Becoming a nurse for the money...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 15, 2009

to be honest i don't even know why i responds to these type threads anyway ( like i'm doing now), its not like the op will ever admit to the patient that he only became a nurse for the money... so why does it matter ? i would just like to be a fly on the wall when he have about 5 patients, is overwhelmed, cleaning up patients, dealing with strong odors, the look of sputum, blood, vomit, drainage and etc. hopefully he'll feel as though its all worth it for the mula ! maybe or maybe not, only time will tell.

as someone who entered the field without the "calling" over 30 years ago, i can tell you with authority that it doesn't matter why you entered the field. you either do the job or you don't. i know plenty of nurses who felt they were "called" to become nurses who can't handle the actual work and spend most of their shifts trying to turf it off to someone else. there's a place for handholding and pillow fluffing, and maybe that's where i'm not as present as some others. but the work gets done on my shift, and i don't leave the nasty body fluids for someone else to deal with the way some do.

i really don't understand why some folks who swear they're "super compassionate" and "really care about the patients" feel the need to be so judgemental of their colleagues!

JBGC4 · Jun 15, 2009

Have you ever been a patient yourself or have had a loved one in the hospital? What did you think of the nursing staff? How did they treat you? Could you see a difference in the ones you could tell wanted to be there verses the ones that were there for other reasons? I have seen this w/ first hand experience. And I am taking my personal experiences (good and bad) w/ me when I become a nurse. What a difference a nurse makes not only obviously w/ her ability to do a good job w/ the fundementals but w/ her attitude.

Now- I am not passing judgement on you. As far as I know, you are a natural beam of light and are just the most nurturing person on the planet. But, if you are not, you may want to re-think your decision. I have no nursing experience but do know that nursing can apparently suck the life out Santa Claus. So I have been told. Do you have the passion it takes to swoop yourself out of a day where you haven't had time to pee, or take a break and eat for goodness sake! Not enough time to go try and wash whatever smell is consuming your nose that day? Not enough time to compose yourself after a doctor has made you feel like a idiot. Taking care of a patient who has cronic diarhea and it seems like you have been at their business end for the last 10 hours all while taking care of your other patients and taking on more that you really can b/c you are understaffed? The list of these questions goes on and on. Not glamourous by any means and that is why it is easy to become discouraged on this job, even when your whole heart is in it. When you are a nurse, you should walk into that hospital everyday feeling like you have a purpose to be there! That you can handle what comes your way and that your patients come first, not you. Maybe you can. Maybe the money is what your purpose for walking through those doors is and that may work for you. It wouldn't for me. We have all heard the old saying, "Not just anyone can be a nurse." Well, they aren't talking about the fundementals w/ that statement.

The good news is, when you have a nursing degree, your job options seem limitless. And I am talking about options outside the hospital, and so I can't see you finishing school, hating your job, quiting, and not finding something that suits you.

JBGC4 · Jun 15, 2009

I just wanted to add, I don't know that I believe in "the calling," as well. I do however, think you have to "like" what you are doing. It's a crappy feeling to be in a job you hate.

guiltysins · Jun 15, 2009

For me it's not about the calling, I don't have a calling to be a nurse. I just always wanted to work in a medical field and nursing interested me most. What gets me is nursing is kind of a weird field to choose as a place to make money when there are plenty of business degrees that provide just that. Just like I wouldn't understand someone going through years of debt for med school just to be a doctor for the money. For me the stress of just nursing school alone isn't worth the money in the end. The cut throat competition, the studying, the money dished out for scrubs, stethoscopes ect and the nonstop exams would be a deal breaker for me.

My sister makes $23 an hour being an auditor. She has an accounting degree but not her CPA license, she works for the IRS and gets a raise next year. My dad makes on average 60k a year doing computer operations in a hospital. I could have easily done either one of those if I wanted to get some money but I didn't. I chose nursing because I have an interest in the medical field. The money that we get paid in my area, NYC is great and I would need the money I will hopefully be making just to afford to live out here but with the cost of living I won't be rich, I'll be fine though but I wouldn't go through this aggrivation and take out loans for school if I didn't truly have an interest in Nursing.

I think most people started to say the OP was arrogrant when he replied saying he didn't want to do the "dirty work" which I learned is NEVER a good thing to say on this forum lol. Either way, I hope it works out for him and who knows, maybe he'll actually start to like it for the job alone and not just for the paycheck he brings home after awhile.

Also, with the people they would prefer the nurse that knows what they are doing over the caring nurse who doesn't. That's true, but shouldn't patients be able to get both? I mean if I had cancer I'd want the best nurse possible, but I'd also want a nurse that can understand that I keep calling them because I'm in pain and not just because I'm trying to be a pain in their butt.

Marc86 · Jun 16, 2009

What a disappointing post to read, honest, but disappointing. I will be starting NS in the fall and i dread having to deal with fellow students like this OP - who sounds extremely arrogant and selfish. Even more so, i feel so sorry for the patients this person may have . . whose nurse only has money on the brain. Its so unfortunate. I always knew there were people like this, but to be so open about it?! I hope NS tears them apart . .

hmm... finished my B.A. in 3 years, i think i can take nursing school pretty well. I'm being honest, i am in in for the 125,000 yr salary in the S.F. I am competent to do the job well and will do just that.

But to write that you hope nursing school or any schooling as a matter of fact "tears" someone apart reflects who you really are. Perhaps bitter and lonely it tore YOU apart.

guiltysins · Jun 16, 2009

hmm... finished my B.A. in 3 years, i think i can take nursing school pretty well. I'm being honest, i am in in for the 125,000 yr salary in the S.F. I am competent to do the job well and will do just that.
But to write that you hope nursing school or any schooling as a matter of fact "tears" someone apart reflects who you really are. Perhaps bitter and lonely it tore YOU apart.

How can you be so positive that you'll be making 125k? Not to be mean or anything I'm just curious. I'd imagine you'd have to be in it a few years because no one can start out making that much. Also, why nursing when there are other job prospects with a similar salary? What field of nursing do you plan to go into where there won't be "dirty work"?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2009

What gets me is nursing is kind of a weird field to choose as a place to make money when there are plenty of business degrees that provide just that.

I actually know of quite a few people with MBA (master of business administration) degrees who remain unemployed in my area. A business degree can provide an excellent income, but only if the economic climate is right.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jun 20, 2009

You never know what the future brings. I literally always wanted to be a Nurse since my 1st Cherry Ames book.

I started Nursing school at 17-left, again at 20-left, got a BA somewhere else, did a business associates-hated it, finally finished Nursing at age 29; hated it, loved it, cried, laughed, didn't care what I made, kept my resignation letter in MS Word on my computer for years and years. I finally left with a back injury making 30/hour, and now am "retired" making $890 a month on social security disability. You just never know, do you? Good luck whatever you do.

Pinkster · Jun 20, 2009

Just because nursing isn't someone's "passion" doesn't mean they wouldn't be a good nurse.
My friend just graduated from med school and is going to be a surgeon. His main motivator for this is making a boat load of money. Helping people is the least of his concern. However I know that he would make an excellent surgeon. He is technically superior to any of his classmates, he graduated in the top 1% of his class, and he is one of the most capable persons I know.
I would rather have him operate on me than a mediocre surgeon who thinks its his/her "calling" to be a doctor.

THis made me think of a totally non-factual reference: the man in Hostel who claims he would LOVE to be a surgeon but can't because of his unsteady hands and then proceeds to pay money to kill and cut up people because it is his "calling" to be a surgeon.

Just because you really want to be something doesn't mean you are going to be good at it, just as someone who does it for money doesn't mean they are going to fail at it. Money is a great motivation, people will do anything for money.

My opinion: Your motivation is your business. I am sure that a lot of people who rave about being a nurse just because they love it make great money.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2009

99% of us are in nursing for multiple reasons, one of which is a solid career at decent compensation. Sometimes that's the number one reason, and that's o.k. It's definitely on my list of reasons I'm a nurse and why I stay a nurse.

I think the best nurses are the ones that have some semblence of caring in their hearts for other people, or have at least some people skills. If you don't at least like people and only want money you're not going to like nursing or be a good nurse, and you will burn out fast.

Every now and then I've come across those "I'm in it only for the money" types and they are not good nurses, have no personality and the compassion of a toad. Usually they work for an agency and night shift to maximize their salary. I'm talking about those who have no other motivation other than a paycheck and get no satisfaction out of nursing and helping others.

Nursing school does tend to weed out those who aren't interested in people and are only interested in money. Once they see a pile of poop they are expected to get their gloved hands into, they quit and decide to become accountants, engineers or other high paying jobs. :)

I definitely think there are those of us who are "born to be nurses" or "called to be nurses" because there isn't anything else we could possibly be. While I wasn't personally "called" by a higher spirit, I think I am definitely where I should be. I do think the only ones who should be nurses are those who are have a "calling". That would weed out 99% of us. LOL

JBGC4 · Jun 20, 2009

The idea that a physician or nurse has the patients wellness as their last concern (referring to an above post) sickens me. I almost lost my daughter a year ago b/c of e.coli/HUS disease. It's impossible to find comfort in that situation, but the one thing that did give me a tiny ray of hope was that I felt her "team" was going through this pain w/ me. I could see it in their eyes, and that when we made small turn-arounds thoughtout her turbulent hospital stay, they shared my joy. We ALL WANTED THE SAME THING, and that was to make sure this beautiful child could live and live a healthy life at that. This is an experience I am taking w/ me when I do become a nurse. This patient is someone's mother, father, son, daugher etc... That this person is very important to someone.

It's called empathy- everyone should have it.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jun 21, 2009

oh tweety, i got a foreshadowing of a "wind in the willows" toad in green scrubs and a little organdy cap.

i've worked with people like that too. one girl said i'm only in it for the money, my hands and nails are too important to me so someone else will have to do my patients' bedside care.......she didn't even last orientation....it was too "stressful." i believe she sells real estate now.

i am very sincere when i say i never cared about the money. once a year we'd get a printout of what our new salary was. those were nice to see. but i just put my check in the bank and hit the atm for $30 or so a week for gas and lunch. having the rn was so much more important to me than the salary. that is from the heart.