Are you a Nurse just for the money or do you do it from your heart?

Nurses General Nursing

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I've been doing a lot of OT's lately. To me its not really about the money because if I work many overtime I am just paying more and more taxes (especially here in Canada). I think one time I worked OT and holidays and I accumulated like $1100 in taxes on just 1 cheque. I calculated it and I only make maybe an extra $50-$60 if I work OT.

I actually do feel bad when they need staff sometimes. The residents always thank me for coming in on holidays and weekends, and appreciate me. So its not really about the money. But thats just me.

      When I board an airplane, I don't question the pilots' or flight crew's motivation.  They could be doing it for the money or the love of flying, it matters little to me.  My only hope is they are all highly competent, skilled, experienced, dedicated, mentally balanced, and sober! 

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Specializes in Psych.

Mainly money but both. I put the rest of my money after bills into stocks and investments in case I get tired of it or if something happens with my license. I still feel bad for my patients and do my best. Most patients I've worked with have really liked me because I try to talk to all of the patients with respect. I work in the psych unit and many other patients get spoken down to. When the patients react negatively they get medicated or sometimes restrained. I try to just talk to them with respect and I come off a lot better and I don't have a high restraint history. Makes me proud.

Still, I do it mostly for the money I have to admit it. I need to pay bills and I want to be able to support a certain lifestyle. I don't live with high debts or large bills and I'm pretty low standard with any bills. Don't let anybody ever make you feel bad though if you're doing it for the money. Nursing is stressful and you deserve the pay.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
On 2/2/2022 at 8:55 PM, Kooky Korky said:

Why people do jobs that affect others, especially vulnerable people like kids, elderly, long term infirm does matter to me.  Some people need protection from others.  I don't want anyone being evil to those in their charge.

Again, as long as they're doing their job effectively, I don't care. Being "evil" towards others is not doing one's job effectively.

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Specializes in Community health.

I am primarily a housewife. My husband earns so much money that my salary from part-time nursing is pretty irrelevant to our finances.  I work because I enjoy it, and because sitting around the house gets boring. However— my coworkers work because they have to, and most of them are just as devoted, compassionate, etc as I am. Yes they’re “in it for the money” but that doesn’t mean their heart isn’t in their work. 

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I really hate it when nurses try to shame others for going into nursing for a more practical reason. Just today, I had a silly little pre-pre nursing student (not even accepted into a program) try to shame me (a NP student with seven years of nursing experience) for wanting to add a psychiatric specialty to my advanced practice career...it is ridiculous. No one else questions other professions (even within healthcare) and their motives for joining certain profession, and it makes nurses look unprofessional. 

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I would love some advice about the money side. I'm starting over (literally) at 52 which is tough but I'm proud after finally recovering from PTSD and abuse and getting out on my own with my two older teens. I'm in great shape and take care of myself, but I need to make the most money I can as quickly as possible while I'm still able to. What advice does anyone have? Some say hunker down at a hospital and collect the benefits. Another says he is making great money and suggests I do MS or Tele for one or two years, then travel on top of per diem somewhere. Another says anything, and start a side business as well. I would love any advice or thoughts anyone can offer on a suggestion for what path might be worth considering. Then there are the new grad residency programs! Optimally, in the future I would also want the ability to go see my two kids wherever they may land in the future. Trying to narrow down the paths to consider and I truly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you so very much!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

C I V I L   S E R V I C E ! 

ambannister - should be able to be hired without much blood, sweat & tears. Then get your time in - just do a good job and don't anger TPTB. With time, you'll become vested, pension & retirement benefits are avail, union support, job security, education & upward mobility, etc.

If I had to do it all over at age 52, Civil Service it'd be State or Federal (Veterans would be my choice).

I'll admit, quick, high salaries aren't there to start. But you can catch up.

This would be a career opp'ty to be well-respected, generally well compensated, and most prob less stressed than gen'l hospital or LTC for a newbie nurse.

Think about it. Money ain't everything when you're weighing the next 13 years ahead. You need to get thru school, START YOR CAREER somewhere, then move if you feel you must. But me, I'd be looking for job security with money secondary. Just my priorities.

Good luck to you.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
28 minutes ago, amoLucia said:

But me, I'd be looking for job security with money secondary. Just my priorities.

I just started a job within the state university health system, a teaching hospital associated with a medical school. The pay isn't the highest, but like you said, in 15 years I'll be qualified for a full retirement with medical benefits and a pension. My health insurance is less than $150 per pay period with a family deductible over $2000 less than my previous job. My kids can attend the state school with tuition covered. It's a longer commute than I would have liked, but for 15 years I'll listen to podcasts and figure it out. I'll be better off in retirement than I was in my working years. ? 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
2 hours ago, JBMmom said:

I just started a job within the state university health system, a teaching hospital associated with a medical school. The pay isn't the highest, but like you said, in 15 years I'll be qualified for a full retirement with medical benefits and a pension. My health insurance is less than $150 per pay period with a family deductible over $2000 less than my previous job. My kids can attend the state school with tuition covered. It's a longer commute than I would have liked, but for 15 years I'll listen to podcasts and figure it out. I'll be better off in retirement than I was in my working years. ? 

I might add that some universities off free tuition to children of full time employees.

 

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4 hours ago, ambannister said:

I would love some advice about the money side. I'm starting over (literally) at 52 which is tough but I'm proud after finally recovering from PTSD and abuse and getting out on my own with my two older teens. I'm in great shape and take care of myself, but I need to make the most money I can as quickly as possible while I'm still able to. What advice does anyone have? Some say hunker down at a hospital and collect the benefits. Another says he is making great money and suggests I do MS or Tele for one or two years, then travel on top of per diem somewhere. Another says anything, and start a side business as well. I would love any advice or thoughts anyone can offer on a suggestion for what path might be worth considering. Then there are the new grad residency programs! Optimally, in the future I would also want the ability to go see my two kids wherever they may land in the future. Trying to narrow down the paths to consider and I truly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you so very much!

I think you take it one step at a time. Get the first hospital job.  Med-surge or whatever is on offer.  Some hospitals have the grad residency programs; others just have you on orientation for 12-ish weeks. Hospitals typically do one or the other, so just apply for whatever your desired hospital does. 

Next, spend that first year or two laying down a really solid foundation. The first year is so important, and the learning curve can be steep. Nursing school doesn't really prepare you for what floor nursing is like. Per diem and travel contracts really expect that you are going to be able to hit the ground running, so they're not something you're going to be doing for at least a year or two. By then, you'll have a better idea of what you want and what you don't.  

Travel contracts can be fast money, but they're hard work, no security, and could be a problem if you need to be home for your teens.  I know you're in good shape and can do the job well, but age discrimination is real. You're probably coming up on an age where nurse managers would think twice about offering you a permanent full-time position. I think @amoLucia is right to say that job security is probably going to be an important consideration. Whether you pursue it through a state/federal health system or just through a solid hospital (hopefully one with a good union), you want to make sure you're locked into something that will allow you to work until YOU are ready to stop. 

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Thanks guys for backing me up. When my Mom retired (and then passed away) her EXCELLENT State leftover benefits covered my Dad for some 10 years. The health insurance was phenomenal!

Also I believe Civil Service to be more age-friendly (with all the laws re age  discrimination, they need to be compliant).

Off the record, I'm just remembering that February has really good CS holidays off.  Also November.  

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Specializes in Surgical Specialty Clinic - Ambulatory Care.
8 hours ago, ambannister said:

I would love some advice about the money side. I'm starting over (literally) at 52 which is tough but I'm proud after finally recovering from PTSD and abuse and getting out on my own with my two older teens. I'm in great shape and take care of myself, but I need to make the most money I can as quickly as possible while I'm still able to. What advice does anyone have? Some say hunker down at a hospital and collect the benefits. Another says he is making great money and suggests I do MS or Tele for one or two years, then travel on top of per diem somewhere. Another says anything, and start a side business as well. I would love any advice or thoughts anyone can offer on a suggestion for what path might be worth considering. Then there are the new grad residency programs! Optimally, in the future I would also want the ability to go see my two kids wherever they may land in the future. Trying to narrow down the paths to consider and I truly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you so very much!

Do two years of any hospital specialty (m/s, tele, psych) and then do travel nursing. No benefits, but lots of money weekly.

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