Nurses Motivation

[ohbet]

Im wondering and curious how many nurses out there got into nursing out of a religious motivation,in part or in whole? What I mean is this,were you motivated in any way, by the ethic of any of the worlds religions to be helpful to others in need?

I know that I was in part,I say that cause there were other factors that entered into my decision to be a nurse,but the religious ethic to help others played no small part in my decision and I was curious if any one else out there in cyber nursing land had the same impetus. Thanks.

PS,this ethic to help others ,based on a religious foundation,is what many times keeps me going.

Does any one else feel that way or am I the only "wacko"?

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

CareerRN, did I ever say anywhere there are no problems in healthcare?

I am not trying to shame you into anything. I am simply explaining my perception of why I went into nursing, as it related to the original question. You were the one to lump anyone who is religious into a category of nurse maids who perpetuate the cycle oif nurse abuse. I simply read into what seemed to me like bitterness or dissatisfaction. I apologize if I was off base. After all, are these not your own words...

"I can only imagine a young person coming across these statements trying to decide a career choice that would serve them well in the future. I can see them thinking about things like nice cars, homes, and providing for a future family and saying, why should I have to suffer in a profession when I have so many other options? If nursing is made up with individuals who will allow themselves to suffer and tolerate their conditions, then maybe I need to find another career choice."

It seems clear to me like you feel you are suffering in this profession. I hate to see anyone suffer, so I suggested you make a change, I meant a change in nursing. I never said you should leave!

What was radnurse's signature again? Take that stick out of your but or something to that effect? For crying out loud I even wished you peace!

Since you seem OK with trying to shame me into donating time or money, fine. I do not have much time to donate, but I have taken people to the grocery store when they swore they missed the van due to the VNA missing an appt, and when I checked there was no food in the house. I have paid so they could get their food. I have also made countless trips to the pharmacy for clients, and on occassion paid for their scripts. The most recent was a client who switched pharmacies, she was out of her seizure meds, had recently had a seizure too, and the new pharm said it was too soon to reorder, but they would give her some to get over the weekend until they "worked things out." I called the pharm myself and pleaded with them. No can do they said. I took a deep sigh, and decided I would pay for the difference out of my pocket. But, and I believe this is God at work here, knowing what my plan was, when I got to the pharmacy, it had all been straightened out, and I was able to get the whole month's supply, no charge, all covered by client's insurance.

I am not one to toot my own horn, but you asked. I hope that is worthy enough for you! I don't do it to be a good Christian, or a good nurse, or to make you proud of me, I do what I do because I try to be a decent human being, period. I can't help it if my decency and integrity interferes with your ideas of the perfect nursing philosophy, or solving all healthcare crises.

Oh yes, I also created a nursing web site with an emphasis on recruitment to home health nursing, and I get regular mail from nurses around the country and abroiad who thank me for helping them to decided, one way or another, whether to go into home health nursing. A small contribution perhaps, but I get nothing in return for it besides my own personal satisfaction.

And no, I am not interested in nursing polictics, guilty as charged. Maybe when my family is grown. My first priority is and always will be my family, then work. Howvere, I am sure that an intelligent and insightful individual such as yourself would be the perfect person to fight on behalf of all nurses for the betterment of nursing and working conditions.

And for the record, I have no guilt whatsoever about drawing a salary to care for the sick. Note the word "care" here!

I will not argue this point with you any longer. I respect the fact that we do not see things the same way. Maybe you can also respect my right to have an opinion of my own as well?

[donmurray]

Decency and integrity are not the sole preserve of those who profess an organised religious belief, but are a part of humanity itself, and social in origin. Ethics is the practical expression of morality, which also does not require the existence of a higher being. Theist or atheist, an individual's morality is innate, though shaped by their upbringing.

[Slowone]

I read the posts here over and over and I just do not understand what Christianity has to do with the "suffering"or "complacency" iin ones working conditions.

I am a relatively new nurse (

Regarless of religious background, whether nursing was a"calling" or just all you know how to do.... I hope to never be the kind of nurse that views nursing as a "business". To me it is more than that, yes I have suffered with my patients and I don't think it has damaged me or my spirit in anyway nor has it affected my ability to stand up for what is right or to fight for the profession.

The issue being discussed here is not religion, it's now just misguided anger, what are you mad at?

And why can't a nurse acknowledge a problem and STILL hop around looking for utopia? Works for some.......just not all.

To go back to the original thread topic..

Someone told me once that "all nurses go to Heaven", I thought it might help my chances!. Thats how religion fit into my career choice.:)

[ohbet]

I agree that "decency and integrity are not the sole preserve of those who profess" a religious belief. There are atheist who are sometimes more ethical than religious believers.

What relgion does provide is a unconditional bases for ethics. Relgion provides a basis for why I should be honest,even in circumstances where being honest would be to my disadvantage and I would suffer for it..

[RNKitty]

I have told managers when I interview "My family is my first priority. I work to feed my family, and wouldn't work if I didn't have a need. However, I am a L&D nurse because I LOVE what I do."

I research the hospitals I apply to very carefully and select my jobs with care and consideration of wage and staffing ratios. I have left two jobs for inadequate staffing and poor work environment/moral, and will never place myself in that situation again.

Face it - there is a nursing shortage, which means we have leverage in where we work and the conditions under which we work. We have no need to put up with crappy conditions, and we should make that known to management.

[donmurray]

ohbet, as I said, being moral is a social construct, and does not require a religious belief. That said, all religions provide a moral code to which the adherents should aspire

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Ohbet, I found this quote in the paper today, and it pretty much sums up how I feel. I am not sure whether it is a social, moral, ethical, or religious remark, and I don't care, I can only say it spoke to me, and pretty much sums up how I feel about my "call" to nursing...

"Part of one's human character involves giving something of yourself and your material well-being away for the sake of helping others, and in doing that you become blessed."

All I can say is I do feel very blessed. This remark was made by a Luteran pastor who was speaking about volunteers who help teach underprivileged children at a summer camp. Saying yes the kids get something, but the volunteers are touched by then children as well.

[CareerRN]

Originally posted by hoolahan

Ohbet, I found this quote in the paper today, and it pretty much sums up how I feel. I am not sure whether it is a social, moral, ethical, or religious remark, and I don't care, I can only say it spoke to me, and pretty much sums up how I feel about my "call" to nursing...

"Part of one's human character involves giving something of yourself and your material well-being away for the sake of helping others, and in doing that you become blessed."

All I can say is I do feel very blessed. This remark was made by a Luteran pastor who was speaking about volunteers who help teach underprivileged children at a summer camp. Saying yes the kids get something, but the volunteers are touched by then children as well.

Hoolahan. Please note the word volunteers in the statement used by the Lutheran pastor.

So again I ask you to show us all how much you are really committed to your "calling". In other words, put your money where your mouth is.

Here are a couple of sites where you can find many places to practice what you preach 40 or more hours a weeks for free. If you do not like any of these, then I am sure you can tell the place you are receiving a paycheck at right now that you want to work for them for free. I am sure they will not have a problem with that. You will be able to start "giving something of yourself and your material well-being away for the sake of helping others" beginning tomorrow.

http://www.wecaremedicalmall.org/national_free_cliincs.htm

http://dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Christianity/Missions/Medical_Missions/

[Mags]

I have to agree with Don