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

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

MariposaLPN said:

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.

Whenever I see a poster or a post that may be of an inflammatory nature, despite the differencing of opinion directed at me, I ALWAYS have my siggy line:

"DON'T go in with a chip, come with a bat, and use it when necessary."

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

LadyFree28 said:

Whenever I see a poster or a post that may be of an inflammatory nature, despite the differencing of opinion directed at me, I ALWAYS have my siggy line:

"DON'T go in with a chip, come with a bat, and use it when necessary."

Lol. Your siggy made me giggle. ? thanks for that.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Your welcome.

Oh it goes both ways, even back at me; so I try to have brevity and levity as much as the Internet will allow a mere mortal to have.

[Radnurse54]

I do not believe the word "rediculous" was used to refer to people who think they are in nursing as a calling. I may be a little wrong here but it seems some projecting is going on here (also a psych nurse in my past life). I believe it is important that we are open to what others have to say, even if we disagree even strongly so, how can we say that we understand a point of view if we havent looked at as many sides as we can, with an open mind.

MariposaLPN, I applaud your passion, but perhaps your experience has been that when people disagree with you they are talking badly about you. This is not the case here. There are nurses with a vast array of experience here, we all came to be nurses for many reasons, each of them our own. I celebrate your choosing to be a nurse in the way you have chosen, it just isnt the same for all of us.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

WHOA! Mariposa, with all due respect I think you went WAY off on a limb here....no one was disrespecting anyone. I for one never suggested anyone was "ridiculous" for stating that they felt nursing was a 'calling'. I DID say that I don't understand it, that the concept of it puzzles me, as I relate the term 'a calling' with a religious experience. And not everyone who honors religious convictions (and personally holds them) believes in this phrasing as appropriate. I happen to be one. That is ALL that was being discussed.

Since the comment/question about having a personal relationship with Jesus was directed my way, I can answer that now: I have NO personal relationship with Jesus, therefore require no input from him in my life or decisions. I don't mean to provoke anyone who does have this relationship, that's great, but in no way is my religious faith affected by Jesus one way or the other. G-d, I believe, IS present in my life, but no I don't believe that He makes my decisions for me ('calls' to me); I believe He has given me the ability to make my own choices, good and bad.

Maybe that should be the end of that line of discussion, as it seems to be derailing the thread!

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

RNsRWe said:

WHOA! Mariposa, with all due respect I think you went WAY off on a limb here....no one was disrespecting anyone. I for one never suggested anyone was "ridiculous" for stating that they felt nursing was a 'calling'. I DID say that I don't understand it, that the concept of it puzzles me, as I relate the term 'a calling' with a religious experience. And not everyone who honors religious convictions (and personally holds them) believes in this phrasing as appropriate. I happen to be one. That is ALL that was being discussed.

Since the comment/question about having a personal relationship with Jesus was directed my way, I can answer that now: I have NO personal relationship with Jesus, therefore require no input from him in my life or decisions. I don't mean to provoke anyone who does have this relationship, that's great, but in no way is my religious faith affected by Jesus one way or the other. G-d, I believe, IS present in my life, but no I don't believe that He makes my decisions for me ('calls' to me); I believe He has given me the ability to make my own choices, good and bad.

Maybe that should be the end of that line of discussion, as it seems to be derailing the thread!

I didn't say YOU claimed that it was ridiculous. Your name was never used.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Just tried to ease things, since you were upset. That's all.

Carry on.

[ButterflyRN90, ASN, RN]

Radnurse54 said:

I do not believe the word "rediculous" was used to refer to people who think they are in nursing as a calling. I may be a little wrong here but it seems some projecting is going on here (also a psych nurse in my past life). I believe it is important that we are open to what others have to say, even if we disagree even strongly so, how can we say that we understand a point of view if we havent looked at as many sides as we can, with an open mind.

MariposaLPN, I applaud your passion, but perhaps your experience has been that when people disagree with you they are talking badly about you. This is not the case here. There are nurses with a vast array of experience here, we all came to be nurses for many reasons, each of them our own. I celebrate your choosing to be a nurse in the way you have chosen, it just isnt the same for all of us.

No. Some disagree and that's fine. They're entitled to, but I've been ridiculed personally, by PM and post. Disagreeing is fine, but there are some people that do and have personally trolled me. That's all...

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Ruby Vee said:

No raise here -- even if we were getting them hospital wide, I'm at the top of my pay scale. It's ageism, I say!

oh, Ruby, do I ever understand that ? .

[Radnurse54]

I am of the same opinion, about pushing out those of us with long time experience for no other reason that they dont want to have to pay us. Here is the problem with that thinking, eventually there wont be anyone left for mentoring......no one who "has seen it all" and knows other ways to deal with it.....we will have a derth of experience and those who are going to feel the loss the most will be the patients. That being said, please dont send me hate posts because you have been a nurse for

[anon456, BSN, RN]

Radnurse54 said:

I am confused about the comment that what we do is a calling. Let me be clear I am not a nun. This is a career, NOT a calling, thats just an excuse to make nurses feel bad for asking what would be asked for in any other profession. You want me to know you appreciate what I do, then pay me. I never thought I would be the kind of nurse who did her job for money, but here I am and I dont feel bad about my choice at all.

You are right! Teachers have a calling, too, and it's common knowledge that they deserve more pay.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Here is my question to everyone. There are many jobs that offer a higher salary than nursing. So why choose nursing if it is only for the pay check? Why not do something else that cost more ? My husband has a four year degree working in web design and make way more than I do, better hours and less stress. As a matter of fact, his degree four year degree in buisness did not get him his career, a short 2 year program did. Just curious as to why some people choose nursing over other higher paying jobs.