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

junahoy · Jan 24, 2007

I love to care for the sick people, because that was my childhood ambition. I cant do it as a voluntary work because I need money to maintain our family.

Soup Turtle · Jan 24, 2007

We have a few RNs in the family and they have always encouraged me to become a nurse and told me I'd be much better off financially. I've always told them, "NO WAY!". I had no desire to be a nurse regardless of the pay. Now that I'm older and have experienced more, the profession really appeals to me. I am much more clear-headed than I was in my 20's and have a much greater ability to empathize.

nurse_clown · Jan 24, 2007

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?

you know, i wouldn't even listen to it. when i was a student, i thought i'd finish nursing school and work as a nurse while i was in medical school. i knew i was a caring individual. i also knew i had some brains to be a good nurse. but all that was just talk. i didn't have a clue what "true nursing" was in nursing school. how could i? i was just learning. i learned what nursing was when i actually became a nurse. nursing isn't all what they say it is in nursing school.

can you believe this? on our unit, there's a huge debate over how to do "intake and output". we all learned it in nursing school. but somehow, the hospital policy has made it way more complicated than it has to be. or the palliative patient who needs someone to hold their hand but the reality is, the unit is short staffed d/t a sick call, and you have to hand out meds for two units instead of one. there's no time to hold hands. they didn't say that in nursing school!!!!

so, i wouldn't listen to the future nurses talk. chalk it up to "inexperience." they'll learn soon enough. i wish i could say i was in it was for the cash. some people have jobs where they sit around and collect their paycheque. but that hasn't been my experience. it's a demanding but very rewarding job. you'll see.

elby812 · Jan 24, 2007

I would have to say that I have chosen to go into nursing for both reasons and other reasons on top of those. I have been in college for the last 8 years or so. I've changed my major from biology (premed) to finance to hospitality to chemistry (premed). I worked full time, lived on my own and tried to keep up with a busy social life. Well then about 2 1/2 years ago I became pregnant. I had just moved back home and needed a good reliable source of income as quick as possible. Since I have very understanding parents (my mom was an LPN for 15 years), they have helped me and continue to help me while I get through nursing school.

Anyways, sorry about the long story, but nursing just seemed like the logical thing for me to do. I love working with people, I have a science background, and the money is good.

I understand about the people only in it for the money who don't realize the hard work it takes to become a nurse. I've seen quite a few of these people in my prereqs- "Do we have to know all the muscles? Why do we have learn all this?" Uh, duh!! Hopefully these people get weeded out before they have the opportunity to do any damage! :uhoh21:

angel's RN · Feb 10, 2007

:chuckle WHAT MONEY?!?!?!?

If I wanted money, I sure as h--- wouldn't be in nursing. The only monitary benefit I have is a weekend premium, time-&-half for Saturday and Sunday. But if anyone actually tries to go into nursing "for the money", that person needs to change professions!! (Just my opinion) 's RN

Gromit · Feb 10, 2007

Sure as hell aren't going to get rich doing it :) Heck, I'm just trying to break even and get the bills paid off! Local place is offering up part-time positions for home health RNs, I figure I'll at least look into it as a way to pick up some extra bread -what do I have to lose, right?

jojotoo, RN · Feb 10, 2007

Caring OR cash? It can't be both?

jimthorp · Feb 10, 2007

Caring OR cash? It can't be both?

Why not? I certainly am not working for the fun of it alone.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 10, 2007

Caring OR cash? It can't be both?

I think about 95% of the respondants to this thread, said that it was both. I know it is for me. I love being a nurse, but I love paying the bills too.

blueberrybon · Feb 10, 2007

And, I'm a member of the older generation (43 years old), which is why I'm going back to school to become a nurse.

OMG, I'm 42! Am I actually considered "a member of the older generation"?

Reality is setting in.....

Blue

Agnus · Feb 10, 2007

I love nursing. I hate my job. I work as a nurse. I stay in it because I can make a relative generous amount of money in a few hours. Any other nursing job would not pay that much in this (geo.) area.

I use the rest of my time to do nursing. That is use my nursing skills in way that I do find fulfilling. I speak. I consult. In some cases I get paid $ for these two nursing activities. I have an nursing job to pay the bills and to allow me to be an automouse nurse outside of the job of hospital nurse.

I spend time with my family. I can be home with my grandchildren and form important bonds with these little people who will learn and grow to do important things in this world. That to me is more important than all the satisfaction and thanks that I could possible receive as a "caring bedside nurse"

Jennifer, RN · Feb 10, 2007

I went to nursing school not for some deep desire to take care of people but because I was a newly divorced single mom of a 1 year old and needed to have a good paying job fairly quick.

I am now happily married to a wonderful man, have 2 more children with another one on the way. I am still in this career because of the money. I can make a decent living supporting my family (with the help of my husband too) while working a flexible schedule allowing my kids to not have to get shipped off to daycare every day with someone else raising them.

When my kids are older, my goal is to go back to school to get another degree in a field that I LOVE.

Not that I hate nursing. I found a specialty that I like, I work with great people. I am a good nurse. I care for people. But it's just not the career that I dreamed of as a young girl.

So for me, its all about the money and being able to pay my bills, have health insurance, etc....