in life is to nurse are ridiculous. We all have opinions, but in all honesty I was raised to respect one's belief whether they're in tune with mine or not. Not many others agree...

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

MariposaLPN said:

People just getting annoyed at the word "calling" and essentially implying that those who believe that they were called/purpose in life is to nurse are ridiculous. We all have opinions, but in all honesty I was raised to respect one's belief whether they're in tune with mine or not. Not many others agree...

Are we looking at the same forum; because it didn't seem as people were getting annoyed; maybe I'm missing something but I thought the thread was going pretty well...

[duskyjewel]

MariposaLPN said:

He is not distant. He is very involved in my life and others' lives. Jesus IS personally invested in everyone who wants Him around. You don't want to hash this out yet you decided to respond, not about the topic at hand, but of a portion of my comment. If you don't believe in God or Jesus, then that's your prerogative. Don't assume something you OBVIOUSLY know nothing about. K? Thanks. ?

My question was directed at RNsRWe, since she was the one with whom I was discussing the concept of "calling."

Did you even read my previous post on this thread about how I am feeling "called"? (Obviously not, since you seem to think I don't believe in God and know nothing about faith.) I am a practicing Catholic, so I assure you that while I have much to learn and improve upon, I know quite a bit about relationship with God.

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

duskyjewel said:

My question was directed at RNsRWe, since she was the one with whom I was discussing the concept of "calling."

Did you even read my previous post on this thread about how I am feeling "called"? (Obviously not, since you seem to think I don't believe in God and know nothing about faith.) I am a practicing Catholic, so I assure you that while I have much to learn and improve upon, I know quite a bit about relationship with God.

Then my apologies. I read every post but the tone is extremely difficult to interpret. It was directly after my post and no quote was included. I guess I'm just burning up seeing as I've gotten a few messages by PM quite literally bashing me. Already been reported but it's making me not want to be part of this site, sadly.