Ethics: Does it bother you when people are in nursing to make money?

rn undisclosed name · Nov 19, 2007

No it really doesn't bother me if someone is in nursing to make money. I haven't really heard very many people say they are in nursing for the money though.

I am probably one of those who is in nursing for the money but I don't go around spouting that fact. When I was growing up I wanted to be a nurse then I got to high school and had an awful chemistry teacher and knew if I couldn't get past chemistry then there was no way I'd be able to get into nursing and so I kind of gave up on my career choice and decided to pursue business. Well, I was only going to school part time all those years and after my daughter was born I still wanted to be a nurse and thought I'd give the science classes one last try and if I could get past them I'd try to get into the nursing program. Ok, I made it past with a lot of hard work. I was considerably older and knew how much nurses made and believe me if I wasn't going to be making quite a bit more money than I was previously making why should I make the sacrifices I was making to go back to school and go through an intense program? There had better be some sort of incentive for me.

I believe I do a good job and I try my best each day. I still haven't quite figured out how some nurses I work with are able to sit on their but all day and do nothing. I run around all day and hardly ever stop. It's unfortunate but most people have to work. Would you rather work 80 hours a week at a mediocre salary or 36 hours a week at a better salary and have that time to spend on your off time as you would like?

I usually work 3 days a week and occassionally pick up an extra shift. I pick up this extra shift for the money not really because I want to. But you know it's wonderful to know that I can pick up an extra shift and make some good money for working extra. The extra money can come in handy for different things (vacation, major purchases, etc.).

Any job I've had I have always done my best at it no matter what the salary is. Yeah, I'm not going to get rich being a nurse and I am making more $$$ now than I have ever made and let me tell you it is wonderful to not be living paycheck to paycheck and wondering how I am going to pay the bills. Go ahead and have a problem with me but I'll continue to be in nursing for the money, doing the best job I can while I am there, and furthering my education to help me out in my chosen job.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2007

This thread reminds me of studies that have been done on cognitive dissonance and careers.

You know - the studies go something like this: 20 participants are paid $5 to do a boring and unpleasant task (rated boring and unpleasant by overwhelming margins in other samples) and then they fill out a survey regarding the meaning and level of enjoyment. 20 other participants do the exact same task, but they are paid $50, and then they fill out the same survey regarding the boring/unpleasant task.

Who rates their boring/unpleasant level most accurately? The higher paid group. This has been duplicated many, many times. It is cognitive dissonance regarding work. The lower paid group will always rank their task as quite meaningful, etc. The mind has to inject the perception of extra meaning to explain why we would do such things for low pay/bad treatment.

When people are paid fairly and treated well, they tend to perceive their conditions more accurately.

I would think this could have implications for nursing. Anytime I hear nursing related as a 'calling' by someone I think of this. Savvy and scheming leaders know that the way to get someone to work harder for them is to treat them poorly and pay them little. The worker will respond with cognitive dissonance and unconsciously attach extra meaning to their work to bridge the dissonance and work harder.

Many people leading large groups know this. Religious leaders know this, and so do political leaders, etc. I think of this sometimes when I read about nursing being a 'calling' and all of the halo 'angels of mercy' stuff.

aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Nov 20, 2007

Why should one be independent of the other? I don't see it as an "either / or" proposition.

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!

leslie :-D · Nov 20, 2007

thanks, multi.

wonderful, insightful post.

makes much sense.

thankfully (???), i've never felt the need to prove myself.

delusions of grandeur, et al?

my little bubble, has served me well.

leslie

Miss Mab · Nov 20, 2007

Well, I didn't GO into it for the $$$, but that's pretty much the only reason I'm sticking around at the moment. I reach past that 100k mark just by doing my 3 a week--god bless California! No crazy everyday OT thing for me.

That said, I also give 100% of myself at work but nothing more because I finally understand i can't do everything myself. If I'm not given the tools to succeed then i probably won't. I'm slow, huh? Despite my strong opinions on nursing as a "profession' I am actually considered the nice one at work. Clinically competent with a patient advocate's heart. Despite this, though, I absolutely show up almost soley for the cash. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Now, no need for hypotheticals because this country is actually already at war, I assume you've heard about it, so I took my money grubbing self down to the recruiter and actually joined the military. I guess patriotism trumps capitalism for this RN.

We need more people 'doing it for the $$' not less. That's how you demand increases and equity and parity with our responsibilities. All you, it's only about the caring folks, send out a message to corporations that you're willing to do the job for whatever pittance they deign to pay. If you are, good on ya, but you're screwing w/the rest of us!

Knock it off!

:uhoh3:

leslie :-D · Nov 20, 2007

whoa nelly, miss mab.

your adrenaline is really pumped. :lol2:

take that adrenaline, and kick some royal a$$.

we're proud of you. :balloons:

leslie

withasmilelpn · Nov 20, 2007

I just wondered if other as I do feel there are some in our line of work who look at money, security of earnings first rather than having a passion for their patient's welfare or wanting to work at finding ways to improve their performance as a nurse.
Any thoughts? Comments? Rants?

I go above and beyond every time I go to work because I believe my patients and my co-workers deserve no less. But I feel absolutely no shame in going after money in the process. By being a dependable, knowledgable worker I have quietly and respectfully managed to negotiate good schedules and great pay. I will not settle. I have a family to take care of, and goals that go beyond my job. Money talks!

In regards to performance, frankly, I don't have respect for anyone that just does something for a paycheck. Every job should have your commitment to excellence, don't you think? I think that if everyone would wake up every day thinking what can I do to improve myself and things for others as well - what a world we would have! I know I sound a little preachy and yes somedays my views on this subject are tested (when I'd rather stay in bed!), but I think it is good to have some core values like these guiding you in the workplace, especially in Nursing.

ann945n, RN · Nov 20, 2007

I got into nursing for the pay and job security. It was also a job I knew I could take in many different paths so I could find my happy niche. As well I think someone who gets a job for pay/security reason is a happy employee and does a good job as well. Of course I care for my patients and enjoy my job but because my motives are different from say someone who "had a calling" doesnt make me or anyone else less/worse of a nurse.

ann945n, RN · Nov 20, 2007

Well, I didn't GO into it for the $$$, but that's pretty much the only reason I'm sticking around at the moment. I reach past that 100k mark just by doing my 3 a week--god bless California! No crazy everyday OT thing for me.
That said, I also give 100% of myself at work but nothing more because I finally understand i can't do everything myself. If I'm not given the tools to succeed then i probably won't. I'm slow, huh? Despite my strong opinions on nursing as a "profession' I am actually considered the nice one at work. Clinically competent with a patient advocate's heart. Despite this, though, I absolutely show up almost soley for the cash. The two aren't mutually exclusive.
Now, no need for hypotheticals because this country is actually already at war, I assume you've heard about it, so I took my money grubbing self down to the recruiter and actually joined the military. I guess patriotism trumps capitalism for this RN.
We need more people 'doing it for the $$' not less. That's how you demand increases and equity and parity with our responsibilities. All you, it's only about the caring folks, send out a message to corporations that you're willing to do the job for whatever pittance they deign to pay. If you are, good on ya, but you're screwing w/the rest of us!
Knock it off!

Amen sister!

James Huffman · Nov 20, 2007

And I truely wonder,
If it were world war three in these here states, would you as a nurse volunteer your services to the wounded. Since, possibly the country could be in financial ruin. Would you just think bottom line mother dollar and run?

OK, I'm going to be the first one to say this: if there were a world war three, yes, even then, I expect to be paid. And paid well. I notice that even in war time, nurses get paid. Why shouldn't we? Nobody else imagines that their work is of so little value that they shouldn't get paid. Why do nurses feel that way?

I'm sorry, but this is a moronic discussion. I've never heard any other professional group where people try to make each other feel guilty because they are making money at their work. Only nurses sit around and discuss stuff like this. And this, my friends, is why nurses are not paid well. Because we -- as a professional group -- don't value our services.

We have this vaguely guilty feeling that what we are doing isn't really worth it, that what we do could really be done by unpaid volunteers, and that somehow hospitals and others who purchase the services of nurses are getting ripped off by us. How else can I explain people acting as though we took a vow of poverty? Well, if someone wants to take a vow of poverty, that's perfectly fine. But I didn't, and I have no intention of doing so. I have a set cost per hour, and I will not work below that amount. And I'm actually raising my fees in January. Do I do volunteer work? Absolutely. As -- I suspect -- at least 90% of the people reading this. But it's crackers to talk about working for nothing. And nurses who think we should have -- in my humble opinion -- forfeited forever the right to complain about any aspect of their compensation. They deserve what they get.

But the problem is that nurses who don't mind working for nothing mess up the rest of nurses. Because they make the public continue feeling that nurses are angels of mercy, whose hands are too pure and elevated to even sink to the level of touching filthy lucre.

Well, I'm not an angel of mercy. I don't have a calling from God or anyone else to be a nurse. I do it because I've been educated in my field, and I'm good at it. And I deserve to be paid well. And if you're a competent, skilled practitioner, so do you.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Nov 20, 2007

I personally, like money, security, opportunity, benefits, patient care, and deveploment as a nurse EQUALLY.

Yes, I'm in it for all of the above.

Everyone needs money, period. That's the way the world works.

EmmaG, RN · Nov 20, 2007

James, I have found another Hero.

*clap*