I hate to say this, but I think it's true.....

Nurses General Nursing

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I think alot of people are going into nursing these days because of the economy and the stories drilled in peoples heads about how nurses make alot of money for only a 2 yr degree. I can tell this by listening to students in my pre-req classes. Some whom I talk to don't have the slightest clue about nursing but they can spout off how much money they think they'll make when they first start out. I'm sure some of you on here will agree with me. I was talking to this one student and he told me, "Yeah, I'm going into nursing. I was a mechanical engineer and was laid off. I can't find work in that right now. Nursing is only two years. I made good money on my last job."

Specializes in CSICU/CTICU.

I agree with the commuter. I always see people complaining about students who mention the monetary benefits of nursing but, hello, have you ever considered that it is exactly the same in other professions? The law profession for example..MANY, if not most, pursue this profession because of the prestige and income associated with it... too bad a glut of JDs has made it so that this isn't always the case anymore. Even in medicine..many people go in to it for the money, and if we take it a step further..many/most med students choose their specialty based on money...This is why there is a severe shortage of primary care practitioners, because this specialty does NOT make the big bucks. Do we then question these doctors or complain that "Dr. X shouldnt be a surgeon because he's only doing it for the money". No, because if Dr. X is a good surgeon and made it through all of that treacherous schooling/residency, it's all good! Look at Derm and Radiology..they make $$$ and thus are extremely competitive to get in to. The same can be said, as aforementioned, for pharmacy, physical therapy, etc..Lets not even discuss MBAs...Bottom line is a career means different things to different people..My goals are: doing work that fulfills me (helping other people), having a good life-work balance, and yes making a good income. As long as you are competent in your job and put in the effort and have the brains to flourish, I don't see the problem. If your drive for money interferes with your ability to be a good nurse, then it is a problem.

Elle

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i think alot of people are going into nursing these days because of the economy and the stories drilled in peoples heads about how nurses make alot of money for only a 2 yr degree. i can tell this by listening to students in my pre-req classes. some whom i talk to don't have the slightest clue about nursing but they can spout off how much money they think they'll make when they first start out. i'm sure some of you on here will agree with me. i was talking to this one student and he told me, "yeah, i'm going into nursing. i was a mechanical engineer and was laid off. i can't find work in that right now. nursing is only two years. i made good money on my last job."

honestly, i fail to see how anyone else's motivations for going into nursing are any of your business. you'll have enough to think about getting yourself through nursing school.

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Nursing doesn't have to be a calling. That only applies to priest and nuns. I am doing this as a second career for the two reasons mentioned. Decent pay for a two year degree. as far as earning the money. What do you think I had to do in my last job? If was all fun they wouldn't call it work. Yes I know the job outlook isn't as great as it used to be, but it is still better than most. Which would you rather be leaving college with a degree in right now. Nursing or architecture? Healthcare hasn't been hit nearly as hard as many other fields I.E. housing, finance, automotive ect. So please don't judge someone's motives because they are not your own.

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Specializes in L&D; GI; Fam Med; Home H; Case mgmt.
well it may be true but they will find out sooner than later that nurses earn every penny of that pay check.

Isn't THAT the truth! :up:

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nursing is a job, it really doesn't matter why someone becomes a nurse if they can and do get the job done.

those that think nursing is something other than a job, either have never been paid for nursing or they're disappointed with the real world of nursing (health care is big business).

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Nursing is a profession. Of course people want to be paid well for what they do. Why wouldn't they? You can bet your bottom dollar if nursing didn't pay well that I wouldn't be one. I love patients and providing care but I wouldn't take on the level of responsibility I have for less money.

Nurses should back one another and work towards even higher wages. We deserve more. We are educated and trained professionals. Do you think doctors argue about who goes into it for money? They don't nor should we. We aren't martyrs and volunteers.

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we nurses may be paid well or appear to be paid well but we earn every penny!! Some go into nursing school for the money but you have to really want to be a nurse to get thru nursing schooleven if it was only two yrs. NS was the hardest thing I have ever done, and I already had a four degree in an different area. I love my job and it was the best decision I ever made going back to school. I get paid well but nurses earn every penny we are paid and we wouldn't do it for minimum wage I can tell you that much, we are responsible for people's lives.

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I see these kinds of statements made all the time it seems like, but I really don't understand why they are made. What difference does it make what the reasoning is behind someone going to Nursing school? Just because you haven't always thought that nursing is your "calling" like some people put it doesn't mean that you can't make it through nursing school or that you can't become a great nurse. If someone wants to go to nursing school to learn and to better themselves, or to have a decent job to support their family what difference does it make? If you are a caring and competent nurse, I seriously doubt the patient, the patients family members, or even your clinical instructors will care one bit. I'm not personally a person who has gone into nursing school just to have a job, but I just don't see why that would even be an issue even if that was the case.

I don't mean to sound rude or hateful, just putting in my opinion on the subject so that maybe some people can have a more open mind and be more understanding to others choices.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

First of all, there has been an excellent thread about this very issue posted not very long ago. While there were definitely some strong emotions stirred in the discussion, I think the issue about motivations for going into nursing was very adequately discussed on that thread. https://allnurses.com/nursing-blogs/got-no-job-451725.html

Tell me a little bit about the program? What caused them to drop out? Was it the homework you think? Overbearing instructors?

I'm giving you a lot of credit for not being a troll and trying to look at your posts as someone who is just asking for information. However, before you start asking about programs and assuming that people dropped out because it was someone else's fault, please look at some of the responses to the other thread you started. Yeah, maybe I am being just another overbearing instructor. But please understand that when you ask for input on this forum, you will get it----maybe not always the answers you wanted but you will get feedback.

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

That's exactly why I got into nursing......for the money. I don't regret my decision. I've worked a lot harder for a lot less.

I also noticed that if a man goes into nursing for the money, he's thought of as being smart or resourceful. If a woman does it for the same reason, she is judged. TheCommuter is right. People choose a career for lots of reasons; money being one of them. What's wrong with that? We're not selfless angels of mercy. We are highly trained professionals who deserve what we make.

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Coming from a pre-nursing student, I only see salary as an advantage to something I've always truly wanted to do & be - A profession I've always looked up to, admired & respected greatly for their work & role in this society.

I honestly don't relate to the people who had zero or lil interest in nursing until they heard about such things as you speak of; the ability to take the NCLEX-RN with only an associate's & earn that RN salary.

I'm not judging these people.

I have mixed feelings on this.

From all the things I've read from here thus far, it doesn't take someone interested in medicine their entire life to be a wonderful & dedicated nurse.

I just don't relate to the thought of straight up of "Wow, they make great money, don't have to attend school for too long and I could perform those duties too, even though it's the medical field I don't care too much for".

I do feel that if you don't have some genuine interest & love for what you're doing out of enjoyment & wanting to do it, how can it truly be the right thing for you, regardless what you think of the dollar signs?

Just my :twocents: from a pre-nursing student to contribute to statistics.

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honestly, i fail to see how anyone else's motivations for going into nursing are any of your business. you'll have enough to think about getting yourself through nursing school.

ultimately, it's not. but it does make for a good conversation piece. alot mentioned on these boards are none of anyone's business, but we still talk about it. i wish i were more like you, someone who has never gossiped in all the years they've been living.

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