Am I too shallow to be a nurse?

KellRrn2b · Jun 7, 2009

well, i wont lie, i cannot fathom going into nursing just for the reasons you listed (well... I guess I should say the order of the reasons u listed). However, i must say that I know numerous people who only picked a certain profession "for the money". My opinion is that nursing is the last field a person should pursue "just" for the money...i am just about to start nursing school but I work in a childrens hospital as a nurses aide. I see PLENTLY of mean and anal nurses and sometimes i wonder if they are the ones who are only "doing it for the money"...another thought of mine is that perhaps you will enter nursing and have a touching experience that will change your inspiration in the field. Perhaps it will take saving someones life or child to see how important the role of a nurse is ...and how serious you should take it. This all is just my opinion and I am not at all saying that nurses who only entered this field for superficial reasons are bad nurses. Afterall, nursing is many things. It requires a good bedside manner, problem solving, couseling, babysitting, nursing skills (obviously), and a many other things that i think are only learned by experience. Like i said, im not a nurse yet BUT i work with them and observe the good and the not so good. Also, I am the mother of a preemie...my daughter was born at 24 weeks and I truly was inspired to pursue nursing because of her story. She was in the NICU for 4 long months and has had 5 brain surgeries. I will never forget the nurse that let me hold my daughter for the first time when my daughter was 31 days old. I will never forget the nurse that taught me how to give my baby a bath (its totally different giving a 2 lb baby a bath that is intubated with wires and IV all over her body.) GOOD nurses do things that effect someones life...and the lives of their families. GOOD nurses sometimes will always be in the hearts of their patients and families. I pray you will be a good nurse....

just my 2 cents..good luck

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Jun 7, 2009

At the risk of getting blasted with insults from all of you in the nursing community, I'm just going to be honest. I am thinking about becoming a male RN. But my reasons for becoming a nurse are pretty selfish and are the following in no particular order: Excellent work schedule, good money, great opportunities for advancement, relatively short training, beautiful female nurses, travel opportunities, and ofcourse helping people. However, I'm honestly afraid that I may not be a good enough human being to do the job of a nurse. I'm already a germophobe, I'm really not a big fan of bodily fluids, and most of all I have a hard time dealing with vommit and excrement of my own family, let alone perfect strangers. I don't even like changing diapers. With my personality, I also unfortunately will likely retaliate to all those old school nurses who like to "eat their young" and will probably cause drama by standing up for myself. And finally adding to that my ego and insecurity is not looking forward to the "male nurse" title. Ya ya I know, how dare me and I'm a total jerk...but its true.
Was anyone like me before they went into nursing? Did nursing make you a better person or did you already have the personality and compassion of a nurse before you went into it?
Thank You

Well For all of your reasons you give. I would have to say no stay out of nursing you are too shallow.

nurseforlife · Jun 7, 2009

Are you wanting to work in a Hospital? You'll probably not like it based on what you've said. This is no picnik. You have people who depend on you, and your all they've got. Last time i checked "Germs are everywhere+++. Blood, vomit, sputum, urine, stool, nasal secretions you name it... Its all around you"!

allthingsbright · Jun 7, 2009

Well, I think that the act of "thinking about being too shallow" may just preclude you from being too shallow...

That said, I don't think your reasons for wanting to go into nursing are going to keep you from burning out. Seriously, if you don't feel passionate about caring for people then I wouldn't recommend the emotionally, physically and intellectually challenging field of nursing. In the end, it won't be worth it to you. The money ain't that great, the nurses ain't that pretty, and the body fluids will always be in abundance.

That said, you won't be alone in going into nursing for those reasons. If you do, I would suggest the ED, telemetry or cardiac cath.

Oh, and I also believe the old school nurses who are eating their young are usually just burnt out--probably because they either went into nursing for the wrong reason or have since then lost their love for it. I haven't run into many of them because I think they've left the field...

Best wishes!

mommiof2kids · Jun 7, 2009

I think that you are approaching the choice of nursing from the view of a man. Cut and dry, straight to the point. Yes, you can make a good living being a nurse. Yes, the schedule is flexible. The training, depending on what degree you're looking at, can be fairly quick. However, let's give you a little reality check. Nursing is a physically taxing, emotionally draining and mentally challenging job like no other. You take care of your patient but also their family. You are not just "the nurse" you are, the housekeeper, secretary, dietician, pastor, counselor, respiratory therapist and activity director. Multi-tasking is mandatory, critical thinking will keep your patient alive, diplomacy will help you in not getting "fired" by a patient and patience will help you all around. There are no room for egos in nursing. If you think you're up for the challenge then I say go for it. If it's your life dream and passion to be a nurse then go for it. If you're just in it for the money....good luck. You're gonna get your a#@ kicked.

feralnostalgia · Jun 7, 2009

thoughts: I don't think any of us enjoy changing diapers or seek out bodily fluids when we're not getting paid for it.

the only thing I personally have a problem with in your above list of reasons is "beautiful female nurses." I'd never want to work with anyone who wanted to treat my female coworkers as eye candy, or thought it was appropriate to hit on people who were trying to work...particularly when that work is something as important and involved as nursing. women are not sex objects and don't need to be listed along with cash as a workplace benefit. even if you choose a completely different career path you best get that through your head as quick as possible.

nurses deal with life and death on a regular basis, have physically and intellectually demanding jobs, deal with some of the most disgusting things around, and have to have a huge amount of stamina. how that's less "manly" than some office job is beyond me...but I'm queer and the "logic" of sexist machismo-obsessed straight guys is beyond me to begin with. if they're dumb enough to have those hang ups, how are they worth your time to begin with?

Straydandelion · Jun 7, 2009

No, nursing doesn't make you a better person however may bring out the "better person" in you. Simply that you are questioning your personality for nursing seems to me a good start. However, some of your reasons IMO are flawed. If you compare salary of nurses after a few years vs salary of other employees, you will probably find that even though those others started at a lower level, percentage-wise they have advanced beyond what a typical floor nurse will make. As far as a chance for advancement, realistically you probably have a better one then your female counterpart, males getting promoted quicker, at least in my limited experience, however some depends on your schooling also. I guess your reasoning for going into nursing are better then mine, unable to decide on anything else at the time *blushes*. I wish you luck in whatever choice you make!

oramar · Jun 7, 2009

I got bad news for you bub. The schedules are lousy, the pay is OK, most female nurses are chubby grandmothers like me.

John20 · Jun 7, 2009

"Most nurses are chubby grandmothers", I love it. Very true. As a male, I'd say less than 10% of the nursing field is the media projected hot nymphettes. There are a lot of very nice looking M*LF types if you are happily married like me and just like some eye soothing between patients.

You will probably adjust to body fluids if you want to. You have to be willing to make the effort to or you will fail. Also, if you are too weak to ignore melodramatic co-workers you will hate this field. Hate to say, but lots of young women in small spaces= lots of interpersonal clicks and conflicts.

Knoodsen · Jun 7, 2009

I've done "male nursing" for a good while now. (You will have to accept that label; it's a female-dominated profession.) Lots of problem nurses fall by the wayside, but none, that I know of, ran into trouble for being "shallow". There is no reason you should not become a nurse. The fact that you are thinking of it indicates some level of interest, right? But, keep thinking. I get what I need from nursing, but it can be terribly frustrating.... on many levels. Healthcare is a dysfunctional business. Most employers treat their employees much better than you will be by hospitals. As for the money, I think that we are underpaid and overworked. As for the germs and fluids, they're on you!!!! Here are my two cents: A germaphobe with an aversion to bodily fluids may want to consider alternative endeavors.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jun 7, 2009

i would suggest taking a CNA course first. it's usually about 8 weeks or so. they truly do the dirty work involved in nursing... and yes, it is your job too as a LPN/RN. if you can handle being a CNA, then i would say try nursing school out. i commend you for questioning your choice before you entered a nursing program.

nursing is NOT easy money... and the pay is not great for the high levels of stress we work under. and the pretty ladies you'd like to be surrounded by... well, even the best of us wilt after 12 hours.... and if your makeup isn't a little smudged and your hair isn't a little frizzy, you probably aren't working hard enough... we don't look like the nurses on TV. the schedules are kinda flexible, that is if you don't mind spending thanksgiving, christmas, easter and birthdays with all your friends at work.

and as far as infectious diseases go, well yeah, you will be exposed to alot of nasty stuff.... but one plus is that you will have a great immune system once you've been in the field for a while.

good luck in your choice.