Do you have a PASSION for nursing?

EmarosaNYC · Jun 13, 2012

For me it just seems like Nursing is one of the only professions out there that has at least some employment opportunities. My passion is in film making and editing but i figured my passion may not get me anywhere in life in this economic wasteland so now i'm taking Nursing. Do i have a passion for Nursing?

Not really.

Although i DO love helping people and right now i wouldn't trade being a nurse for anything/ any other profession in the world; but my true passion still lies in film making; i'll turn that too a hobby though so it's all good.

in before people quoting me because i don't have passion for said subject.

allnurses Guide · Jun 13, 2012

I wouldn't agree at all that the only nurses with a passion for nursing are those who haven't been out in the real world yet. I doubt everyone would describe what they feel as a "passion" -- they may feel that it fulfills their needs in some way, or they may feel committed to what they do. There are many nurses here with lots of years of experience who still wouldn't want to do anything else. The real world does temper your original idealism, but that comes with professional growth. That's a good thing.

I do hear students and new nurses sometimes saying, "If you don't have a passion for nursing, then you should get out." It's sort of the flip side of what you're saying. I think it's just best if we accept people for what they do, rather than what their personal thoughts and feelings are.

MA_Davis · Jun 13, 2012

I wouldn't agree at all that the only nurses with a passion for nursing are those who haven't been out in the real world yet. I doubt everyone would describe what they feel as a "passion" -- they may feel that it fulfills their needs in some way, or they may feel committed to what they do. There are many nurses here with lots of years of experience who still wouldn't want to do anything else. The real world does temper your original idealism, but that comes with professional growth. That's a good thing.
I do hear students and new nurses sometimes saying, "If you don't have a passion for nursing, then you should get out." It's sort of the flip side of what you're saying. I think it's just best if we accept people for what they do, rather than what their personal thoughts and feelings are.

I agree. And I disagree that it is MADATORY to have a passion. A lot of people don't but they do it just as well as the next person. But if they lack a care to be a nurse so badly that it affects patients, then at that time for me, it would be time for them to go. lol But yes I see what you are saying very true and thank you for commenting

MA_Davis · Jun 13, 2012

For me it just seems like Nursing is one of the only professions out there that has at least some employment opportunities. My passion is in film making and editing but i figured my passion may not get me anywhere in life in this economic wasteland so now i'm taking Nursing. Do i have a passion for Nursing?
Not really.
Although i DO love helping people and right now i wouldn't trade being a nurse for anything/ any other profession in the world; but my true passion still lies in film making; i'll turn that too a hobby though so it's all good.
in before people quoting me because i don't have passion for said subject.

Definitely, I agree you sure will be able to tie that into your life somewhere so all in all it's a win win. And agree you don't have to have a passion for it. I do but that doesn't mean everyone else has to as long as the patient's get what they need and your doing your job, so what! And thank you for commenting

Nickyg1225 · Jun 13, 2012

Well, I have been helping my family and friends for years naturally, because I wanted to. I never considered myself having a passion for nursing but I like helping people. I disagree with that post saying a passion for nursing is for people who haven't been in the real world. That is not right, I know several nurses who do not feel that way.

MA_Davis · Jun 13, 2012

Well, I have been helping my family and friends for years naturally, because I wanted to. I never considered myself having a passion for nursing but I like helping people. I disagree with that post saying a passion for nursing is for people who haven't been in the real world. That is not right, I know several nurses who do not feel that way.

Yes. I guess basically they were trying to say that I have a passion for it only because I have not become a nurse yet. I strongly disagree because I know what I am capable of handling and I know who I am. And I feel the same way I love to help people.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

Passion. Hmmm, a very strong word. I have, at times, been very proud to be a nurse, thankful even. I've been so very happy to have provided comfort to both the sick and dying, as well as the family of both groups.

There have been times when I wished, beyond wishing, that I was ANYTHING but a nurse. The long hours and too-many shifts, the exhausting rituals, the ungrateful patients. The doctors, family members that blamed the nursing staff for their own shortcomings, as though striking out at the innocent would be acceptable somehow. It never was.

And somewhere along the way, I'm still glad that I chose this profession. And yet I wouldn't encourage others to follow my path....my own son I would not encourage to become a nurse, not at all.

Why? Because while am at peace with my own life's course, I don't believe I'd want it for him.

Most days, I'm glad that I got to make a difference, in a positive way, for about a dozen people. I'm glad that they left my center smiling, thanking me, and glad that they were recently in my care.

Satisfaction with a life's work does not mean I have a "passion" for it. Frankly, I can't put my finger on a single name of a co-worker who would describe their feelings about their careers in nursing as having a root in "passion". Necessity, enjoyment, satisfaction....yes. Passion? No.

nohika · Jun 14, 2012

But if they lack a care to be a nurse so badly that it affects patients, then at that time for me, it would be time for them to go. lol But yes I see what you are saying very true and thank you for commenting

I think what is annoying people is that you're assuming EVERYONE that is solely a nurse for the money (or whatever reason beyond "passion") is horrible to patients, etcetc. It is quite possible to hate your job and still be lovely to your patients, residents, whomever. The ones that have issues likely have had issues LONG before they entered nursing. Or who knows - some of those bitter, burned out nurses, could've gotten that way through the culture/the way nursing is today.

It's hard to judge when you don't know the circumstances. Focus on yourself. Don't worry so much about the motivations of everyone else, because frankly, they are none of your business.

It's you and your motivation that will get YOU through school. Not anyone else.

allnurses Guide · Jun 14, 2012

I agree. And I disagree that it is MADATORY to have a passion. A lot of people don't but they do it just as well as the next person. But if they lack a care to be a nurse so badly that it affects patients, then at that time for me, it would be time for them to go. lol But yes I see what you are saying very true and thank you for commenting

I think a lot of that can depend on the environment you work in. If the majority of nurses and especially the managers have a cynical attitude of doing just enough to get by the whole unit suffers. I was really lucky as my first job out of nursing school was at Children's Hospital of LA where my little bro had been treated for leukemia (he's OK now). By and large you just don't work with kids, (usually) if you don't have passion and that place certainly did from the top physicians in the world in their specialties all the way down to the cafeteria helpers.

I also didn't get treated like crap when I was a new nurse so there wasn't a "nurses eat their young" problem there. The first time I heard that was actually on this forum. Since my first job I've worked in good places and bad places. By that I mean there was one job that had such dysfunctional supervisors nobody could survive there.

So the best place for a person with a lot of passion is a place where you find like-minded people as much as is within your ability to do so. You have a lot of drive and ambition. I hope you are able to find your niche in the nursing world and that the job outlook opens up so you'll have a variety of paths that use your talents to their fullest.

♑ Capricorn ♑ · Jun 14, 2012

Yes, I am passionate about nursing, and I'm also a realist. I know my future work days/nights aren't going to be all rainbows, unicorns, and glitter. I realize that there is a difference between nursing school and real world nursing. I know I'm going to love what I'll be doing, and I will also not like aspects of it too. I accept the good with the bad.

Do I think I will lose it? How can you lose something if it is not your own truth. You can't lose what was never there. You will always have it, if it remains true to you.

rubato, ASN, RN · Jun 14, 2012

I think the reason people were so vehemently defending that stance on that thread was because you were so vehemently defending your stance that if someone hates their job, they are going to give horrible patient care and need to leave. There can be a whole lot of in between. Passion is a great thing to have, as long as you're also realistic about how hard this job is and overworked and under appreciated you are going to be.

I only have passion for one thing: my family. Anything else is just going to be a job. Plus, I am not a nurse yet. But, I chose the profession of nursing because: decent pay, working with people (which I love), no sitting in an office, 12 hour shifts, using my love of science and math, and decent health benefits. Of course I want to help people, but really, knowing that I'm going to be bogged down with politics, under staffing and red tape is a realistic entry into nursing. I am starting this career later in life and I like to know what I'm getting into.

I'm glad that you feel so strongly about your "passion" and I really do hope you still have it after school and 10 years of nursing. :)