caring in nursing

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

If caring was the main motivation, we wouldn't have 30 to 1 ratios in NHs, 8:1 on telemetry units, 3 and 4:1 in ICUs, post cardiac intervention!

It's like any other business -- money. Make it, keep it, use it to do something to make more money. The largest underserved population in my area is patients with hospice/end of life. But my hospital wants to add a cosmetic surgery component to the hospital's outpatient/day surgery, because it makes them more money. If the plan goes thru, the "beauty" patients will be in special "spa rooms" -- can't have them disturbed by that little dying 80 year old in the next room....I'm not talking about reconstructive surgery after trauma, this is going to be face lifts, brow ifts, tummy tucks, etc. They will have 1:1 nursing, 1:2 CNAs. Meanwhile, I'm running between an evolving CVA, a NSTEMI with a sudden plunge in BP and chest pain, and a GI bleeder that's just gushing blood.....

grrrrrrrrrr

Mulan · Oct 2, 2011

If caring was the main motivation, we wouldn't have 30 to 1 ratios in NHs, 8:1 on telemetry units, 3 and 4:1 in ICUs, post cardiac intervention!
It's like any other business -- money. Make it, keep it, use it to do something to make more money. The largest underserved population in my area is patients with hospice/end of life. But my hospital wants to add a cosmetic surgery component to the hospital's outpatient/day surgery, because it makes them more money. If the plan goes thru, the "beauty" patients will be in special "spa rooms" -- can't have them disturbed by that little dying 80 year old in the next room....I'm not talking about reconstructive surgery after trauma, this is going to be face lifts, brow ifts, tummy tucks, etc. They will have 1:1 nursing, 1:2 CNAs. Meanwhile, I'm running between an evolving CVA, a NSTEMI with a sudden plunge in BP and chest pain, and a GI bleeder that's just gushing blood.....
grrrrrrrrrr

Wow! I want to work there, in the spa!

Altra, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

I'm growing tired of these "debates" as to whether care or money is the primary focus of health care.

In the US, health care is primarily a private business. It was not ever otherwise. People are employed as physicians, nurses, and every other healthcare-related profession you can name. That means they get paid to be in their role. Our care is also heavily technology-dependent. That CT scanner down the hall costs 7 figures.

In some other countries, health care workers are public employees and healthcare costs are spread over the entire population in the form of taxes ... but the costs are still there. Where else would labor, technology and expertise come from?

Are you willing to do what you do for free, just because you care? I didn't think so.

I just don't understand why this is such a debate or conunundrum.

Biffbradford · Oct 2, 2011

I care enough to do the best job that I can when I'm there. When I punch out, it's out of mind ASAP, on with MY life.

hopefulwhoop · Oct 2, 2011

We don't all become nurses because we care. People become nurses for different reasons. You don't even have to care to be a great nurse. You just have to be able to act like you care. As for your question, I can't speak for all NMs and administrators, but I will say that my NM is, hands down, THE best NM I can think of.

Juwon · Oct 2, 2011

We don't all become nurses because we care. People become nurses for different reasons. You don't even have to care to be a great nurse. You just have to be able to act like you care. As for your question, I can't speak for all NMs and administrators, but I will say that my NM is, hands down, THE best NM I can think of.

You are right, you don't have to go into nursing to be caring, you just got to act like you care. I know nurses who don't love nor hate nursing, it just pays the bills. I get tired of hearing people say people shouldn't go into the field unless they care. You got to do what you got to do to pay the bills.

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2011

Do all attorneys go into law because they're honest? They want to defend the innocent, prosecute the guilty?

Do all doctors become doctors because they want to save lives? I just tossed that one in, but we all know the answer to that.

Do all teachers become teachers because they like kids?

Are all policemen protectors of the innocent?

Why should those who enter the field of healthcare be any different?

Trinity1234 · Oct 2, 2011

I am in nursing becauase I care I have been at the other spectrum as apatient seeing nurses not realizing that their lack of caring was showing thru how they responded to me and theirlevel of care and theu did noit havce aheavy work load fyi! I also went into nursing because I have 2 special needs sons and have seen the healthcare system failing , I want to help my sons and others in a small way at least to ease the burden of a failing system. I watched Emmanuel's Gift it was a documentary, it is another reason why I am a new LPN and I am continuing my education to be come a RN. ATM I am searching for a job as a LPN and am surprsied to find jobs here lacking, not many opportunities!! But I will plug along I believe in what I have been trained for and cont. on that journe. Some of us are not idealistic we do care and some of us once did but life gets in the way and we get callous,life is hrad, i for one have led a very hard life so anyhting that gets thrown at me in nursing will not change my caring, I have been homeless, I have lost a child thru being beaten by a spouse now aka ex, I have been attacked at age 12 almost raped beaten by my father as toddler abused by family members, etc many thing and I am still hear and amazingly through God's grace and confirmation through therapists left unscathed...strnger and more compassionate but much wiser, I am no doormat but I always believd everyone has a good side now I am a litle more cynical I see a lot more evil now than the good I am no longer blind to the evil.But I will continue to care a lot otherwise I am a machine I am not human.

As for the money vs. caring, its a matter of why you come into the feild and to be careful if you do not really care because it can effect your leevel of performance as anurse and the patients do see it and their health may depend on your caring. The admin. do look at the bottom line and I hope care just a little but these days all people have to but we must never forget to stop caring and those who do not it is time to start. It seperates us from machines, we have to care at least a little.

Forgive anytypos I have scarteche my eye and I developed an infection I am on meds LOL...drugged up LOL!!! only on antibiotics really but eye sight is poor blurs sometimes!!Hope no one has been offended and hope this little but helps in some way!

vashtee, RN · Oct 3, 2011

My bosses encourage compassion and caring... it's good for patient satisfaction surveys, or I'm sure they would emphasize something else.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 3, 2011

my bosses encourage compassion and caring... it's good for patient satisfaction surveys, or i'm sure they would emphasize something else.

i just snorted my coffee -- this post should have had a beverage alert!

duckyluck111 · Oct 3, 2011

It is really obvious to everybody (your patients, coworkers and superiors) the difference between a professional (in any profession) who really cares and one who is just acting like they do. I think in a profession where you are dealing with people who are scared, hurting and vulnerable, you have to have enough compassion and respect to be able to imagine how you would like yourself or a family member to be treated if they were your patient.

Regardless of how crappy the working conditions or financial constraints that may make your job more difficult than it should be, the first priority should be to show kindness, caring and consideration to everybody. Job conditions are difficult in many fields. Deal with the reality at hand and then be an activist for the changes you feel passionate about. Yes you have to earn a living but there has to be a higher purpose to your life on this planet than just punching in and out and collecting your paycheck. As a nurse you are in a unique position to really make a difference to people at crucial moments in their lives. Yes you need the ability to let it go at the end of the day and focus on your own life, but I absolutely believe you need to care.

To those "pretenders": I think there are a lot of professions where caring and compassion aren't a prerequisite but to think you can do your job and not give a hoot when you are directly responsible for the care and wellbeing of another human is very strange to me. Consider the possibility that either you're burning out that ultimately your talents might be better used elsewhere and leave the nursing profession to those who really feel called to do it.