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 Neurosciences.

I think that the term ethics is being misused in the field of nursing with respect to wages. This is because as nurses we cannot afford to work for free, nor should we settle for wages that keep us barely above the poverty line.

Plus, by us nurses worrying about the ethics of being in nursing to make a "healthy wage" we are in the process only hurting ourselves by doing so.

Now, do you really think that doctors confuse ethics with wages? Or how about CEO's of health insurance companies? Or any number of other individuals that are employed in the heath care field.

So, am I looking at wages when I look at a nursing job? You damn right I am! And I am not concerned about what other people think about my decision either. I want to live in a nice house, be able to take vacations, help my children through college, and retire. And all these do take money to accomplish.

Finally, I do care about ethics as it relates to my profession and the decisions that I make each and every day. But, I am very clear as to where the line is drawn when it comes in contact with my wages.:angryfire

Specializes in OB, HH, ADMIN, IC, ED, QI.
Nursing used to be badly paid work. In the US unionization led to improvements in pay. We are still horribly worked to death with hideous patient care loads. We deserve better.

But a lot of country's nurses are very badly paid and treated like social scum. Remember nurses used to be either nuns or over age prostitutes looking for a career change.

If you just want to make money their are easier ways to do it. In fact the people who just want to make money and are not suited to the field will get out after a couple of years and move on. The nursing experience on their resume will open up all sorts of jobs for them, So don't worry about it.[/quot

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Medicine is undergoing the same revelation for doctors who thought the healthcare streets were paved in gold. Luckily, we now have medical students who aren't thinking of their wallets when entering the profession (other than the fact that they'll owe incredible amounts in student loans when they finish). I think there's a positive side to lower salary expectations for them.

The idea that healthcare professionals "should be" at the top 20% of earners, is pure fiction. Only healthcare insurance executives do that!

Who would have thought it? Thwarted expectations, (if anyone is out there who took EST and remembers that) is the greatest cause of discord. So there's a lot of anger (sigh) that overflows into patient care. You'd think Nursing students would have looked into salary ranges in their profession, but it seems we're also victims of greed.

I was part of the 1960s group of new graduates, making $400./month and thought it was wonderful (of course housing, food, clothing, etc. cost less then). I now think making $60,000+/year is fabulous. However, doctors making millions a year is just obscene, as they aren't giving their all or even a half hour to their patients.

The old prostitutes Glenwood referred to got into bed with their patients, to catch some shuteye, and warmth. Their expertise was limited to that, and they were glad to have a roof over their heads.

Flo got rid of them, established ethics and guidelines of behavior, and hopefully none of that former slack occurs (except on "Grey's Anatomy".

It's up to us to continue elevating the level of professionalism Nurses have, and when treated poorly, rise above it, instead of reverting to infantile "I want what they have" behavior. We can earn the money due us, if we present ourselves as professionals doing expert work, with positive attitudes. Be "haves", not "have nots".

Now, heading back as far as Glenwood did, in history

Does it bother you when someone comes to work, sits on there ass, complains about patient's in an unprofessional manner, gripes about pay, appears to have more interests in how well the Starbucks stock is doing than doing the tasks, the nursing process at hand or being even an inkling of the best nurse that they can be?

I think you're describing a lazy nurse, not a nurse motivated more by money than love of the profession. In my experience, these sort of folks are just as unprofessional in any field you happen to be unfortunate enough to find them.

I think that the term ethics is being misused in the field of nursing with respect to wages. This is because as nurses we cannot afford to work for free, nor should we settle for wages that keep us barely above the poverty line.

Thank you. Everyone forgets that Flo was a petulant reb from a rich family. She and those like her could well afford to imagine they would transform nursing from a plebian service into a noble cause and themselves from idle social ornaments into martyrs, whereas I have to work my butt to the bone to keep a little milk in the fridge. Nothing is further from my reality than the flaky 'tudes of those Belles of Floville.

Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
Thank you. Everyone forgets that Flo was a petulant reb from a rich family. She and those like her could well afford to imagine they would transform nursing from a plebian service into a noble cause and themselves from idle social ornaments into martyrs, whereas I have to work my butt to the bone to keep a little milk in the fridge. Nothing is further from my reality than the flaky 'tudes of those Belles of Floville.

Not only that, but she actively used her lovers for their money in order to further her cause. No, seriously.:devil:

Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
I think that the term ethics is being misused in the field of nursing with respect to wages. This is because as nurses we cannot afford to work for free, nor should we settle for wages that keep us barely above the poverty line.

Plus, by us nurses worrying about the ethics of being in nursing to make a "healthy wage" we are in the process only hurting ourselves by doing so.

Now, do you really think that doctors confuse ethics with wages? Or how about CEO's of health insurance companies? Or any number of other individuals that are employed in the heath care field.

I'll bet that more than a few physicians are motivated to go through the agonizing training of medical school and residency by the eventual promise of gold and glory, and that their parents probably encouraged them with promises like these. Plus, if physicians were martyred to the cause of medicine, then why is there a physician shortage in poorer areas of the country, those where they cannot make enough money to cover their premiums?

So, am I looking at wages when I look at a nursing job? You damn right I am! And I am not concerned about what other people think about my decision either. I want to live in a nice house, be able to take vacations, help my children through college, and retire. And all these do take money to accomplish.

Finally, I do care about ethics as it relates to my profession and the decisions that I make each and every day. But, I am very clear as to where the line is drawn when it comes in contact with my wages.:angryfire

Here, here! Most of us here see no contradiction between ethics and a desire to be adequately compensated for our skills and stresses. We care about our patients/residents/donors and care to do the best job we can - for many, in SPITE of what little help they get from the higher-ups.

Personally for me, all I want is enough to support myself, feed myself, clothe myself and house myself. If I were to win the lottery tomorrow I would still live "like a poor man with a lot of money". I understand and agree that nurses should receive better pay than what they are currently receiving... but for me, I guess I really couldn't care less.

When I first graduated 19 years ago, it was due to the love of this profession. But to be honest, after this many years, it is for the money as it does pay more than most jobs. I would not be working if I did not need a paycheck, at least not in nursing.

"Money is the sincerest form of flattery." --RAH

Care to know how much society values a role?

Check what society pays.

Want to improve the image of a role in society's eyes?

1. Let's insist on being called professionals, yeah, that's it.

2. Let's tell everyone it's a "calling" and they can pay us like nuns.

3. Let's hire rocket scientists to figure this out for us.

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Man, nursing is hard ass work. If it didn't pay decent there is no way I would do it.

Nursing is a JOB, it is not some special mystical calling--that makes me so sick when I hear that actually. I work and I expect to get paid. I didn't go to college and take out student loans, etc to not want some money in return.

So, ya I'm IN nursing "for the money"....I'm not working for free! If I wasn't getting paid I wouldn't do it.

Guess I'll have to throw my two cents in, as everyone else already has ;)

I would not be in nursing if it weren't for the paycheck. I can certainly think of far easier ways to earn money, but not as MUCH money, as I do now. If I truly felt this job were a calling, then perhaps I'd be less interested in how much it paid. But frankly, I don't know too many nurses who aren't counting out the bucks from each paycheck and making sure it matches every minute they were on the floor!

I went into nursing because I felt I'd be good at it, because it DID satisfy my desire as a do-gooder (having helped people really IS a good way to end your week), and because the paycheck and benefits would allow me to do all the things I REALLY want to do, on my time off.

I think those who swear that the only people who should be in nursing are those who have slave-complexes, or are wanna-be nuns, should reconsider why they feel this way. Seriously. Deep psych reflections. Because if you think nurses should not expect premium pay for premium work when OTHER professions do, you really have to wonder why.

Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

I personally don't care what a person's motivations are for being a nurse. What I care about is how they do their job. If they're a good nurse, who cares what their motivations are?

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