Are you in Nursing for the Caring or the Cash?? Be Honest

Nurses General Nursing

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hello i am currently in nursing school and the weirdest thing is how future nurses talk about how they are going to be getting paid!! it's as if caring is not involved in their frame of mind, this type of mentality is not going to help the nursing shortage it's only going to aide it because as we know we do not get paid for our actual services, but this younger generation feel since it is a shortage this is the field to go and make some quick money, so i'm curious and please be honest what are you in it for, caring or cash?

Both.....I wonder though how long the "just in it for the money" contingent lasts doing floor nursing....

I have lasted over 18 years now.....I am in it for the money. I will make over 120K this year working 3 days a week regularrly and maybe 1-2 days overtime a month. There is money in nursing.

Dave

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Specializes in Burn/Trauma PCU.
I have lasted over 18 years now.....I am in it for the money. I will make over 120K this year working 3 days a week regularrly and maybe 1-2 days overtime a month. There is money in nursing.

Dave

Dave,

Do you mind if I ask... are you an NP? Specific field? Specific area of the country? That's a great salary... and congratulations!

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Dave,

Do you mind if I ask... are you an NP? Specific field? Specific area of the country? That's a great salary... and congratulations!

I am a charge/staff nurse in Houston. I work pedi.

Dave

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oops... somebody else posted what I was asking, and I'd be being redundant if I left this here....

:imbar

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I decided on nursing for a number of reasons. The first thing that attracted me to the profession is the job security that comes along with it. As a child, my family struggled because neither of my parents had a "profession". Secondly, there is nothing in this world that I want more than to give my son a good moral upbringing. Being a nurse, I will be able to demonstrate first hand for him how important it is to have compassion for other people, something that I think is sorely missing in this world. Promoting health in my own community will benefit my family, friends, and neighbors. All encompassing, nursing is a role that will fulfill my needs and the needs of others. My question is this, what career could possibly be more fulfilling?

...Jennifer...

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My grandmother was an OR nurse and I grew up with her. She was my role model for life and I always admired her for being a nurse. She went back to school after having her 5 children and worked as a waitress while in school. I grew up wanting to follow in her footsteps but for the longest time, my life circumstances made that impossible. When I was finally abe to consider nursing as a career choice, I was pleasantly surprised at the pay, considering what I was making in my then-job. Let's just say.... the pay was an added incentive. I became an LVN in September 2003, and since I want to work in higher fields and would like more options in my career, I chose to continue with school, and am now in the LVN to RN transition program, graduating May, 2005. *crosses her fingers, toes and any other part of her anatomy that can be crossed.*

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Lisa, are you in a LPN-RN bridge program? Maybe that's why your fellow students are talking about the money. Let's face it- a $10/hr pay increase is reason enough to go from LPN to RN.

I don't understand why people knock the young ones who are actually in school, and making very wise career choices. At least they're not hanging around their parents' basements doing nothing, or out committing crimes, etc. How many of us have had other degrees, other careers, and later chose to go to nursing school? At least they're getting it right the first time. I say more power to them, no matter their reason for choosing nursing.

Because those of us who are in nursing because we CARE about our patients and not just to get a good paycheck get real tired of cleaning up the messes from those who don't care. It really irks me to have to apologize for the poor care a patient received by one of these "I'm a nurse......guess what I make" people. They give nursing a bad name! If you just want to make money go into computers or something and leave the medical profession for those with a heart and genuine concern.

Marie

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Because those of us who are in nursing because we CARE about our patients and not just to get a good paycheck get real tired of cleaning up the messes from those who don't care. It really irks me to have to apologize for the poor care a patient received by one of these "I'm a nurse......guess what I make" people. They give nursing a bad name! If you just want to make money go into computers or something and leave the medical profession for those with a heart and genuine concern.

Marie

I've no doubt there are people out there that are in it purely for the money..though it surprises me they last more than two minutes in the job. It's a rather large leap to assume that because money and job security make the top of my list for reasons to become a nurse also somehow make me lazy, inefficient and a bad nurse.

Someone who is lazy tends to be lazy in all areas of their lives, including in how they care for their own families. I'm choosing nursing because I care about my fiance and want to be able to help us build a secure future together. I care about the children we will have one day by having a safe (employment-wise), flexible job with many career opportunities no matter where I live. I'm prepared to work hard to achieve these goals. I also know my caring attitude will extend to those patients in my care. Yes, I enjoy the patient contact, yes I care about them - and I show it by studying hard, making sure I understand what I'm learning, turning up to work on time, getting done the things I need to get done each shift, handing out meds safely, providing a listening ear when needed etc etc - but I still want my pay cheque :p

I'm no Mother Teresa. If I didn't have to work, I sure wouldn't! I might volunteer my time to help other people even if I won a million dollars, but it wouldn't be on a hospital ward doing what nurses do every day....you gotta pay me to be worn out like that!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

LikeI said, one need not be mercenary or nun, to be a damn good nurse! There IS room for compromise and **most** who get into it "just for the money" don't last long. Yes, some experienced nurses do become "grizzled" with time and experience, but that is another story. I just have to respect what they have been through to get where they are today, even if they ARE crotchety. Sadly for many of them, quitting is not an option, cause like us, they need to eat. It's getting tougher all the time to retire and be at all comfortable.

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Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

Well, I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I was 5, so I got into nursing for the caring aspect. Little did I know, that I would be "in it for the money." I guess I didn't realize way back then, that having a somewhat liveable salary to feed & clothe my family, & pay for my kid's activities would put me into that group of nurses. LOL

I guess I am still in it for the caring, as I have sacrificed a kick-*** salary & a job I HATED, for a job that I really love(most days).

However, if I won the lottery tonight, I think that I would still work, part-time, of course... maybe 2 days a week, MAX.

Hindsight being 20-20, I would have become a physical therapist, instead. Now those OT/PT folks, they make crazy money!!! Still the patient contact, with a salary that is more than fair.

Maybe, one day, nurses will also be fairly compensated. Sigh, wishful thinking. . .

I forgot to add: I love the flexibility I can get in nursing. . .work as little or as much as you want. I can always pick up extra shifts to make a big ticket purchase, or especially when school starts for the kids. . .new clothes, supplies & school fees. Those things can really take a bite in the checking account. . . work a few extra, & those things are quite easy to budget for.

BUT, then you do get the weekend & holiday thing. It's all a trade off.

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

I've been close to the medical field my whole life. My mom was an LPN (license lapsed) and I read her nursing books in middle school. No, I didn't understand them, but it was good exposure. Who needs sex ed when you have an obstetrics book at home??

I have worked in auxiliary hospital departments, and doctor's offices, and done things that were definitely NOT patient centered, such as bill collection. I will never forget the day I had to go to court to put a lien on an old man's home (the only thing he owned) to pay for his physical therapy bill; and he showed up and was seated in the jury box by the bailiff. Why? Because he had either testicular or prostate cancer, and had had radioactive pellets placed in his scrotum as part of his treatment.

Some things I CARE about are:

-doing what I feel I should be doing with my life

-making a living doing it, being able to have a house and a secure job

-being able to afford to volunteer my time and services sometimes

-Indy

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.
I've been close to the medical field my whole life. My mom was an LPN (license lapsed) and I read her nursing books in middle school. No, I didn't understand them, but it was good exposure. Who needs sex ed when you have an obstetrics book at home??

I have worked in auxiliary hospital departments, and doctor's offices, and done things that were definitely NOT patient centered, such as bill collection. I will never forget the day I had to go to court to put a lien on an old man's home (the only thing he owned) to pay for his physical therapy bill; and he showed up and was seated in the jury box by the bailiff. Why? Because he had either testicular or prostate cancer, and had had radioactive pellets placed in his scrotum as part of his treatment.

Some things I CARE about are:

-doing what I feel I should be doing with my life

-making a living doing it, being able to have a house and a secure job

-being able to afford to volunteer my time and services sometimes

-Indy

are you in america? ive never heard of that happening. i thought that tactic was illegal, unless he signed the home as collateral. that would break my heart to do that. in fact, i dont think i could do that.

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