Does this bother anyone else?

texashyles · May 6, 2009

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs... We have to satisfy our own basic needs before we can extend care to another.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

All I know is that if and when I am a patient in the health care system, I want a nurse looking after me who actually wants to be there and is dedicated to looking after her patients, not one who chose her profession based on job security and is more concerned about cash flow.

Not me. I'd rather have a nurse with a brain on her or her shoulders, who can at the very least think their way out a paper bag. I don't care what your motivations are for being a nurse, so long as you are a good one. :twocents:

kcochrane · May 6, 2009

I think people who criticize those who go into healthcare for the money and benefits are hypocrits themselves. Think about it, they say that they don't care about the money and thats not what they went to school for but say "well, then take that 27 buck an hour salary you make and cut it down to 15 and come back and tell me you would work for that amount." I bet they would say no.

Actually LPNs do make only $15/hr in this area. So yeah, I'll work for that amount and I have worked for that amount. We all have to work in order to live. That is a fact unless you are born in a rich family. Finding work that matches your passion and can pay the bills is the ultimate. I was lucky with both. I don't think anyone that says passion is important is saying that they don't care about the money. It is just hard to understand going into nursing ONLY for the money.

My mom went in to nursing in the '60s because it was the only option available to her. She did an excellent job because she had a work ethic and cared about her patients, but she absolutely did not have the passion and actually tried to get me to not go into nursing. She did eventually pursue other options. So yes, you can be a good nurse without the passion as long as you have a good work ethic and care about people. But I think without the passion it would be hard to be a nurse long term. The passion keeps me coming back even when I want to quit.

Wishinonastar, BSN · May 6, 2009

I think like any career there are always people who are in it just to make a living. How many teachers did you have in school that truly had a passion for teaching? How many just wanted a secure union job with summers off? Yet a great teacher makes a huge difference to society.

So it is with nursing. I think it is like a normal curve- a certain percentage have a true calling and passion, the majority of nurses like it, but it is not something that they are truly passionate about, a small percentage hate it and are just in it for the security, pay, to find a doctor husband, you name it.

Personally every nurse I work with at one of my two jobs has said they wish they had become teachers, yet many of them are certainly young enought to go back to college if they wanted to. They simply don't have a true passion to do it. They are in the majority of nurses who are good nurses, even great nurses, but they surely don't think it is the best thing in the world.

libnat · May 6, 2009

If anyone wants to work for free, and really make a difference for your fellow man may I suggest the peace corp. Beyond that, I'm not spending all this green on school not to earn a paycheck afterwords.

whoknows56 · May 6, 2009

I was just reading a post in another thread and came across the following statement that alarmed me: "i wish that i had chosen nursing in the first place because i need a recession Proof career".
I understand that the economy is facing, and will continue to face, hard times. I also realize that as a result of this people are now more then ever looking into job security when choosing a career. It scares me however, that people are now choosing nursing as a profession based on the thought that it is said to be 'recession proof' and not because they truly have a passion for it.
All I know is that if and when I am a patient in the health care system, I want a nurse looking after me who actually wants to be there and is dedicated to looking after her patients, not one who chose her profession based on job security and is more concerned about cash flow. Am I living in a dream world?

As much as a person may not like it that a person choses a degree based on secruity, that person has the right to chose what s/he wants to do for a career/job.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · May 6, 2009

Another good career that will survive the economy is the funeral business. Let's face it people live and die despite economics.

Not to get too off topic but...

The funeral and cemetery industry is dying. I used to work in that business arranging funeral and cemetery contracts for terminally ill people. The 'death' industry makes money on traditional funeral services with the casket, service, etc and on selling cemetery plots and grave markers. This is where the profit is.

Thing is, the percentage of people choosing the traditional funeral and burial is plummeting every year. The average funeral and cemetery arrangement is about 8k-12k. Instead, people are increasingly choosing cremation. This can be done for as little as $500. There is very little profit in cremation.

So, this is why the funeral industry is a "dying" business. The largest corporate owner of funeral homes and cemeteries in the US has been laying off employees for the last few years. The only area where their business continues to sustain is in the Southern US, where people tend to be more traditional.

whoknows56 · May 6, 2009

What drives you when you are 18, idealistic and full of dreams is different than what motivates you at 35.
Working in the shadow of job insecurity is like working in a polluted environment, the whole workplace keeps track of the latest layoffs and wonders who is next. You can feel the anxiety.
In tight financial times, I bet there are fewer parents advising their kids to "follow your dreams(however impractical)."
Reasons for entering a job are rarely so black and white as " I am in it for the money" or "I want to save the world".
We are a complex mix of reasons, some we are only dimly aware of.

I do agree to a point. When I was 18 years old, I wanted a job that I would love. Now that I'm 27, the first thing I look at when looking for new jobs is the salary of the position and the cost of living. I never did that at 18 years of age.

As far as what parents are telling kids these days for a possible career, I don't have a clue. I do hope that parents are telling kids to be smart when they go to college.....get a degree in business to go along with that art degree.

whoknows56 · May 6, 2009

Not to get too off topic but...
The funeral and cemetery industry is dying. I used to work in that business arranging funeral and cemetery contracts for terminally ill people. The 'death' industry makes money on traditional funeral services with the casket, service, etc and on selling cemetery plots and grave markers. This is where the profit is.
Thing is, the percentage of people choosing the traditional funeral and burial is plummeting every year. The average funeral and cemetery arrangement is about 8k-12k. Instead, people are increasingly choosing cremation. This can be done for as little as $500. There is very little profit in cremation.
So, this is why the funeral industry is a "dying" business. The largest corporate owner of funeral homes and cemeteries in the US has been laying off employees for the last few years. The only area where their business continues to sustain is in the Southern US, where people tend to be more traditional.

This is a good example to of showing how things change over time. One career might be "hot" right now, but in 30 years it may not even be around anymore.

caliotter3 · May 6, 2009

There's no law that says you have to be passionate about being a nurse anymore than there is a law that says you have to be passionate about being the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. A job is a job. If you like your job, then life is easier. But if you love your job, there are all kinds of ways to have your heart broken. So maintaining passion about any kind of job can be just as detrimental as hating your workplace and everyone you work with.

fun-key · May 6, 2009

I would have much less passion as the qb for the donko's... they stink.

caliotter3 · May 6, 2009

I'll bet the QB for the Broncos watches his behavior around his bosses too, because he cares about his paycheck, not because he's in love with football. Same can probably be said about most people in most jobs.