our calling

Kyrshamarks, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2008

I wake up every day and also remember why i do this. It is my paycheck, not my calling. Sorry if I am sounding like I am raining on your parade but not everyone thinks of nursing as their calling.

Jaguar Boy · Feb 27, 2008

I feel very fullfilled in knowing that I do make a difference in these peoples lives.

It's so great to hear from nurses who take pride in what they do, I think that's great. I'm not a nurse yet, but I do feel that calling...while i'm preparing for nursing school and waiting to hear about my application, I'm volunteering at the emergency department of one of the hospitals here...I have a tremendous respect for all the nurses, EMS, police officers, security guards...:bowingpur For some people it's about the money, that's ok...I'm in the financial services sector right now (this is MOST DEFINITELY just for the money) and for me, I know nursing while have that extra something that will make my effort worthwhile...:redpinkhe

CHEERS!

nurseklw72 · Feb 27, 2008

While I appreciate that you have a deep passion for your career choice, please be aware that not all nurses are "called" to the profession. Nuns and priests are "called" to their vocation. I chose to be a nurse for several reasons. The insatiable need to care for others was not one of them. I think a lot of people in society view the nurse role as a calling. I have a saying that society expects nurses to behave like nuns while they treat us like truck stop waitresses. I think that mindset needs to go. We should be respected as intelligent, educated individuals.

Bugaloo · Feb 27, 2008

When I first started out in nursing (1993), I really felt as if it were a calling. Fifteen years later, I can honestly say that it is no longer a calling. It is a job that I get paid to do.

I feel that I am a good nurse and a hard worker, but do I really feel that I make a difference? Not really. Administration makes it very difficult for us to "practice nursing" since they have to have the upper hand in every situation.

Besides that, judging by the frequent flyers that we see, do you really think that we are making them "better"? Nope, we take care of their symptoms for the present time. When they go back home, they will go right back to doing what put them in the hospital in the first place.

I, for one, feel that nursing has changed a lot in 15 years, and not for the better.

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Feb 27, 2008

I get up in the morning, shower, dress, drive to work, work and drive home. I get a paycheck every two weeks. Sounds like a job. But wait, while doing that job I have the opportunity to touch people's lives. On a good day once in a while when everthing falls into place, it happens.

Sometimes it's a job and sometimes it's a lot more. A calling? Why not. At one time, nurses were women who were literally married to their work. It gave nurses an aura of holiness but not much in the way of respect or pay. Now we're swinging in the other direction, divorcing ourselves of the unique intimacy that patients confer on us in trust. I try to remember that it's humanity at its most vulnerable that receives our skilled services but the way health care is structured, it sure doesn't encourage much in that department. Can we find a balance?

We all get into nursing for different reasons. For me some days it's a job with a paycheck waiting on the other end and one, I might add, that doesn't add up considering what we have to endure. Some days I know beyond any shadow of a doubt it's what I was meant to do. My highest compensation is the emotional reward. Those are the really good days.

ann945n, RN · Feb 28, 2008

I personally feel that calling nursing a 'calling' minimizes all the hard work and knowledge it takes to do this job. It was never a calling for me, it was a chance to be challenged, get paid well, and have many different areas to work in so I wouldnt get bored.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2008

I don't know that I'd call it a "calling", but it's important to me that I earn my livelihood by doing something from which I derive meaning. I derive a great deal of meaning from the relief from suffering that I am able to provide for others. I would not be happy spending as much of my life as I do at work, doing something meaningless.

Grace Oz · Feb 28, 2008

I've always found it interesting in discussions such as this, to note the age of the person expressing an opinion.

For those of us who began nursing in the 1960's, nursing was indeed considered a "calling" in many sections of society.

By and large, (in Australia anyway), nurses were revered and looked up to. Great respect was accorded to nurses. And to be honest with you, money never really was the driving force for becoming a nurse back then. I mean, who in their right mind would work as we did, like a dog as they say, for as little as $14 a week?!

The nursing profession has taken many twists and turns over the years, but anyone who ever enters this profession with NO real desire or intention to SERVE and endeavour to make a difference in the life of those entrusted into their care, should NOT be a nurse!

Scrubby · Feb 28, 2008

I'm not ashamed to admit that one of the reasons i became a nurse was for a steady income and the fact that it's easy to gain employment in this field. I don't see nursing as my 'calling', however i do enjoy making a difference in peoples lives (even though they don't realise it)

sharlynn · Mar 3, 2008

I've always found it interesting in discussions such as this, to note the age of the person expressing an opinion.
For those of us who began nursing in the 1960's, nursing was indeed considered a "calling" in many sections of society.
By and large, (in Australia anyway), nurses were revered and looked up to. Great respect was accorded to nurses. And to be honest with you, money never really was the driving force for becoming a nurse back then. I mean, who in their right mind would work as we did, like a dog as they say, for as little as $14 a week?!
The nursing profession has taken many twists and turns over the years, but anyone who ever enters this profession with NO real desire or intention to SERVE and endeavour to make a difference in the life of those entrusted into their care, should NOT be a nurse!

Very well said!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2008

Nursing is not a "higher calling" to me. It is simply the manner in which I earn my living, nothing more and nothing less.

I am not a martyr who works for no pay. People who are truly "called" to the profession would do it for free or very little money. I can freely admit that I would swiftly find another profession if the paychecks stopped coming in my direction, because I do not have enough passion within me to do this job for free. To be blunt, I expect to be paid for the services that I render.

I find it curious that we don't belittle or berate physicians, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and businessmen for displaying concern about the monetary aspects of their chosen careers. It's time that we stop disrespecting nurses who can be fully honest that they were not "called" to the profession.

The person who does the job for the steady income is still very much capable of being a good, skilled, educated, and highly proficient nurse.