Does it bother you when someone wants to be a nurse just for the money?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have an acquaintance that wants to be a CRNA. No mention of being an RN first or how long it would take her to do it, just wants to be a CRNA. She's mentioned not wanting to work as an RN in the middle to avoid bedside nursing and "butt wiping" and just wants to go and get her Master's. She thinks being a CRNA is easy.

As a nursing student in an ADN program, I value bedside nursing and no matter what my wage may be in the future, I would like to stay at bedside. I don't think this person really knows what nursing is and I think she just wants to be a CRNA because of the money. She never seemed like a caring person, is quick to throw tantrums and has no patience at home. I do wish her the best with whatever career she likes, but it feels like she is turning up her nose at the line of work that I want to do. Does it bother you when you meet people like this?

There is no way she will ever make it to CRNA if she doesn't do bedside. CRNA's require you work in ICU for at least 2 years as a part of their application process. I am not even a nurse "yet" and I already know that I will never be a great nurse unless I work and appreciate bedside nursing.

To the original question: Yes

But if someone's goal is to be a CRNA then I don't really expect them to be excited about being RNs. (Even though that is a requirement to get into CRNA school.)

Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

You will meet people like your friend at all stages of your life , don't worry about them , simply do , and care about what you want from your life .

If some body choose their profession solely on the money they think they can earn , they will never be satisfied as they will always , be looking for more income rather than looking for more satisfaction with their life .

But if someone's goal is to be a CRNA then I don't really expect them to be excited about being RNs. (Even though that is a requirement to get into CRNA school.)

I know, but how can someone last through all that school, all that pain and stress if you're not at least going to appreciate the middle steps? I guess another thing that really bothers me is that she thinks being a CRNA is easy and not a big deal. Just drug them up and sit there and monitor. :down:

No, it doesn't bother me. As long as she can put patients to sleep safely, why do I care?

As an aside, I don't think bedside nurses have an exclusive knowledge of what "nursing really is". There are tons of different kinds of nurses and I'm sure they have a pretty good idea of what nursing is, too. :)

I really hope you like bedside...... but you might reconsider, when you are actually there, that you will do it "no matter what the wage is". Just a thought.

I mean this in a nice way. What's it to you? You know what you want to do, and you value the bedside role. More power to you.

As for your friend, what does it matter if she has it all wrong? She'll figure that out soon enough, and then she'll count the cost. If she thinks the goal will be worth the effort, she'll pursue it. If not, she won't.

So, does it bother me when someone wants to be a nurse just for the money? Not really. It's none of my business. Life will teach the misguided whatever lessons they need to learn.

The scary thing is this person will probably finish her R.N. do her 2 years ICU and graduate from a CRNA program. I wonder though in her application mission statement or interview will she tell them what she told you? God help us all........

I guess it shouldn't really bother me in theory. I have a friend who did well on her MCATS and might be admitted to Stanford Med and I'm totally supportive of her. She might be in it for the money or might not be. But this other person just seemed very condescending and made it seem like what I'm striving for has no value.

I have an acquaintance that wants to be a CRNA. No mention of being an RN first or how long it would take her to do it, just wants to be a CRNA. She's mentioned not wanting to work as an RN in the middle to avoid bedside nursing and "butt wiping" and just wants to go and get her Master's. She thinks being a CRNA is easy.

As a nursing student in an ADN program, I value bedside nursing and no matter what my wage may be in the future, I would like to stay at bedside. I don't think this person really knows what nursing is and I think she just wants to be a CRNA because of the money. She never seemed like a caring person, is quick to throw tantrums and has no patience at home. I do wish her the best with whatever career she likes, but it feels like she is turning up her nose at the line of work that I want to do. Does it bother you when you meet people like this?

LOL, i don't think there is anything wrong with wanting to "avoid butt wiping". its a huge plus to being a cath lab RN...

It's nice to say that you do nursing because you "love helping people" and "making a difference." But wait until you get on the floor, are assigned 6 patients, they all want you at once, for pain meds, then you have a pt with a BP of 176/101, you have a pt who needs blood, a pt with a chest tube, doctors who have no respect for you....and the always annoying pt who's on the call light for nothing.

I don't get paid hardly enough....

Did I mention ANNOYING family members who seem to think you live to serve them?

It's nice to say that you do nursing because you "love helping people" and "making a difference." But wait until you get on the floor, are assigned 6 patients, they all want you at once, for pain meds, then you have a pt with a BP of 176/101, you have a pt who needs blood, a pt with a chest tube, doctors who have no respect for you....and the always annoying pt who's on the call light for nothing.

I don't get paid hardly enough....

Did I mention ANNOYING family members who seem to think you live to serve them?

haha I've gotten a small taste of all that during clinicals, and I KNOW it'll be way worse when I actually start working, but at least you know its hard!

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