No wonder we are getting nursing students who are only in it for $

Fribblet · Nov 9, 2010

What irks me the most about this whole subject is that nurses have fought for a very long time to be recognized as a PROFESSION and not a "calling". How many doctors do you suppose go into the healthcare field because they were "called" to it? How about other PROFESSIONS? Lawyers? Stock brokers? We as nurses (or soon to be in my case!) are PROFESSIONALS, just as doctors and lawyers and every other profession. We need to lose the whole self-sacrificing mumbo jumbo because that is what is holding the profession back. Just because a person goes into the field for the monetary aspect and the prospect of fairly secure employment does not mean they will not be a competent, caring nurse.
And I do agree- for what nurses do, they are seriously underpaid. Perhaps that will change when nurses are more widely recognized as being PROFESSIONALS.
Just my 2 cents.

When nursing becomes a profession, more nurses understand what it means to act professionally, and the educational requirements are increased, then, maybe, nursing will be recognized as a profession.

Until then, nursing is skilled labor; a trade.

And, let's face it, no one begrudges a plumber for entering his trade for the money, rather than out of passion.

OCNRN63, RN · Nov 9, 2010

I wish I made 65k a year...

Wow! You shouldn't be a nurse!

Cinquefoil · Nov 10, 2010

I think both passion and competence are desirable. I would take a competent, but not passionate, over an incompetent, but passionate individual. However, I would ALWAYS take a competent, passionate individual over an individual who is merely competent. And I believe that most incompetent, career-passionate individuals stand a better chance of improving their skills than a less passionate, similarly incompetent person.

When a person is passionate, by my definition of passionate, it means that the person finds real joy in improving their competence and won't just do it because they "should". Some people are disciplined about doing things they "should", while others procrastinate. But it seems to me that people prioritize doing what they enjoy within their professions. I'm a CNA and have seen other CNA's do impersonal, minimal resident care and then disappear for hours, last seen texting. Clearly they've found what they like about this job - admin is cautious about firing, and therefore willing to pay them $ to socially network and neglect their residents. I enjoy both the health care aspects and the personal interaction, and tend to have fewer breaks. But I've also helped save a few lives and have gotten more than a few people's care improved overall. Which feels great.

I think it's OK to work as a nurse for the money as long as you do it well. But when you're just in it for the money and start hurting your patients due to your heart being somewhere else, well, then I would have an issue. But my issue is with incompetence in general, and poor patient care, whether I find it in myself or in others.

I have no doubt that on the other end of the spectrum there are also delusionally idealistic nurses who REALLY, REALLY love nursing and think they're good at it just because they love it, when IRL they AREN'T. Stories, anyone? :smokin:

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Nov 10, 2010

I was not just being facetious. In each and every case I would want the people that are most capable, period.
So not only do you think some brilliant person is not as good a choice to case for someone as a so-so intelect with a ton of passion, but you begrudge other people who provide a service the chance to make as much for themselves as possible? Not very compassionate:clown:

What exactly made you come to EITHER of these conclusions? I never so much as even eluded to either idea. I don't begrudge anyone the chance to make as much for themselves as possible. You are really reaching.

Passion is no substitute for competence.

Whoever said it was? Having a passion/desire/WHATEVER you want to call it does not replace or equate to competence. The two aren't mutually exclusive. Both of the posts I quoted seem to think that you either have one or the other.

kakamegamama · Nov 10, 2010

Azcna---how do you know that " People who aren't cut out to be nurses are getting spots in nursing school that could go to someone who SHOULD be there."? Just curious where you got this info & what it is based on.

BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN · Nov 10, 2010

Let's face it. We all need to make money. Even those of us who are well off (present company excluded) can use extra money. No one wants to work for peanuts. I went to nursing school at 18 because my father convinced me it was a good living, and I was thrilled at the idea of being finished in 2 years (and had no clue at the time I'd go back for BS and MS). We need money to live, work is hard no matter what you do, and a nice paycheck at the end of the week helps :)

What bugs me about these articles and ads the OP speaks of is how fast and easy they make it sound. That anyone can do it. These ads and articles are targeting people who are not interested in a college degree, but are looking for a trade... a fast and easy way to make good money. The only way you can do that usually involves doing something illegal :uhoh3:

lindarn · Nov 10, 2010

Let's face it. We all need to make money. Even those of us who are well off (present company excluded) can use extra money. No one wants to work for peanuts. I went to nursing school at 18 because my father convinced me it was a good living, and I was thrilled at the idea of being finished in 2 years (and had no clue at the time I'd go back for BS and MS). We need money to live, work is hard no matter what you do, and a nice paycheck at the end of the week helps :)
What bugs me about these articles and ads the OP speaks of is how fast and easy they make it sound. That anyone can do it. These ads and articles are targeting people who are not interested in a college degree, but are looking for a trade... a fast and easy way to make good money. The only way you can do that usually involves doing something illegal

And as I have stated many times on this listserve, the entry into practice needs to be increased to a BSN. Present ADNs and Diplomas, grandfathered in. Our low levels of education make us seem to be easily replaced by HS dropouts, and minimally trained individuals. THAT is what the hospitals WANT the public to think. Then they won't squawk and complain, when they get suboptimal care, and complain that they did not see a nurse for the entire shift.

We are not doing ourselves any favors by not damanding the entry into practice be increased. We are perpetuating a substandard education that benefits only hospitals and nursing homes.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

AgentBeast, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2010

Whoever said it was? Having a passion/desire/WHATEVER you want to call it does not replace or equate to competence. The two aren't mutually exclusive. Both of the posts I quoted seem to think that you either have one or the other.

You are reading entirely too much into what I said. I simply stated a fact. Nothing more, nothing less.

One2gofst · Nov 10, 2010

What exactly made you come to EITHER of these conclusions? I never so much as even eluded to either idea. I don't begrudge anyone the chance to make as much for themselves as possible. You are really reaching.

There was only one conclusion. I will admit I took your previous post of "I won't even get into what I think of million dollar salaries," to mean that you don't believe professional athletes to be paid millions, even though that is what they have negotiated for themselves and the market bears it out. If I mistook your attentions I apologize and would humbly request you explain to me what you really meant.

I apologize twice if your questions of "who would you rather" pitting a supremely competent yet ambivalent professional vs. a mediocre yet passionate professional were not designed to elicit the response in favor of the latter.

Thanks.

loveblossom · Nov 10, 2010

This post seems like deja'vu....Same argument different day. :smokin:

MMA-N-Nursing · Nov 10, 2010

True Story telling time:

I do nursing for the money. But that does not mean I am a heartless, incompassionate person. I still love my patients and take care of them to the best of my abilities with TLC. Nursing was not my calling. It was actually when I was working as a security guard @ Kaiser and befriended some nurses, they told me to go to a nursing school so I could join them. After hearing it over and over and being annoyed by my friends, thats when I started looking for a nursing school and I said to myself "its worth a shot"

Now, I work at LTC and the DON and my co-workers both Nurses and CNA and alert patients praise me how kind I am.

and Just to annoy/4tehlulz you forum critters,

I, Jason LVN, Do nursing and I am in it just for the money!

I give TLC @ the LTC and everyones happy.

My nursing skills pays the bills.

I enjoy doing it I will forever do it.

As long as DON's happy with my work performance, I am happy

NOW GIMME MY MONEY!