Higher Calling

Nurses Relations

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Why is it that nurses are informed from the beginning of their education and throughout their careers that nursing is a higher calling? Is this being taught to management and administrators as well? Rhetorical questions, as a male, in a female-dominated profession, and coming from the corporate world it is rather disingenuous and would never be tolerated in "male" dominated professions. I'm expected to take care of you or your family, and in return I get to work in sub-par environments with sub-par compensation. Why am I nothing more than a liability on the balance sheet?

Original degree in nursing in New England mumblemumble years ago, graduate school on the West Coast seven years later, never heard such horsepucky in school (although I heard it from ancient aunties) and would be astonished to learn that any sort of majority of Philly schools espouse it either.

Putting aside your incredibly rude comments to Brandon for a moment, as he does quite well in speaking for himself....I'll address the rest.

I'm in the Northeast, and nowhere in my nursing education was "a higher calling" part of the expected compensation and reason for being there. My instructors were obviously more progressive than yours in that they focused on Nursing as a profession and the professional conduct and expectations that would go with it. They stressed continuing education, NOT 'higher calling' as important for success within this profession.

It's unfortunate yours didn't, but I think you're going out on a limb suggesting that it's a "Northeast" misconception.

As for the sub-par financial compensation, I'd have to ask you to do your own "apples to apples" comparison, and look to WHAT profession out there allows one to have an Associate's degree and still find decent, career employment? Or, perhaps more accurately, what Associate's degree program could you recommend as one in which the starting pay is more 'par' than what you're seeing in Nursing?

You are missing the larger point, either intentionally, due to an agenda or you like being argumentative, or possibly due to a reading disability. I never equated a higher calling with being a successful nurse and my point is that nurses are unfairly treated and underpaid. This is justified by employers by manipulation, playing off of women's innate instinct to care and nurture over men's nature. Sorry, if that's stereotypical, but it's true, and yes, there are exceptions.

What about comparing a BSN with other bachelor degrees? An ASN will not even get you an interview at the vast majority of the hospitals in the Philadelphia area and certainly not any of the prestigious hospitals. There are plenty of professions that don't even require a degree that pay better and have much better working conditions, and guess what, they are all male dominated.

I was educated at one of the best nursing schools in the country and don't believe that they are any less progressive than the community college you received your education at.

When my husband gets off on a tear like this (on whatever subject, morphing from one to the next in a way that gives me whiplash, and no, I have no reading disability, thankyouverymuch), I usually put down what I'm doing and say something like, "Is there some reason you want to pick a fight with me?" He usually reconsiders his overall attitude and thinks about what's really bothering him. Root cause analysis, you know.

Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.
There are plenty of professions that don't even require a degree that pay better and have much better working conditions, and guess what, they are all male dominated.

Professional athletics?

For me, no, nursing is not a "higher calling," and I have never had a single professor, male or female, refer to it as such.

I could be totally wrong, but I sense that perhaps you have frustrations over not being able to find the job you want. Well, this it not exclusive to nursing. There are many people who graduated from some of the best law schools in the country who are now working as baristas. This issue is due to on this country's economy and the expectations of new graduates, and has very little to do with the given profession and the gender that predominates in said profession.

Also, the "reading disability" comment has no place in professional discourse. It may be that kind of attitude that is hurting you in the quest for the job you desire.

Specializes in Primary Care, OR.

Well someone is unhappy about their career choice. Sorry to see that.

But I may just be reading between the lines......

We may not be as forward thinking here in the Northeast as the Midwest and just clinging to outdated ways of thinking. Yes, it was implied that nurses are called to the profession and therefore that in of itself was part of your compensation.

I was educated at one of the best nursing schools in the country and don't believe that they are any less progressive than the community college you received your education at.

Both are your quotes. You are arguing with yourself.

As for where I "received my education at", it's fundamentally clear that I have benefitted far more from my general education--including English language skills--than you, regardless of where you may have attended school.

While I do have an Associate degree in NURSING from a community college (is that supposed to be a put-down?) you have not a single clue as to what the rest of my formal education entails, and what degrees I hold. Although, at this point, I have a very good idea as to the extent--or perhaps limit--of yours.

You are missing the larger point, either intentionally, due to an agenda or you like being argumentative, or possibly due to a reading disability.

...and now we're done.

Well someone is unhappy about their career choice. Sorry to see that.

I save my sympathy for those who deserve it, who are kind and reasonable, and don't make those who are forced to be near them unhappy as well. This doesn't rise to that level of deserving.

I save my sympathy for those who deserve it, who are kind and reasonable, and don't make those who are forced to be near them unhappy as well. This doesn't rise to that level of deserving.

"He's an angry elf!"

Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN.
Both are your quotes. You are arguing with yourself . . .and now we're done.

The answer to the question is No - nursing is not a calling but a career (and one of the more profitable ones at that). End of story. I was never told anything about a higher calling - otherwise I'd be rockin a little nurse halo complete with angel wings :saint:.

The OP's circular argument is making me a little dizzy, so imma step off the merry-go-round. You guys have fun!

Both are your quotes. You are arguing with yourself.

As for where I "received my education at", it's fundamentally clear that I have benefitted far more from my general education--including English language skills--than you, regardless of where you may have attended school.

While I do have an Associate degree in NURSING from a community college (is that supposed to be a put-down?) you have not a single clue as to what the rest of my formal education entails, and what degrees I hold. Although, at this point, I have a very good idea as to the extent--or perhaps limit--of yours.

...and now we're done.

Not arguing with myself regarding my education, as I stated, I don't believe my education was less progressive than theirs. My statements only leave open the possibility that it may not have been as progressive as I believed it to be.

Suggesting that one may have a learning disability was not meant to be a negative and I'm unsure why you took such offense to this?

You project and deflect with every post and fail to ever address the issue that I put fourth. It's okay if it doesn't excite you or you find no interest in it. I don't appreciate your assumptions and venting due to your lack of understanding or interest.

Nursing needs to change and hopefully when old ideas and old nurses leave the profession there will be greater opportunities and less resistance to the possibility. The defense of horrible working conditions and sub-par compensation baffles me. It's much like the defense of an abusive partner and the denial that people live in out of fear of the unknown or they don't believe they deserve better.

Tell the nurse in Texas who contracted EBOLA how great nursing is. Tell all the nurses who drop out after two years, which has one of the worse attrition rates of any industry. Tell all the nurses who work with dangerous ratios and are unable to give quality care and sometimes fail to give safe care. Tell the administration that it's okay that benefits are cut, equipment isn't available or fails, and continue to fool yourself into thinking that I'm the problem.

No wonder the profession has one of the highest depression rates of any industry.

I initiated the conversation and I think it's only fair that I choose to end it as well.

Now we're done...Peace!

"He's an angry elf!"

ROFL...no kidding!! But whatta I know, I'z graduated from community college...lol....truly funny.

Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.
Quote from Farawyn

No one called ME.

My employer called me to offer me the job. Does that count?

yes , and he said "hello, this is the hire calling." Har har.

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