If pay was not an issue, would you still be a nurse?

Published

Specializes in ER.

First of all, I'm so glad I discovered this forum. Everyone is so helpful! Thanks to all for bearing with my questions as I figure out whether or not the road to a nursing career is one that I truly want to go take.

In the last thread I started, I listed the reasons why I am interested in nursing as a second career. Let me add that I initially looked into being a dietitian/nutritionist. I love reading books on nutrition and also love the idea of helping people better their bodies through diet and exercise.

It seems that I need to have a Master's degree to get a good-paying job in the field, though -- a discouraging thought for someone who can only work part-time (let's not forget that I am already 37). It also appeared that jobs are limited in that field as well. I also considered becoming a personal trainer, but to be honest, the pay was a deterrent for me. So, I scratched both ideas. Just to clarify: pay is important to me because I'm a single Mom with a mortgage to pay.

Anyway, after I mentioned all of this to a nurse friend, she suggested I look into nursing. I don't want to do it just for the money (pay is pretty good if you can get a job here). If salary and school were no object for me, I'd pursue the dietitian/nutritionist career.

I can honestly say though, that I have a passion for helping others. I would consider myself to be a "fixer". Even when it's just advice to friends, I am always glad to listen and try to offer any advice I can. I always have a genuine desire to make them feel better. Also, in a moment of crisis, I am never one to stand by and just watch. I am a take-charge kind of person. I immediately assess the situation and try to find a way to solve the problem. I also LOVE working in a fast-paced environment.

With nursing, I like the idea of being able to "fix" someone. I like the idea of a pt. being diagnosed and "fixed" -- hopefully resulting in them leaving the hospital in better shape than when they entered. Of course, that's not always the case, but this is why I'm wondering if I might be suited for ER nursing.

It seems like there are a lot of reasons why I might be suited for nursing yet, there are other careers I'd choose if I could. I'm just worried that I'm doing this for the wrong reason -- even worrying that I might just be trying to convince myself that it is a good career for me??? On paper, it seems like a good idea and I am genuinely excited about some of the experiences I can have as a nurse. But, it bugs me that my answer would not be "nursing" if someone were to ask me "what would you do if money were no object" question. I'm not sure if it's because I'm still digesting the idea of me going into nursing ???

So, I was curious as to whether or not most of you have a passion for what you do and if you'd still choose nursing if money (pay) were no object ???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

It will be interesting to see what people say to this one. I suspect a lot of people will have mixed feelings, as I do.

If money were truly no object, I would probably remain a nurse, but I would work part time instead of full time. Most nursing jobs are really hard work and really stressful. That's why nurses are usually paid more than a lot of other health care professions (but not all of them). I have a passion for nursing and believe very strongly that nursing is a good way to use your talents to help people. However, I have been a nurse for 32 years and at age 54, I am tired of the struggles.

My ideal preference would be to continue in nursing -- to use what I have learned over the years to help the profession -- but to do it on a part time basis. I think switching to part time employment would enable to continue to use my expertise, but to enjoy doing it more. But I need to work full time for financial reasons.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

If money were no object I would work PRN and focus solely on completing my BSN and Master's in order to move beyond the bedside and help people directly in the community, and advocate for my fellow nurses.

Tait

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If money were no object I probably would choose to pursue my first love of anthropology. Love it, but there's no money in it to pay the bills. I might consider staying in nursing part time or per diem. I really enjoy nursing, but it's not my passion.....but I'm good with that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If the pay and job availability for travel agent (my former career) and nursing were the same, it would probably be no contest. Intellectually, I find nursing more satisfying. However, I really REALLY loved being a travel agent and was broken hearted to leave it. I had to in a post 9/11 world though because the job security was nil.

But that's not the world I live in, so I'm a nurse and I enjoy it most of the time. I'd like to figure out how to marry the two fields one day. I've even thought that if I got burned out on healthcare in the future that's the first career I'd try to take a break in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

Growing up, I never wanted to be anything but a nurse, ever. My mother used to tell me "I don't know why you think you want to be a nurse. You'll be a terrible nurse, you really aren't good with sick people." It's really the only thing I ever defied her on and I was right. But she was right too, I'm not all that good with sick people and for a while I was really worried about just what I was going to do after I graduated. Then I attended my first delivery and I felt like I'd come home. I knew I wanted to deliver babies the rest of my life. Forty years later, I still love what I do. If money were not an object, I'd still be doing this. But as the poster above said--Part time. I retired for a while and missed this . I used to dream about it. So I came back to work. I get tired of the hospital "stuff" (politics, policies, red tape), but never the job itself.

I've never regretted being a nurse. I've never had trouble finding a job. Right now things are a little tight, but it's only temporary. Once the economy picks up a lot of nurses are going to retire (40% of us are baby boomers and getting along in years) or go part time. When things at one hospital get boring or irritating, you can go to another department, or another hospital. Although I tend to stay where I work for at least 15 years, it's been a great comfort to me to know that I stay by choice, not because I have to. I've always known that if things get too bad, I could go someplace else.

My story is very different from yours, but you still should consider nursing. With your interest in nutrition, you have options open to you to combine that with nursing. You could specialize (once you've graduated) in diabetic nursing. The nutritionist isn't the only one doing dietary teaching. Bariatric care is a growing speciality that I imagine could use someone with a strong nutrition background. Even cardiac nursing involves a lot of dietary teaching.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

If we were talking about nursing and money was no problem, I would do nursing prn or part time. I hate working full time.

But if I could anything with no problems I would be the CEO of a big company or a special agent/ninja. :D (The latter is a childhood fantasy of mine.)

I want to be the boss!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ..

Why do you seem to think that nurses get brilliant pay? They don't. Nurses are overworked and underpaid for what they do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
Why do you seem to think that nurses get brilliant pay? They don't. Nurses are overworked and underpaid for what they do.

It all depends on what your frame of reference is. If you are comparing nurses to physicians, engineers, etc. then you are right, nurses usually make less. However, those professions require at least a Bachelor's Degree or graduate degree. If you compare nursing to other health care workers that are not required to have a bachelor's degree (such as the various technicians in many departments), then nurses are among the better-paid health workers.

As a nurse with a PhD, I make more money working in a hospital than do most faculty members.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I am an RN Because Being a NAR was hard on my body. I loved my NAR job... I was 45 years old and I worked full time Nights and went to school full time days. I still love my job and probably would do it for the NAR wages. I am now 50 years old and love what I do now as well. I am in a good place in my life. no bills. House is payed off and no car payment. I work in LTC so I am not the highst paid nursing proffessional but it is where I want to be.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

If money was no object (meaning I'd won the lottery or something), I'd probably go work in OR so that I could be able to do the "Operation Smile" projects, or get my NP in critical care. I'd like to be the folks who hike in (hey, if I'm rich, helloooooooo Mr Helicopter) to remote villages and they do all the shots/exams/etc. for folks who really can't get out of their areas and to to a hospital for treatment. It suits my "fix what's broke" personality.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ..
It all depends on what your frame of reference is. If you are comparing nurses to physicians, engineers, etc. then you are right, nurses usually make less. However, those professions require at least a Bachelor's Degree or graduate degree. If you compare nursing to other health care workers that are not required to have a bachelor's degree (such as the various technicians in many departments), then nurses are among the better-paid health workers.

As a nurse with a PhD, I make more money working in a hospital than do most faculty members.

I come from a family of lawyers (and am currently a nursing student) so I guess I'm a bit jaded. Both of my parents, two uncles and an aunt (basically all the family I have) are lawyers in some shape or form and my little sister just began studying law this year, too. I know that what a nurse makes in comparison is pittance (which my dear mother never fails to remind me.)

I started working as a CNA around the same time my sister started working in a call center. She got paid five dollars more than me to sit on her orifice for a couple of hours answering the phones while I basically, did manual labour - lifting people, changing dirty nappies, showering people (seriously, that can make one sweat) etcetc.

Perhaps I'm a bit bitter. I've known since I was a little girl that I wanted to be a nurse, I knew what the job entailed before I got anywhere close to it and I really do love what I'm learning and doing. But I grew up with a fairly privileged lifestyle - daughter of two lawyers, attended fancy private school, went on plenty of overseas holidays, had the most expensive anything... I know a nurse's wage doesn't fund that. I guess I've got some adjusting to do!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion