Becoming an RN just for the paycheck

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Is it just my idealistic view of what a nurse should be or does this bother other nurses? I have heard several times lately and have read articles of people who are going to nursing school, not because they want to be a nurse but because they want the paycheck and a stable job. My sister in law is one of these people. She said to me, " I really don't want to be a nurse but I figure that I can work as a nurse while I go back to school." I find that mentality very frustrating. I worked very hard to become a nurse. I worked as a nursing assistant before I became a nurse so I could make sure that I knew what I was getting myself into, I shadowed nurses when I was in high school. I really feel that this is what I was put on this earth to do and to hear people talk like this who have absolutely no concept of what they are getting themselves into and who have no respect for the profession just boils my blood. I feel like these people, who have no intention of staying in nursing for an extended period of time just make it harder for the nursing student who actually wants to make a career of nursing because they take up spaces on the wait list for getting into nursing school.

Maybe some of these people will be excellent nurses and will contribute well to the profession but I personally would not want a nurse to take care of me who only got into the field because they wanted a stable paycheck.

Don't you agree that to do well in nursing you have to have some desire to be here in the first place? These are people's health and lives that we are dealing with. This field isn't just about a paycheck!!!

I know I'm probably being naieve and idealistic when I say this but I really feel that nursing is a calling, not a JOB!!! I've been doing this type of work for going on 10 years now and I have felt that way about it from day 1.

What do you think? Does it bother you that people are getting into nursing who have no desire to actually be a nurse? Just wanting to hear other people's perspectives on the issue.

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I have no problem with people going into nursing for a stable job and a good paycheck as long as they provide quality and compassionate care as well.

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I can't say that I always wanted to be a nurse. As a matter of fact I had been working for an insurance company and was bored. But I went to nursing school and have been a RN for 32 years and I am currently working on my doctorate. So I personally don't care what the reason is someone becomes a nurse, just what kind of nurse they became.

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I agree. I am a compasionate person, and I think I will enjoy being a nurse very much. However, I am JUST as motivated by the fact that I will be working in a career that has a good salary, as well as job security.

No one wants a job that is not secure and does not pay well, IMO, that is what everyone ultimately wants. If you can find a balance between a good paying, stable career, and something you don't HATE. Good for you.

I get what you are saying though about people who have absolutely no desire to be a nurse and won't put forth any effort to be a good nurse, why bother.

Just giving my 2 cents.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

To the original poster - Would you still work as a nurse for Free?

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I think people should really assess what they are getting themselves into before they go to nursing school. Perhaps they don't fully understand what is involved. It is not a laid back profession. It is hard and you have to know what your doing in order to provide care and safety for the patient. I have worked with a few nurses who were only there for the pay check and it was not a good experience. However, if a person has compassion for others, they may really enjoy nursing and it may make them feel like they are giving something back. Nursing has always been a very rewarding profession for me. Perhaps it would be that way for them to.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

People only really go to work for a paycheck, otherwise they volunteer. However, I certainly hope the nurse that takes care of MY family does it with compassion and intelligence, however it is that they went into the profession.

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Is it just my idealistic view of what a nurse should be or does this bother other nurses? I have heard several times lately and have read articles of people who are going to nursing school, not because they want to be a nurse but because they want the paycheck and a stable job. My sister in law is one of these people. She said to me, " I really don't want to be a nurse but I figure that I can work as a nurse while I go back to school." I find that mentality very frustrating. I worked very hard to become a nurse. I worked as a nursing assistant before I became a nurse so I could make sure that I knew what I was getting myself into, I shadowed nurses when I was in high school. I really feel that this is what I was put on this earth to do and to hear people talk like this who have absolutely no concept of what they are getting themselves into and who have no respect for the profession just boils my blood. I feel like these people, who have no intention of staying in nursing for an extended period of time just make it harder for the nursing student who actually wants to make a career of nursing because they take up spaces on the wait list for getting into nursing school.

Maybe some of these people will be excellent nurses and will contribute well to the profession but I personally would not want a nurse to take care of me who only got into the field because they wanted a stable paycheck.

Yes it bothers me because many times you can tell if a nurse likes her job or not..and usually nurses who are passionate or interested in their profession are better nurses....

Don't you agree that to do well in nursing you have to have some desire to be here in the first place? These are people's health and lives that we are dealing with. This field isn't just about a paycheck!!!

I know I'm probably being naieve and idealistic when I say this but I really feel that nursing is a calling, not a JOB!!! I've been doing this type of work for going on 10 years now and I have felt that way about it from day 1.

What do you think? Does it bother you that people are getting into nursing who have no desire to actually be a nurse? Just wanting to hear other people's perspectives on the issue.

Yes it bothers me because many times you can tell if a nurse likes her job or not..and usually nurses who are passionate or interested in their profession are better nurses....

People who just want to go into nursing for paycheck should switch to some other career,how can they even imagine them selves doing a job they dont care about for the rest of their life?

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Those who don't really have an interest, will more than likely drop out due to the difficult curiculum. But those who do make it, well if they provide good patient care I don't really care what they do on their own time.

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I have no problem with people going into nursing for a stable job and a good paycheck as long as they provide quality and compassionate care as well.

How can they be compassionate when they dont really care,you mean fake it?:uhoh21:

You cant do something if you dont have it in you...

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And anyway we are not talking here about accounting,ultrasonography,pharmacy...nursing is a very special occupation which requires certain personality characteristics,I cant believe people are disagreeing with this..what happened to the philosophy of nursing?

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To the original poster - Would you still work as a nurse for Free?

No one will work for free...anyway nursing is not great money...Perhaps you should revise your sentence and ask her/his "If nursing paid like McDonalds,which job title would you choose?"

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