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

[Convoy2022_TrumpSupporter]

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.

[Guest 1152923]

36 minutes ago, KalipsoRed21 said:

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

     Actually, that's not true.  When I travelled, I received travel reimbursements, contributed to a 401K, had a few vacation days, and was offered medical/dental.  Honestly, I just don't really see any disincentives to not travel.

[Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN]

By the time you are ready for the old age home or in popular culture called "retirement",you will realize that money does make the world go round.Hopefully your student loans are paid off by then ,the difference between cat food or steak for dinner.In your 20 you just do it for the thrill of becoming a nurse,signing those initials after your name,in your 30's you are looking for day care,car insurance,health insurance, the rest is a blur as life happens to you...looking for college tuition for yourself if returning to school ,or your kids,caring for elderly parents and keeping up with all thoses nursing certifications..then bam ...COVID....could we all use some more money now?! Hell yes !!

[klone, MSN, RN]

The more I see the title of this thread, the more it pisses me off. Attitudes like those of the OP are a huge reason why nurses are not given the respect they deserve, and are treated like expendable widgets. Keep "pink collar" wages down by making them believe that they need to be in nursing because it's a "calling" and that if it's about the money, then you're a horrible person. The misogyny is coming from inside the house.

[guest1171208]

To be honest,I only hear  " That nurse is  only doing it for the money" and "You need to be called to this field" from nurses that are jealous or angry at nurses with higher level degrees. 

 

[Jordee, BSN, RN]

It doesn't matter to me if you are doing it for the money or for altruistic reasons.  Just do your work and be alert. Who am I to judge?  I am doing it for the healthcare insurance and work part time.  I do the best job I can. 

I have lots of coworkers from African countries and the Phillipines who will tell you straight up its for the money and overtime, and some need to send money overseas.  Fine.  Just don't be on your phone all night or sleeping and don't expect me to answer your bed, tele, and pump alarms if that is the case.  I'll help anybody who is awake and doing their work.

[jobellestarr]

On 2/4/2022 at 4:37 PM, amoLucia said:

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.

I retired from federal service and I am so thankful I did. It’s 5 years and age 62 for retirement not 20 years! Keep your benefits for life and a pension. And the pay is considerably better than the private sector. I make at least 30,000 per year more than my RN friends at private hospitals. Also, if you live on a reservation, housing is provided at a really low rate. I lived on a reservation for the better part of 20 years. And the best part is (for me) was that the patients were wonderful and grateful. 

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I started as an LPN at something like $2.80/hr in 1971, and remember being happy when at my 2nd job they boosted my pay to $3.10.hr. So you betcha it wasn't working for the money. As long as I could pay my rent ($150/mo.) at the time, I was happy. Lived in the city and used subway and bus to commute. Everyone told me I should go back and get my RN, but I was just happy as could be doing grunt-work at first. As the time passed I learned more and I became trained and certified to perform various more 'complicated' procedures, so got a bit more money.

But actually I just wanted to make people FEEL BETTER, ie more comfortable, not as afraid, that they were listened to, and all the finer points of human interaction. Never wanted my RN, as I wasn't interested in the responsibilities that go with it. 

Now I am retired and I read all the changes in the profession...I admire folks that stick with it, because I know it isn't easy. Staffing didn't used to be a problem when I started nursing. We had "Team Nursing" which worked well for us/me. Then someone came up with the idea of Primary Nursing, which in theory was supposed to solve problems, but then the whole idea and set-up of Primary Nursing was bastardized so that instead of having 3 as a max patient assignment, the RN's were having to take on more and MORE patients, plus charge and meds ...everything...EVERYTHING!....for ALL of their (too many for one person) patients.

But I am happy and satisfied with the career I was able to enjoy so much, even though it never got me ahead in any financial way, and am happy now to be well out of it! 

[No Stars In My Eyes]

I started as an LPN at something like $2.80/hr in 1971, and remember being happy when at my 2nd job they boosted my pay to $3.10.hr. So you betcha it wasn't working for the money. As long as I could pay my rent ($150/mo.) at the time, I was happy. Lived in the city and used subway and bus to commute. Everyone told me I should go back and get my RN, but I was just happy as could be doing grunt-work at first. As the time passed I learned more and I became trained and certified to perform various more 'complicated' procedures, so got a bit more money.

But actually I just wanted to make people FEEL BETTER, ie more comfortable, not as afraid, that they were listened to, and all the finer points of human interaction. Never wanted my RN, as I wasn't interested in the responsibilities that go with it. 

Now I am retired and I read all the changes in the profession...I admire folks that stick with it, because I know it isn't easy. Staffing didn't used to be a problem when I started nursing. We had "Team Nursing" which worked well for us/me. Then someone came up with the idea of Primary Nursing, which in theory was supposed to solve problems, but then the whole idea and set-up of Primary Nursing was bastardized so that instead of having 3 as a max patient assignment, the RN's were having to take on more and MORE patients, plus charge and meds ...everything...EVERYTHING!....for ALL of their (too many for one person) patients.

But I am happy and satisfied with the career I was able to enjoy so much, even though it never got me ahead in any financial way, and am happy now to be well out of it! 

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I do this because I genuinely love doing it. I was a vet tech for many years (horses) when I was younger. I then tried teaching and didn't get tenured because of my degree (talk about job on does NOT for the money LOL)

You can have it both ways though-I am a weekend option RN so I get extra $ for working the weekends and then a stipend for promising to work every weekend. I also am climbing the clinical ladder. 

With Covid, we have been offered serious bonuses for committing to working X amount of extra shifts (entirely voluntary). 

I also am a member of a few committees, which meet via Zoom, once a month. Easy-peasy $. 

Over all, I am close to 6 figures. And I still work less hours than colleagues that work in a clinic. 

I get harassed (a little) because I have my MSN but am still bedside. I love it. When I don't, I will find something else. ? 

On 2/8/2022 at 3:07 AM, klone said:

The more I see the title of this thread, the more it pisses me off. Attitudes like those of the OP are a huge reason why nurses are not given the respect they deserve, and are treated like expendable widgets. Keep "pink collar" wages down by making them believe that they need to be in nursing because it's a "calling" and that if it's about the money, then you're a horrible person. The misogyny is coming from inside the house.

That might have been the intention...to agitate people. 

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

40 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

That might have been the intention...to agitate people. 

I truly wonder what the payoff is if that's the case. (I'm not naive and I know that it happens but I'd like to know why it's reinforcing.)

5 minutes ago, Jedrnurse said:

I truly wonder what the payoff is if that's the case. (I'm not naive and I know that it happens but I'd like to know why it's reinforcing.)

Dunno.  I just noticed the recent change in the member's screen name and suspect that agitating others might be part of the appeal for the OP.