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

Nurses General Nursing

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I just wondered if others 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?

Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.
I'm guessing that many attorneys may enjoy their jobs *and* the money they make. Docs may like their jobs *and* the money they make. Veterinarians may like their jobs *and* the money they make.....you get the point.

Why shouldn't a nurse both enjoy their job *and* the money they make?

No one would expect less for any other profession.

I think that is great, but I don't think that was the intention of the thread. My take is the people that go in to nurses just to make money not necessarily because they like nursing. There are nurses out there like that and they aren't very happy. I believe you can go into a profession for money and for the love of it. but the money isn't that great.

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Cloister,

Very well put.

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I am hearing some people say there are a lot easier ways of making this kind of money. Are there really? Do you really know that? Do you really know they are easier or does it just look that way to you.

I have been guilty in the past saying that but then I really examined my thought processes and the facts and I am not so sure.

Bottom line (excuse the expression) when I became a nurse it was after many years of saying I would not because it takes the caregiver away from the personal care and even the bedside in some cases. I really did not want to get that detached from the people I was helping.

However, circumstance in my life left me with options that were less than ideal, and few choices. I chose nursing one of the only two viable options that I had to make decent money. I chose it for the $$. I chose it because of the two options I had it was the one thing I (for me) knew I could live with and probably not get fired.

It was familiar and therefore comfortable territory for me. My other option was on shaky ground as far as it being something I could count on to bring in a decent income.

My other option required much more academic preparation and in hind site is not as lucrative.

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What you are actually complaining about is a person with a bad attitude and a bad work ethic; it is a character flaw and usually improves with maturity but sometimes does not. It is present in every profession from minimum wage to 6 figures a year. And, I totally agree with you; these people are irritating to say the least.

As to your question about people just doing it for the money; I think that everyone works for money; but it's hard to imagine a nurse doing it JUST for the money because there are a lot better paying jobs out there if all a person cares about is money.

I am not a nurse; I hope to attend nursing school Fall 2008. And believe it or not the money is actually what has kept me AWAY from nursing for so long. With all due respect, nurses really don't get paid that much in the grand scheme of things. I'll be taking a significant pay cut once I earn my RN. Not trying to start a fight here, but nurses are significantly underpaid, IMHO.:o

I've looked into dental hygiene in order to get out of nursing. The problem is the mkt is saturated w/ RDHs in my area, just as it is w/ RNs.

I can't believe someone would leave the better hours, better pay, and a whole lot less responsibility of dental hygiene to be a nurse.

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I think that is great, but I don't think that was the intention of the thread. My take is the people that go in to nurses just to make money not necessarily because they like nursing. There are nurses out there like that and they aren't very happy. I believe you can go into a profession for money and for the love of it. but the money isn't that great.

As long as a nurse can perform their job competently, leaves drama at home, treats patients well and is not a department liability, I could care less about the exact reason that led them into nursing.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Well, I'm kind of afraid to admit it, but I consider nursing my calling.

I think that it's great that you consider nursing a calling. That may make it more personally satisfying to you than those who don't consider it a calling.

To me, it's a job. A job with a heck of a lot of responsibility. A job that I take pride in doing well. And a job that I chose because I knew that it would pay well if I was willing to work hard.

I think that I'm reasonably paid for what I do, but not overpaid. I make no apologies for accepting that pay.

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I've looked into dental hygiene in order to get out of nursing. The problem is the mkt is saturated w/ RDHs in my area, just as it is w/ RNs.

I can't believe someone would leave the better hours, better pay, and a whole lot less responsibility of dental hygiene to be a nurse.

In my area RDHs are in great demand. I can pretty much name my price and hours. But I'm not bragging; it is a very monotonous job; you're expected to "sell" dentistry as opposed to just focusing on th patient's needs. Bottom line is I feel no satisfaction from my job. I feel even less respect and appreciation. I'm a goal oriented person; and there is nowhere for me to go; no lateral or upward movement. I just can't imagine being stagnant in my career for another 35 years; and I truly want to feel like I'm making a difference (not to claim nursing is a calling for me....I just want to make a difference).

Anyways; that's my explanation and I'm stickin to it!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
Well, I'm kind of afraid to admit it, but I consider nursing my calling.

Simply put, it's where I'm most apt to encounter the sacred, and after 20 years I still consider myself privileged to be a nurse and work with people in their worst moments.

That being said, let me hasten to add that I make about 4X what I did as a new grad. I accept every penny of it. I won't be turning down any raises, either.

I remember raising my hand as a sophomore in our "Intro to Nursing" class to ask the ICU RN guest speaker about salaries in critical care. I thought the head of our department, whom we called "Atilla the Nun", was going to stroke. I guess she couldn't see how a 20 year old with no intention of joining a religious order could possibly be interested in money. I was already thinking of the family I hoped someday to raise, and as one of our previous posters so aptly put it, altruism won't pay the bills.

I will say that there isn't enough money minted to make the job worthwhile if you don't like people on some level. Some nights, I'm convinced there isn't enough money minted, period, depending on what comes up from the ER or who's on call!

So, yeah, it's my "calling", but it's also paying for my kid's gymnastics and putting money in my retirement fund. It's turned out to be a pretty darned lucrative calling, and I'm glad I chose it!

I am glad you put into words what I was looking to hear (read that is) that there are those of us that appreciate the money, however feel that being a nurse is a rewarding and uplifting career choice. My feeling is that those of us who are unhappy nursing, but do a very good job at it, very concientious indeed, may not be where we aught to be. May not be truly happy being the nurse. May prefer to be a stock brocker or a realestate agent. However, nursing as a career choice is stable and other careers are less stable, perhaps more risk but more monetary profit. We are in demand. The chosen few who could find work at the drop of a hat if let go from the employer we now presently have. Again thank you. And to the one who was an aid at a time prior to nursing: I too felt very rewarded as the aid with little money to compensate my war (work!) efforts. And so, in summary to this thread that could possibly reach to the moon, thank you to all for participating; and sorry if I rubbed a few people wrong. I love the money and the stability of nursing. I love the rewards of having families with big smiles appreciate what I do. I love having an MD understand that I see him as part of the team and not the enemy. I love seeing western medicine work, really work to save somebody from death's door.

Everybody have a terrific Thanks Giving. Enjoy it! Remember, I have to work those nights; but, I'm not complaining, I will be well compensated lol

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It does not bother me when people are in nursing to make money. Nursing is a job. The point of a job is to make money.

I don't understand why this subject always comes up. Why should we not be paid? I feel that I give good care and I like being reimbursed monetarily. I have bills to pay, and sometimes I like to buy myself things that I want. If nursing didn't pay I wouldn't be doing it, and there would be an even larger nursing shortage.

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Specializes in Med-Tele, Internal Med PCU.

I recently retired from the Navy and am currently in an ADN program. When I desided to change careers I looked at what I enjoyed (teaching and carring for others). I also considered going into education but, saw the "life expectancy" was like 7 years and had questions of my willingness to commit to that profession. This left nursing, the pay is better, more variety, flexibility is better, don't get summers off, but can pick up and move and not worry about finding work. And if practice doesn't agree with me I can take my Nursing education and RN license and put it to use outside of a hospital.

In my 10 person class we have an average age of 34, 1 MBA, 2 psych techs (1 w/ MS, 1 w/BS), 1 who managed grocery stores, 1 bar-restaurant manager/bartender, and me. Thats 6/10 who are second career ... granted, 2 are lower end.

Bottom line is that we all are looking for our own best interest finacially. But if you are in ANY profession just for the money you probably won't be too successful in that profession, and at the least you will be miserable.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Well, I'm kind of afraid to admit it, but I consider nursing my calling.

Simply put, it's where I'm most apt to encounter the sacred, and after 20 years I still consider myself privileged to be a nurse and work with people in their worst moments.

That being said, let me hasten to add that I make about 4X what I did as a new grad. I accept every penny of it. I won't be turning down any raises, either.

I remember raising my hand as a sophomore in our "Intro to Nursing" class to ask the ICU RN guest speaker about salaries in critical care. I thought the head of our department, whom we called "Atilla the Nun", was going to stroke. I guess she couldn't see how a 20 year old with no intention of joining a religious order could possibly be interested in money. I was already thinking of the family I hoped someday to raise, and as one of our previous posters so aptly put it, altruism won't pay the bills.

I will say that there isn't enough money minted to make the job worthwhile if you don't like people on some level. Some nights, I'm convinced there isn't enough money minted, period, depending on what comes up from the ER or who's on call!

So, yeah, it's my "calling", but it's also paying for my kid's gymnastics and putting money in my retirement fund. It's turned out to be a pretty darned lucrative calling, and I'm glad I chose it!

:yeahthat:

Well said!

When I say that nursing is a calling for me, that is in no way a comment on anyone else's motives. Others don't feel the same way and I don't have a problem with that. As IMustBeCrazy said, "As long as a nurse can perform their job competently, leaves drama at home, treats patients well and is not a department liability, I could care less about the exact reason that led them into nursing."

Also, when I say nursing is a calling, I'm not saying nor implying that I've taken a vow of poverty. I'm not sure why saying that you were called to something seems to indicate that you're OK with being taken advantage of or underpaid. I always think of the verse in the Bible that says "workers deserve their wages." There is, however, more to it for me than just the money.

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I have a real problem with the people who are only in it for the money. I agree that money is important when choosing your career and I think that we should be compensated well for what we do. But if you went to nursing school b/c you wanted to get $30 and hour, travel but you dont think you can actually physically touch and care about another persons feelings, then you shouldnt be a nurse. Thats disguisting to me. I dont want you standing over me while I'm sick and not want to change my brief because you didnt go into nursing to clean. (it comes with the job description) Not everyone has to do it but you shouldnt think you are above it. I know nurses who got into nursing for THE MONEY, who always call for the CNA to clean their patients bc they dont want to clean poop. Meanwhile, while you are waiting on the CNA who has 18 other patients to care for...

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