Does this bother anyone else?

[stdntnurse]

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?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Most, probably 99% of us are both: we want to be nurses, are good compassionate people, whom are happy we have jobs in this economy and that our future looks bright. Does that make us bad nurses?

[BoomerRN]

Years ago when I was trying to decide on a profession, I decided I wanted one that would give me job satisfaction, good pay, and be recession proof. Well, 32 years later I think I made the right choice. I love taking care of people, receive good pay and I have never had a problem finding a job. Hospitals aren't the only jobs out there. You have a lot of options when you are an RN. I can't say I loved every minute of being a nurse, but I acted professionally and gave 100% of my time and effort in providing good care to all my patients.

[RN1982]

I can't say I love being a nurse every minute of every shift I work. But I love that I get paid well, have good benefits and am able to find a job in any of the local hospitals. I'm a good nurse and I like where I work. There's nothing wrong with those who go into this profession for the money as long as they are competent. And I'm not going to judge them as most have families to support. This issue has been beaten to death.

[psigrl]

"Passion"? MMM....not really. Maybe when I first started out in the 70's before DRG's came along. Maybe then I did. We had a charge nurse, a medication nurse, and we...the nurses aides who felt priviledged just to be allowed to be inside the patients room were happy to be there in our starched whites. By the time I graduated as an RN the days of team nursing, hotel-like hospitals and respect for the profession were in the past. I'm really glad you have a passion for nursing. But my support is for nurses first. I am not a nun. I am a human being and a patient as well (sometimes). I've cared for thousands of people and have received very little good medical care myself. I will be forever grateful to be able to work-it helped me to raise my children into successful lives. I am an exemplary clinician and will retire in six years after 32 years of responsibility. Unfortunately I can only remember the abusive surgeons, the gang stabbings, the suicides, and the "I'm paying you to take care of me" attitudes as well as the ignorance and arrogance of the state boards. Am I a little bitter? Perhaps. Please keep your passion for as long as you can. Nursing will humble you in time. Be a support to your colleagues. And remember to respect yourself.

[camomile7]

I have to agree with you. All too often I go into work, I am a RN in an ICU, and there are coworkers who are just not in it for what I believe nursing to be, an altruistic profession! The job is way too hard to be in it otherwise. Anyone who spends the time in nursing school and then as a nurse must understand to be a nurse, to simply have a job, is disheartening to those of us in the profession whom strive to take an altruistic & humanistic approach to our careers. There are a lot of ethical responsibilities in being a nurse and this must be considered by one before joining the ranks of us. This is a serious deal! A patient and their families are counting on us to help them! They are most vulnerable in there times of need and cannot be treated anyway other than humane. People are not machines and they need to be talked to and explained things. A nurse needs to care about their patients! End of story!

[catshowlady]

Being an ethical, humanistic, responsible, caring nurse and being a person who needs to have a job/paycheck to pay the bills - why do some of you think these two things are mutually exclusive???? Some of you seem to be advocating an opinion that you must be one or the other; you cannot be both. Why not?

[LilPeonNo1]

I sometimes think, that nurses who aren't in it as a "calling"; they don't have the passion for nursing as many do, are often better nurses because of it. That may sound strange, but hear me out. Those nurses who came into the profession for practical reasons, don't have the emotional ties to the job and usually strictly look at their work from an objective viewpoint. By not allowing their emotions to get in the way of their work, they are able to complete tasks sometimes more efficiently and in greater detail. I'm not saying they act like robots, but when you're in this profession because of moral or ethical reasoning, you tend to be more people oriented and feel for others needs rather than your own. That in itself is commendable, but in situations where you have to be hard as nails, like calling family members in to tell them their loved one is actively dying, or performing a procedure/treatment you know is causing your patient excrutiating pain, you might want someone who isn't going to crack under the pressure. Its not that those who have that compassion blubber and cry with every little thing, but getting emotional over a dying patient could hinder your performance in doing what is needed at the time.

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

There are a lot of ethical responsibilities in being a nurse and this must be considered by one before joining the ranks of us. This is a serious deal! A patient and their families are counting on us to help them! They are most vulnerable in there times of need and cannot be treated anyway other than humane. People are not machines and they need to be talked to and explained things. A nurse needs to care about their patients! End of story!

Whew! That's a lot of exclaimation points....

But, to counter your post...

I didn't come across one thing in your post that I don't do-well. I know how to explain things to my patients. Humanely even! Go figure!

And I care for my patients! Yes, I really do.

Nursing isn't my calling. Nursing isn't my passion.

And yet, somehow, someway, I do a really, really kick butt job at it.

I wonder why that is.......Oh yeah, it's because it doesn't matter WHY we got into this field.

So everyone needs to let it go. Get over it. Just because you entered this field for one reason doean't mean it's the ONLY good reason.

You know, if everyone just worried about themselves, instead of other people, then we wouldn't have to worry about other people.

Just a thought.

[AZ_LPN_8_26_13]

I sometimes think, that nurses who aren't in it as a "calling"; they don't have the passion for nursing as many do, are often better nurses because of it. That may sound strange, but hear me out. Those nurses who came into the profession for practical reasons, don't have the emotional ties to the job and usually strictly look at their work from an objective viewpoint. By not allowing their emotions to get in the way of their work, they are able to complete tasks sometimes more efficiently and in greater detail. I'm not saying they act like robots, but when you're in this profession because of moral or ethical reasoning, you tend to be more people oriented and feel for others needs rather than your own. That in itself is commendable, but in situations where you have to be hard as nails, like calling family members in to tell them their loved one is actively dying, or performing a procedure/treatment you know is causing your patient excrutiating pain, you might want someone who isn't going to crack under the pressure. Its not that those who have that compassion blubber and cry with every little thing, but getting emotional over a dying patient could hinder your performance in doing what is needed at the time.

A "calling" and a "passion" for something aren't necessarily the same thing. I look back on my life and all of the sum of my experiences, and in doing that, plus a lot of prayer, yes, I honestly believe that this is what I'm being called to do. It's not my call either. Do I have "a passion" for it? To be honest - no. I'm approaching it totally matter-of-factly and objectively, and with my eyes wide open. And yes, money is important, especially if you have a family at home to support as I do. My belief as a Christian is that God isn't going to give you something to do and then pull the rug out from under you. But you are still the one who has to make the thing go, whatever it might be, and you will still have the ups and downs. The reply earlier that mentioned that people go into these things for a mix of reasons is right...... When everything is said and done, I think that the reasons why you are there are probably going to be pretty much invisible to the patient - they likely don't care why you are there or what brought you there - they don't really need to know that anyway. All they know is they want the best medical care they can get, and as long as you give it, then it doesn't matter to them how or why you got there.

[TomCCRN1991]

It is definately not a recession proof job. I was laid off in February after 9 years with that employer. I have 9 years ICU experience and 18 years overall experience. At 45, I have not been able to find a job in ICU anywhere, especially competing with people half my age and almost no experience. I guess they are more gullible and a lot cheaper. Mostly I hear "Do you want to interview for a med surg position on nights?" With the economy on its way south and talk of socialized medicine, I no longer recommend nursing as a good profession to get into.

[camomile7]

Please let me clarify that to be a nurse, one simply cannot to it for the paycheck alone.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Hello Tom,

I am so sorry you are finding yourself unemployed. I hope something comes your way soon. Where are you in the country? Is a move possible if needed? I hear Texas, Az, Wy, and Nevada need and want any nurse who can move. Good luck and blessing to you and yours.