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

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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."

The way I see it, someone who decides to pursue nursing school "for the money and security" can certainly be a good and solid nurse. My only concern with the recent influx of students that are interested in nursing for economic reason is burn-out. I know nursing isn't easy. I have two close family members who are nurses and have explained to me some of the hardships you will face. It doesn't phase me.

The only concern I have with the economically minded students is if they start to lower the quality of care they give their patients because they are no longer motivated enough by the money. Mind you, this could happen to anyone for other reasons. I just hope that the whole "nursing shortage" issue that is talked about so much isn't worsened when nurses who got into it for primarily economic reasons begin leaving the profession.

I'm _not_ saying a person interested in nursing specifically for economic reasons cannot be a good nurse. I'm just hoping that, if or when they feel the stress and think that "maybe its not worth it", they are not taking care of me or my family members. Regardless of your reasons for getting into nursing, you must always put your patients first. Otherwise, perhaps you shouldn't be a nurse.

Just my two cents :D

LV

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I'm not really sure where all this money in nursing is suppose to be at-It's nothing more than an average living at best.:confused: You certainly can't survive on the salary in itself so I don't understand what the fuss is. There are plenty of professions that pay as much if not better minus the stress. Trust me, once you get in the hospital and are worked into the ground, you'll see why there's a shortage. Honestly, they don't pay near enough for all the stress. This isn't a cushy engineering job where you work 9-5, get a 1 hr. lunch break, can pace yourself, and then go home. You will be sadly disappointed when you see the money comparison-engineer's make a lot more and deal with zilch stress compared to nursing. This entire thread makes no sense. I think a lot of you students will get an eye opener your first year about the money. I'm not trying to be negative, just honest.

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The way I see it, someone who decides to pursue nursing school "for the money and security" can certainly be a good and solid nurse. My only concern with the recent influx of students that are interested in nursing for economic reason is burn-out. I know nursing isn't easy. I have two close family members who are nurses and have explained to me some of the hardships you will face. It doesn't phase me.

The only concern I have with the economically minded students is if they start to lower the quality of care they give their patients because they are no longer motivated enough by the money. Mind you, this could happen to anyone for other reasons. I just hope that the whole "nursing shortage" issue that is talked about so much isn't worsened when nurses who got into it for primarily economic reasons begin leaving the profession.

I'm _not_ saying a person interested in nursing specifically for economic reasons cannot be a good nurse. I'm just hoping that, if or when they feel the stress and think that "maybe its not worth it", they are not taking care of me or my family members. Regardless of your reasons for getting into nursing, you must always put your patients first. Otherwise, perhaps you shouldn't be a nurse.

Just my two cents :D

LV

I totally agree!! And hoefully those of us that went with heart and those who stay with heart will be in positions to remove the ones who provide inadequate care! That is one of my goals!! I had one experience with a horrible nurse at a time when I should not have...when I gave birth to my son. I was not amused and that is one situation that stuck with me and I would NEVER want someone to deal with with an uncaring nurse in a time of need!! So keep your eyes peeled ladies and gents!!!!

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Awesome points!

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I'm not really sure where all this money in nursing is suppose to be at-It's nothing more than an average living at best.:confused: You certainly can't survive on the salary in itself so I don't understand what the fuss is. There are plenty of professions that pay as much if not better minus the stress. Trust me, once you get in the hospital and are worked into the ground, you'll see why there's a shortage. Honestly, they don't pay near enough for all the stress. This isn't a cushy engineering job where you work 9-5, get a 1 hr. lunch break, can pace yourself, and then go home. You will be sadly disappointed when you see the money comparison-engineer's make a lot more and deal with zilch stress compared to nursing. This entire thread makes no sense. I think a lot of you students will get an eye opener your first year about the money. I'm not trying to be negative, just honest.

I'm not sure that engineers have a "cushy" job. I have a friend who lost a finger why managing a project. There's plenty of stress in most jobs, just pick your poison. Good engineers will find ways to make good money. Good nurses will find ways to make good money. And so on.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I love the debate on why people go into nursing I loved it so much I wrote about it in my blog and it generated a heated discussion.

However I do wonder why people go into nursing, I cannot compare it to any other profession because I havent known any other profession. I have no clue what Doctors discuss in their professional journals, or engineers or teachers etc because I dont subscribe and to be truthful I dont really care about any other profession other than my own.

What I have noticed however is the moral of nurses has detiorated over the years I have been a nurse, there is far more moaning, complaining, arguing, back stabbing, general discontentment these days than there was 10-15yrs ago.

Nursing has always been an overworked, underpaid, difficult profession it is no different these days than it was then. Yet nurses laughed a lot, enjoyed themselves at work, cared about each other. So I have to question what is different about the nurses today??

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I am a nurse who did pursue nursing as a quicker track to get into a field to make decent money. My first choice was psychology....but 10yrs for a masters, which is what you need to make a decent living wasn't a viable option for me at the time. That being said, I can't imagine being anything other than a nurse. It's a great field with limitless options. I am excellent at my job, and have received much positive feedback from employers and patients alike.

Nursing can be a job, and any decent person who can adhere to the code of ethics and deal with a multitude of tasks and bodily fluids is needed in this field regardless of motivation. After school, there is reality shock in which you will be shocked at the variety personality types you will come across. Nurses are a cross-section of the population, regardless of the stereotypes. There are good nurse, and adequate nurses, and nurses you wouldn't want caring for your family. It's no different than the differing levels of dedication you find in any other field, from cashier, to bankers, lawyers etc.

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I'd like to see some stats on how many people who make it through the nursing program and then get a job leave the profession within 5 years.

Interesting...I graduated in 78 from an AD program,,,only about 35 in the class. I must say that we kind of lost touch...but by the ten year reunion, I think at least a third of the class was no longer in nsg-I think that there were several who completed the course, just to test themselves

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I'm not sure that engineers have a "cushy" job. I have a friend who lost a finger why managing a project. There's plenty of stress in most jobs, just pick your poison. Good engineers will find ways to make good money. Good nurses will find ways to make good money. And so on.

Well, this is the one thing I know....I'm a professional X3 and I have never seen a job as stressful as my nursing jobs-not even close. I've had quite a variety of jobs since high school and each had it's own type of stress but nursing is both mental and physical and the only job where I was worked so hard I couldn't pace myself-felt like I was drowning for 14 hrs....what a great feeling!!!!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah:Yea, if you get into it for the money, you won't last 6 months.

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I love the debate on why people go into nursing I loved it so much I wrote about it in my blog and it generated a heated discussion.

However I do wonder why people go into nursing, I cannot compare it to any other profession because I havent known any other profession. I have no clue what Doctors discuss in their professional journals, or engineers or teachers etc because I dont subscribe and to be truthful I dont really care about any other profession other than my own.

What I have noticed however is the moral of nurses has detiorated over the years I have been a nurse, there is far more moaning, complaining, arguing, back stabbing, general discontentment these days than there was 10-15yrs ago.

Nursing has always been an overworked, underpaid, difficult profession it is no different these days than it was then. Yet nurses laughed a lot, enjoyed themselves at work, cared about each other. So I have to question what is different about the nurses today??

I couldn't agree with you more! I haven't worked in nearly 8 yrs...one of my good friends could be the poster child for your comment> I love her dearly, but it just seems like the "light has gone out"...:heartbeat

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Specializes in Tele/Med.

I totally know what you're talking about. I work for a local hospital here as a Tech and in school for my pre reqs to get into the RN Program. In one of my pre req classes a girl was telling me that she is going to go into nursing and was asking me the different duties (shouldnt she have researched that a little more) then proceded to tell me that she is glad shes going to be a RN cause then she doesnt have to clean up poop and gross stuff. I looked at her and said ohhhhhhh you're planning on being one of "those" nurses. She had no idea what a nurse does aside from helping techs. I pray she does well in the program and changes the attitude that she is above it all.

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Specializes in asthma/allergies.

Although becoming a vet is my 1st choice I think that being a nurse will be a very rewarding career and I am currently in nursing school. It doesn't hurt that it pays well, but it will never pay enough for what we go through! Some people do it as a 2nd choice, a 2nd career, or for the money, but they may end up loving it. SOme people have to get a well paying job if they have a family to support so whether they want to be a nurse or not maybe they are just doing it for their family to have a better life which is still admirable.

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