The Addiction of Nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ICU.

I think a common denominator among all who are in the field of nursing (and that field includes the RN, LPN, CNA, tech, and student) is the notion that one human being caring for another has a god-like quality to it. It’s powerful to be able to care. And that power is addicting.

This isn’t a religious post by any means, but I find it nearly impossible to not use religious terminology when describing what I mean (along with a lot of drug metaphors). What I’m saying is that nursing has a way of lifting one up onto a pedestal that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world. And who doesn’t want a pedestal?

Think about it: say the name, Mother Teresa, and what connotation comes to mind? A Gallup poll just released has us number one in public opinion for honesty and ethics. That’s a hard halo to take off. It fits comfortably on our egos, and thus we become addicted to our halos. I know taking off mine would require an intervention.

Look, you can hate the job. You can hate God because He gave you the job. You can hate the universe for conspiring to dump you into nursing. You can even abhor a hard shift or an idiot patient, co-worker, manager, or CEO, and yet, even through all of that, you still want the R.N. after your name. You still want the scrub and stethoscope image. A person leaves nursing or retires and what do they do? They keep their license active, and say, “I’m still a nurse.” A person becomes an NP or a CRNA, and what’s the first thing they say? “I’m a nurse, too!”

The root of the addiction is simply this: as a nurse or CNA, or Tech, or nursing student, we know we are better than we were before. We are higher than we were before. We are greater, and we are closer to Glory than we were before. We look around at this cold and callus world, and we know we’re above it. We do what others cannot and will not do, and what we do is unquestionably good and unquestionably right. So how do you reject that professional heroin when the syringe is offered to you?

Sure, we have to get paid, and we want all the dollars God dang well owes us for what he’s made us into. And everyone has to eat. But the fact remains, and we know this down deep, if there was some cataclysm and the economy dried up tomorrow, and no one had a cent to give us. We’d be nurses in our communities for free, because we can’t walk away. It’s what we want to do with our time. It validates our existence. The practice of nursing makes us who we are—even if we hate every moment of it.

In the human heart there will always be a compulsion to reach out and touch the Divine. Who can deny that nursing is the delivery device for that experience, and who can deny it addicts you from the very first hit. Jesus called it “loving our neighbor.” He said, “I was sick and you cared for me.” He points to our profession directly in the story of the Good Samaritan. So even if you think you’re in control, it seems there’s a Christ on every corner when you’re trying to get home.

Now, I know I’ve broken the rule. I know in a forum no one reads a post this long. I certainly wouldn’t. But if you have, I appreciate it, and I hope I’ve made the point I was trying to communicate, which is simply this: If you didn’t just say, “No!” way back when, then you’re addicted now. There’s no getting away from it, even if you want to. Love is power, and once you feel the power you can’t let it go.

I hope others in here will follow my lead, stand up, grab the sides of the lectern, and say the well-worn line: “Hi, my name is …, and I’m a nurse.”

And every one says? ….

Now, tell the forum what first addicted you. And remember, the key to recovering is to first admit you have a problem.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I can understand and appreciate everything you've said, Flightline. It's awesome and wondrous to find people who feel so strongly about their professions.

However, nursing is not necessarily an addiction or passion in my life. How do I know this? I know this because I feel I'd be just as happy, if not happier, doing something else to etch out a livelihood.

I wasn't exactly called to this profession, nor do I feel any shame for admitting this revelation. Also, I am no better of a person since I became involved in nursing.

Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.

It is lovely that your profession fills your being so well Flightline but I, like The Commuter, do not feel that being a nurse is the fulfilling part of my life. I have done this gig for 34+ years not because of any overwhelming love of it or desire to do it but because of my life circumstances it was the most sensible way to make a living for me. I am not addicted to it because I would walk away from it today with a song in my heart.

I wonder at times if I might not have been a happier person if I had been afforded a viable opportunity to pursue my original vocational goals. Nursing is a vital, irreplaceable profession but for me it has cost me dearly in terms of physical health, mental stress and spiritual anguish. I have never been able to leave my work at work. Some of that has been due to some jobs requiring on call constantly but mostly because I become so vested in what I do that the weight of the global responsibility coupled with the non existant authority has taken its toll. Few other professions expect so much for such inadequate rewards as does nursing. For many of us it is a job we do with professionalism because we have standards but we are do not feel ennobled by nursing. That does not make us poor or bad nurses. It makes us human.

Specializes in ICU.
I can understand and appreciate everything you've said, Flightline. It's awesome and wondrous to find people who feel so strongly about their professions.

However, nursing is not necessarily an addiction or passion in my life. How do I know this? I know this because I feel I'd be just as happy, if not happier, doing something else to etch out a livelihood.

I wasn't exactly called to this profession, nor do I feel any shame for admitting this revelation. Also, I am no better of a person since I became involved in nursing.

And yet, here you are. You're an LVN, so you're not making so much that you couldn't get another job or train into something else. I never said you had to like nursing to be addicted to it. In fact, you might hate it--but you stay. That's addiction--not dedication. And that's my point.

Specializes in ICU.
It is lovely that your profession fills your being so well Flightline but I, like The Commuter, do not feel that being a nurse is the fulfilling part of my life. I have done this gig for 34+ years not because of any overwhelming love of it or desire to do it

What part of my OP says anything about loving the job? You've done it for 34 years, and by your profile, in a rather difficult field, and you're an LVN, which means you're there are other jobs you could have done that paid as much, and just like with Commuter, I have to make the observation: Here you are.

but because of my life circumstances it was the most sensible way to make a living for me. I am not addicted to it because I would walk away from it today with a song in my heart.

Life circumstances? For 34 years? I feel like I'm talking to someone with yellow fingers, smoke coming out of their mouth and nose when they speak, a full ashtray in front of them, who's saying: I can quit any time, really."

I wonder at times if I might not have been a happier person if I had been afforded a viable opportunity to pursue my original vocational goals.

No. I don't think you would have. I don't think happiness has anything to do with the addiction. I love to paint. I'd hate to be a professional painter. I used to love to write, and I found nothing but misery when I tried to do it professionally. But that's neither here nor there. I never said nursing made us happy. I said we were addicted to it. Come on, admit it: you don't have a little pride in your heart when you tell someone what you do.

"What do you do?"

"I'm a nurse."

"Oh really!"

You know what I mean.

Nursing is a vital, irreplaceable profession but for me it has cost me dearly in terms of physical health, mental stress and spiritual anguish. I have never been able to leave my work at work. Some of that has been due to some jobs requiring on call constantly but mostly because I become so vested in what I do that the weight of the global responsibility coupled with the non existant authority has taken its toll.

I hear you. I mean I do. I don't have anything close to your experience, but I think I understand what you mean. Truly. And I honestly feel for you, but the paragraph above makes my point. QED, me thinks.

Few other professions expect so much for such inadequate rewards as does nursing. For many of us it is a job we do with professionalism because we have standards but we are do not feel ennobled by nursing. That does not make us poor or bad nurses. It makes us human.

Come on, be honest. If you kick the bucket tomorrow, do you want to go to judgment day as anything other than a nurse? Everything you say is true, I agree with all your sentiments, but I look at you, and I see a life of caring for other human beings. 34 years of caring for other human beings when most of the time you didn't like it. In that, I see a great deal of power. Really, tell me there is anything better you or anyone else could do with their life?

Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

I got into nursing because it seemed like an opportunity to make a decent living doing useful work. Along the way, I came to feel that God had put this opportunity before me, and I meant to make the most of it. But I stay for much the same reason I started in the first place.

I love my stupid job. Like my family, my cats, pretty much all of my ex-girlfriends, it drives me nuts, sometimes. And like all of the above, on the whole it's worth it. I love my patients, too. Not in the same way as my family or my cats, but neither in the abstract way I love the anonymous homeless, or starving children in Africa. Patients are people I can put a face and name to, talk with and learn their stories.

I care about humankind, but rarely have the opportunity to intervene on behalf of the entire human race. It makes me happy to be able to do a little bit for a few people I can see and touch.

I take pride in being a nurse. I took pride in being a carpenter. Being a nurse has the big advantage of affording me a consistent, predictable income, which is something I value at this point in my life. When I was younger, being rich one month and broke the next seemed more tolerable. These days I like being paid every other week and letting someone else do the bookkeeping.

At this point, I fully expect to retire from nursing, but I'm not addicted. If the time ever comes that some other job seems more appealing, I'll do that. No doubt nursing will inform my sensibilities no matter what I'm doing, in much the way I just can't bring myself to buy a bookshelf, today. And so, perhaps, someday you may find me in Bimini, shooting swimsuit models for Sports Illustrated, and reminding them to be sure to wear sunscreen and eat a balanced diet.

I like nursing, but I'm not addicted.

Specializes in ICU.
I got into nursing because it seemed like an opportunity to make a decent living doing useful work.

Are you currently trying to find something else? Because nursing, for the most part, is unpleasant work.

I'm sorry, but none of you are at all convincing. You're telling me you're not addicted to nursing when you chose it over both professional photography and construction at a relatively late time in your life. You went to school for it, and now you're hanging out in the largest nursing forum in the world. Even your nic betrays you--nursemike.

I feel like I'm talking to someone who has just mortgaged their house for the fifth time, burned through the college fund of their only child, and can't buy groceries because they're busy pulling the arm of a a slot machine--all the while saying, "I just do this for fun. If something else comes along, I'll do that." I'm not at all addicted.

Oh, before anyone get's their feathers ruffled, I'm not trying to insult or argue--it's all pretty much tongue and cheek. I'm just being confrontational for fun. I hope you take it that way.:smokin:

Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

hello my name is mary and i am a nurse....and i do agree that it is somewhat of an addiction. it is not nor ever has been just a job ; it is part of who i am.

not sure about the halo:rolleyes: but definitely love what i do and the non monetary rewards. have done it for free and for pitiful pay too.

sooo the cap is on me!!:nurse:

I'm with you. I'm not addicted to nursing either. I mean I think nursing is ok...hence my handle name....but I think i'm addicted to caffeine more than nursing. Long live coca cola!

Specializes in med-surg.

This is by far the most original and thought provoking posts I have ever read on Allnurses.Unlike some of the other posters I do believe God wanted me to be a nurse and I do understand why that is after being a professional nurse for a little while(not quit a year yet). this post will without a doubt make a lot of people think and analyze what you have said. I must admit that I will read it again and will ponder....

Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

Lol. I agree wholeheartedly. Nursing for some, is like fungus. It just grows and grows... I am one of the pathetic who is married to my job. I am, quite addicted to nursing

Specializes in Correctional, QA, Geriatrics.
What part of my OP says anything about loving the job? You've done it for 34 years, and by your profile, in a rather difficult field, and you're an LVN, which means you're there are other jobs you could have done that paid as much, and just like with Commuter, I have to make the observation: Here you are."

I was saddled with an enormous debt when my ex husband split and working two nursing gigs was required in order to discharge those debts. Getting a student loan was not possible and I couldn't qualify for enough grant money, etc to fund schooling. In addition I literally worked 60+ hours a week for a few years to get back on my feet. There was no time to also go to school.

I found 1 job in a social/health field that paid as well as nursing by pure accident. I was quite happy with this job but I had to quit my job to move half way back across the country to care for my terminally ill parents. When one is an only child there is no one else to shoulder the burden. The requirements Texas wanted for the non nursing work I had been doing in another state included a bachelors degree. After not working for nearly a year and exhausting my savings caring for my parents I needed to take the highest paying job I could find. It was nursing. It was not from an addiction to nursing. It was from a set of circumstances that required a practical answer. I then began experiencing the beginnings of the health issues that have now severly limited what areas of nursing I can do and that would apply even if I got my RN. I would need a certain amount of clinical time in the trenches to get a good paying management job and I simply can not do bedside nursing anymore.

" I never said nursing made us happy. I said we were addicted to it. Come on, admit it: you don't have a little pride in your heart when you tell someone what you do. "

No I really don't feel any pride as such. It is a job. I do the best I can but I am not all glowy just because I am a nurse.

"Come on, be honest. If you kick the bucket tomorrow, do you want to go to judgment day as anything other than a nurse? Everything you say is true, I agree with all your sentiments, but I look at you, and I see a life of caring for other human beings. 34 years of caring for other human beings when most of the time you didn't like it. In that, I see a great deal of power. Really, tell me there is anything better you or anyone else could do with their life?

Yes there a dozen different things I would prefer to relate as my profession on judgment day. The power you see I would have no matter what else I did to make a living. The power is in me. It is not in my profession. I know other people who do things that are as important, maybe even more important in some ways than being a nurse. I am not detracting from the profession in any way but realize people can be proficient at what they do, take pride in their work ethic but not like their work. They most likely keep doing that work because they have obligations to fulfill to their families and that work is the most effective way to do so. I don't see that behavior as being an addiction. I see it as being realistic.

FYI I am pursuing other means of making a living. I am finally in a place, with a supportive spouse, where I can do so. When the day comes that I am no longer working as a nurse I will happily let my license go to inactive status. I have no shame in being a nurse but it is not all I am by any means.

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