Are you in Nursing for the Caring or the Cash?? Be Honest

roxannekkb · Jun 22, 2004

Excellent points. We are college grads and deserve our pay and we work very very hard. Would I work this hard for less money? No.
To be the devil's advocate, however, I don't like working with people who are in it ONLY for the money. Thank goodness there aren't many of them, and they are a smear on the profression. Am I making sense?

Everyone should enjoy what they do for a living, not just nurses. But unfortunately, I find more of the opposite to be true. Many people dislike, hate, or are bored with their work. It is sad that we spend such a big chunk of our lives doing something that is unfulfilling or despicable to us.

That said, nursing is now being advertised as this opportunity of a lifetime. An awful lot of people are going into nursing, or thinking about it, because they've been laid off recently, and are thinking of nursing only in terms of job stability. I suppose if you are out of work, and hungry, and in danger of losing your home, then working "just for the money" is not a bad idea. But many have absolutely no idea what nursing is really about, and enter it blindfolded. As a result, I've been hearing that there is a large drop-out rate in many nursing programs.

While the "calling" concept of nursing gives me the creeps (that goes with self-sacrificing martyr), nevertheless, going into nursing is just not the same as switching from IT to law, or law to accounting, or accounting to teaching. This is an entirely different realm, and not everyone can handle it. Some people make it through school and are absolutely miserable--not even because of all of the negatives they may face, but just from the work itself. But they may stick with hospital nursing anyway, because it pays better than other areas.

The best combination is to do what you love and be well paid. In lieu of that, even though not every nurse loves nursing, the pay for nursing should be equal to comparable professions. And not to get off on this topic, but that is why I believe that nursing should have a BSN minimum, just like all other healthcare professions. Nurses also need better defined job descriptions--like, if you're willing to mop the floor and pull the trash, well, the hospital will pay you as such. A physical therapist, as an example, generally needs a MS degree now to practice. They have a well defined job, no one expects them to pull the linens and trash at the end of the shift, or to stock the supply cabinet. They are also paid better than nurses.

Nursing needs to do the same. Set a standard minimum of education, one standard. Have a clearly defined, professional job description. And demand to be paid for it. I guarantee more nurses will not only work for the money, but begin to love jobs they may now hate, because professional elevation garners more respect and better treatment. If you want to work for love alone, then go do volunteer work. Become a missionary or enter a convent. But please don't keep trying to bring down the rest of nurses. Just because you care, doesn't mean you have to starve, or make do without a retirement fund, or be unable to save for your child's college education.

Anyway, the attitude needs to change. As long as nurses say, "But I love what I do, money isn't everything..." well, then what hospital on this planet is going to argue with you?

FNP2B · Jun 22, 2004

i dont think many nurses are in it for the cash..........pay is dreadful especially here in the uk. it is most definately not easy money i asure you.

sorry to hear that uk nurse...maybe you need to move to the us...the pay is great here...my wife is a 22yr old rn here in tx. and has been a nurse for a little over a year and is already making 52k a year. and she only works six days out of every 2 weeks. and i say again she has just started..she is going for her masters next fall. so ..i would have to disagree with you on the area of pay.....$52,000 anually for a 22yr old female is not bad money. the average income per capita here in the city that we live in is somthing like 21k a year and we live in a very large city...about 2 million in population...so yes i belive nurses are well compensated here. and the advanced practicing nurses here(msn) are making a little over 75k a year, so for about 2 more yrs of school almost a $25k return+more with experience..count me in!

rn,msn,np= $$$,$$$

"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

TexasPoodleMix · Jun 22, 2004

I am switching from Counseling to Nursing. Obviously I do love helping people and "making a difference". I want to enter a helping profession, counseling just isn't my niche. I find it too slow paced and too often I believe people just don't want to help themselves....... If i'm not busy, I'm not happy --- listening to someone go on and on about their "angry child" when in reality the child is just a brat who needs discipline simply isn't for me. My MIL is a nurse and inspired me to go into the field.

mamabear · Jun 22, 2004

(I've had a few days to think about this): To be rigorously honest, I admit I went into nursing for the money and the job security. When I first started college, back in 1964, I was a music ed major, because I lived, ate, and breathed music. :coollook: However, after hearing of several fellow music ed majors being laid off from their $15,000.00 a year jobs teaching junior high band :rolleyes: (we didn't call it middle school back then) in small towns nobody heard of, and probably still haven't, I figured I'd be practical and go for something that paid more, offered more job security, and was held in higher esteem by the average citizen. If it was purely for "the love of the game", I would have volunteered. :wink2:

KrystleBleuRN · Jun 22, 2004

i just graduated in may and take my nclex-rn on the first...and i have to say that i didn't know how much rns really got paid until i actually got into school. i went into nursing simply because i love people, i love making a difference, and i was laid off from my management position of 4 years and wanted something that would give me lots of stability.

i once said in clinicals at the hospital that even if i got paid $5.00 an hour i would still be a nurse and i got the evil eye and lots of evil words from the nurses around me who said i was the problem with nursing today...anyway...my point was i enjoy nursing for what it means to me, a chance to make a difference in this cruel, cruel world...

Annabelle57 · Jun 22, 2004

Caring or the cash? For me, both, and I won't hesitate to say it.

I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl - I used to plaster the other kids in Band-aids, "take their temperature" (used a LOT of Pixie Stix!), and give them "medicine" (in the form of M & Ms). I have always felt 100% alive when I am doing something to care for others, particularly if it's hands-on. Being around people energizes me, at least in spirit even if my body is wasting away! And I can't stand 8-5 desk jobs - I get restless and bored, even if I'm up to my eyeballs in work.

The money is very appealing, though. I've never earned more than $11 an hour at anything (except singing gigs, and those just were too few and far between!) even with a bachelors degree already under my belt. The prospect of making $20/hr as a new grad is dizzying, I'll admit. So, yes, I am going in it for the money, too, but it's not my primary reason. It's up there, but not #1.

I don't fault anyone for having money as their primary reason for going into nursing, though. You have to survive, and at least around here, nursing is a steady, good income with the ultimate job security. When you're a single mom with little ones at home and you're trying to give them the best life you can because you love them more than you ever thought possible for a human being, you HAVE to think of money. To me, that's incredible caring. I'm sure there are people who think nursing will let them spend more at the mall and that's the ONLY reason they're doing it... but those people will likely never make it through nursing school or even a year in the field.

TexasPoodleMix · Jun 22, 2004

I agree, Annabelle. 8-5 jobs affect me the same way. :rotfl:

redshiloh · Jun 22, 2004

Ya know, it depends on the day...some days the ONLY reason I walk in the door is $$!

Nurse Becky · Jun 22, 2004

I am just starting nursing school. This will be my second career, having quit my first to stay at home to raise my children. I am going into nursing for the following reasons (none more important than the other):

flexibility

benefits

money

I will make a damn good nurse

having had 3 great pregnancies, labors and deliveries, I want to help other women have just as great an experience

can work as a nurse well into my 60's

opportunity

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 22, 2004

Everyone should enjoy what they do for a living, not just nurses. But unfortunately, I find more of the opposite to be true. Many people dislike, hate, or are bored with their work. It is sad that we spend such a big chunk of our lives doing something that is unfulfilling or despicable to us.
That said, nursing is now being advertised as this opportunity of a lifetime. An awful lot of people are going into nursing, or thinking about it, because they've been laid off recently, and are thinking of nursing only in terms of job stability. I suppose if you are out of work, and hungry, and in danger of losing your home, then working "just for the money" is not a bad idea. But many have absolutely no idea what nursing is really about, and enter it blindfolded. As a result, I've been hearing that there is a large drop-out rate in many nursing programs.
While the "calling" concept of nursing gives me the creeps (that goes with self-sacrificing martyr), nevertheless, going into nursing is just not the same as switching from IT to law, or law to accounting, or accounting to teaching. This is an entirely different realm, and not everyone can handle it. Some people make it through school and are absolutely miserable--not even because of all of the negatives they may face, but just from the work itself. But they may stick with hospital nursing anyway, because it pays better than other areas.
The best combination is to do what you love and be well paid. In lieu of that, even though not every nurse loves nursing, the pay for nursing should be equal to comparable professions. And not to get off on this topic, but that is why I believe that nursing should have a BSN minimum, just like all other healthcare professions. Nurses also need better defined job descriptions--like, if you're willing to mop the floor and pull the trash, well, the hospital will pay you as such. A physical therapist, as an example, generally needs a MS degree now to practice. They have a well defined job, no one expects them to pull the linens and trash at the end of the shift, or to stock the supply cabinet. They are also paid better than nurses.
Nursing needs to do the same. Set a standard minimum of education, one standard. Have a clearly defined, professional job description. And demand to be paid for it. I guarantee more nurses will not only work for the money, but begin to love jobs they may now hate, because professional elevation garners more respect and better treatment. If you want to work for love alone, then go do volunteer work. Become a missionary or enter a convent. But please don't keep trying to bring down the rest of nurses. Just because you care, doesn't mean you have to starve, or make do without a retirement fund, or be unable to save for your child's college education.
Anyway, the attitude needs to change. As long as nurses say, "But I love what I do, money isn't everything..." well, then what hospital on this planet is going to argue with you?

I can't disagree with anything you've said and I appreciate the insight. The "nursing is a calling" line rubs me the wrong way as well.

FNP2B · Jun 22, 2004

quote:

originally posted by uk_nurse

i dont think many nurses are in it for the cash..........pay is dreadful especially here in the uk. it is most definately not easy money i asure you.

sorry to hear that uk nurse...maybe you need to move to the us...the pay is great here...my wife is a 22yr old rn here in tx. and has been a nurse for a little over a year and is already making 52k a year. and she only works six days out of every 2 weeks. and i say again she has just started..she is going for her masters next fall. so ..i would have to disagree with you on the area of pay.....$52,000 anually for a 22yr old female is not bad money. the average income per capita here in the city that we live in is somthing like 21k a year and we live in a very large city...about 2 million in population...so yes i belive nurses are well compensated here. and the advanced practicing nurses here(msn) are making a little over 75k a year, so for about 2 more yrs of school almost a $25k return+more with experience..count me in!

rn,msn,np= $$$,$$$

"it's never to late to be what you might have been"

Betty_SPN_KS, LPN · Jun 23, 2004

I guess there's nothing wrong with "just for the money" as long as they're still a good nurse. I supposed that's possible? Or will it show eventually? Can we say "poker face"? LOL. I guess that's part of being professional.