Am I right or wrong

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I just had a conversation about a new job with my dad. This is my first ever job and I'm already discouraged. I'm just curious about how you guys feel about the situation and if I'm wrong.

When I had my interview they only asked me why did I want to be a cna. And hired me on spot. Without calling my references or anything. I expected them to ask more and really determine if I was a true patient advocate. today was mine and another girls orientation. The other girl was 30 minutes late. Texted. Had a couple phone calls. Fell asleep. Didn't take out her tounge ring or cover her tattoos. I don't think there is anything wrong with piercing or tattoos but i believe they should be covered or removed just because its the Code of conduct. Then the girl and I were talking and she was like ya I only want this job for the money. & that's what she told them when they interviewed her. & when we went on the tour she would stop and talk to people she knew. & wasn't paying attention to the lady giving us a tour. When you work as part of a team it isnt only about yourself. its about everyone. My dad thinks I shouldn't worry about other people because when I get money they're not sharing it with me. All I need to worry about is myself. But I don't feel like that. In a healthcare team or any team, it isn't about you. It's about everyone involved. I want to work with people who care about the patients. Not the money. It's not about the money.its about the patients health. He said if I continue to think like I'm not gonna have this job for long. I'm just upset about what my dad told me and how orientation went. he thinks i'm looking to deep into it. Has anyone else felt like this, is this common? I'm just so upset about what happened and my dads comments.

Specializes in RN.

By the way. For anyone to unequivocally state that " most of us are in it for the money" is irresponsible and unhelpful. But then again, this may be true given our present state of cultural decline, I just haven't seen the case studies to support this position.

Ahhh... You could last/ stand the test of time, it remains to be seen. 1st- our culture is a toilet, 2- most managers I've seen don't care, plain and simple. You will see several worthless co-workers over the years, our present day feel good society has fostered it, but you can be what you want. Be diplomatic, but do not make excuses for human debris that inhabit the work place. Do it for your reasons, that is still noble.

Can you please elaborate or explain your post?

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

OP, I can tell from your post that you don't have much experience in the medical field (without needing a mention), but as someone who has worked in healthcare for awhile, I can say that your feelings will change completely once you have more hands-on experience with the patients. I work as an aide, it is a tough job. I always joke that an aide's work is never finished, and in that comment rings truth.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with working for money. Hello! That is why it is called work. You want to be noble? How about you just volunteer and not take your paycheck? No? Didn't think so. I've been kicked at, punched at, spat at, called horrible names. I've been on my knees scrubbing crap off the floor several times (don't ask), working my ankles to the extreme soreness for over twelve straight hours. I've wiped many a bottom, risked contracting terrible diseases to care for a patient, and I am always juggling at least eight clients at a time, usually ten. My job is stressful and I DESERVE to be compensated for my hard work.

Don't get me wrong; I enjoy my job (for the most part), and I like helping people, but I'm a human who has needs, expenses to pay, hobbies to be enjoyed. A love of patient advocacy isn't going to get the bills paid...working hard and doing your job will. And there are days when I wonder WHY I am slaving away, being treated like crap by both patients AND nurses...and then I remember. This is a job, a SERVICE, that I am being paid to do, and at the end, I'm not here to be a martyr, but to assist the nurse in patient care (and as aides, we can only advocate so much because we are not licensed professionals. I hope you won't get disappointed).

And, to a certain extent, the girl needs some credit. She could make more money working a cushy job as a bank teller, nails polished and high heel shoes clicking, but she chose to work in a profession the requires a lot of butt-wiping and a high tolerance for abuse. She needs to be commended. Yeah, she doesn't have what you would consider honorable intentions, but at the end of the day, she picked a job that requires helping people, and for that reason she deserves no harsh judgment from you or anyone for that matter.

In short, your father is correct. Worry about YOURSELF. Quit looking down on other people (and yes, that is exactly what you are doing), and focus on being the best CNA that YOU can be. So as long as she does her job and provides safe patient care, it really is none of your concern WHY she is working the job she is working.

Specializes in ED.

I like the idea of a PRN job, its a good move and a mature decision. It also allows you to test the waters in other places even inside the hospital if you don't care for a particular type of floor such as ICU vs L&D.

Specializes in ED.

I believe for the most part that we are generally in it for the money, in that without the money we would be either in a job that is less stressful or quietly relaxing on a beach somewhere. Money talks. Not many of us would do this job for free.

OP, I can tell from your post that you don't have much experience in the medical field (without needing a mention), but as someone who has worked in healthcare for awhile, I can say that your feelings will change completely once you have more hands-on experience with the patients. I work as an aide, it is a tough job. I always joke that an aide's work is never finished, and in that comment rings truth.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with working for money. Hello! That is why it is called work. You want to be noble? How about you just volunteer and not take your paycheck? No? Didn't think so. I've been kicked at, punched at, spat at, called horrible names. I've been on my knees scrubbing crap off the floor several times (don't ask), working my ankles to the extreme soreness for over twelve straight hours. I've wiped many a bottom, risked contracting terrible diseases to care for a patient, and I am always juggling at least eight clients at a time, usually ten. My job is stressful and I DESERVE to be compensated for my hard work.

Don't get me wrong; I enjoy my job (for the most part), and I like helping people, but I'm a human who has needs, expenses to pay, hobbies to be enjoyed. A love of patient advocacy isn't going to get the bills paid...working hard and doing your job will. And there are days when I wonder WHY I am slaving away, being treated like crap by both patients AND nurses...and then I remember. This is a job, a SERVICE, that I am being paid to do, and at the end, I'm not here to be a martyr, but to assist the nurse in patient care (and as aides, we can only advocate so much because we are not licensed professionals. I hope you won't get disappointed).

And, to a certain extent, the girl needs some credit. She could make more money working a cushy job as a bank teller, nails polished and high heel shoes clicking, but she chose to work in a profession the requires a lot of butt-wiping and a high tolerance for abuse. She needs to be commended. Yeah, she doesn't have what you would consider honorable intentions, but at the end of the day, she picked a job that requires helping people, and for that reason she deserves no harsh judgment from you or anyone for that matter.

In short, your father is correct. Worry about YOURSELF. Quit looking down on other people (and yes, that is exactly what you are doing), and focus on being the best CNA that YOU can be. So as long as she does her job and provides safe patient care, it really is none of your concern WHY she is working the job she is working.

I stated my opinion on covering tattoos, piercings and working for the sole reason of money. I don't think its enjoyable to have a job you dislike and only looking forward to the money.(I'm sure some people do) I don't recall saying it was wrong or looking down upon people who do. It is simply not my intentions to hold a job that I dread. I stated what happened my first day, hoping to realize if this is common. You are correct it is none of my concern why anyone comes to work. I would never walk around a facility and ask "Why do you come to work". However, she asked me first and I followed up with a how about you. Yes, I was surprised at her answer because I was told (by my nursing instructor) healthcare isn't the right job if you only care about money and not the patients. I also was taught that this is an answer you never tell the person who is interviewing you. So I decided to ask if this was common in facilities (or if my teacher misguided me) while giving information about my day/experiences. I'm not looking down upon people who do, that is their decision.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I stated my opinion on covering tattoos, piercings and working for the sole reason of money. I don't think its enjoyable to have a job you dislike and only looking forward to the money.(I'm sure some people do) I don't recall saying it was wrong or looking down upon people who do. It is simply not my intentions to hold a job that I dread. I stated what happened my first day, hoping to realize if this is common. You are correct it is none of my concern why anyone comes to work. I would never walk around a facility and ask "Why do you come to work". However, she asked me first and I followed up with a how about you. Yes, I was surprised at her answer because I was told (by my nursing instructor) healthcare isn't the right job if you only care about money and not the patients. I also was taught that this is an answer you never tell the person who is interviewing you. So I decided to ask if this was common in facilities (or if my teacher misguided me) while giving information about my day/experiences. I'm not looking down upon people who do, that is their decision.

Your teacher did not misguide you.....if you are in this solely for the money you will be quickly disillusioned for the money is not that good for the work that we do. She will find out very quickly that those of us in healthcare are NOT compensated enough for what we do...however it beats McDonalds.

Healthcare is all about the patients...but you will find throughout your career you will come across those people who a miserable no matter what and who went to school strictly for the money for what other profession can you go to school for 2 years and make approx $25.00 an hour (before the surplus of nurses hit because now as high as 47% of college grads including nurses are unemployed including nurses.).......only to discover that they HATE their job and the patients but they are stuck with student debt.

Unfortunately, those are the ones who go back to school to get away from it and become your boss.

You are going to find very well dressed professionals with that same poor attitude and I will tell you, as a nurse and patient, that even they have bad attitudes and are disrespectful and I will tell you I have give given classes in the hospital where half of the nurses are smacking their gum and texting their friends it takes every ounce of my self control not to destroy their stupid phones and tell them to spit out their gum if they can't chew with their mouth shut!

That is unfortunately the reality.

I have also worked with some tatted and pierced nurses and CNA's that are the smartest and most caring individuals I have ever met...so it is difficult to judge a book by it's cover.

It is however easy to judge what comes out of their mouth....this fellow employee probably won't last very long. If she does you probably wont because places that condone this behavior are usually not nice places to work for people who care....and you will leave to find a better job.

But is is not your responsibility to deal with her or change her. Just avoid her and take care of your self. In this case your Dad is right.

I wish you the best :inlove:

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