I'm a smidge guilty

Published

I keep reading all of these posts that talk about how they hate when people go to school for Nursing just for the money. I must say I feel a bit guilty. To be honest, as long as I get to help people I don't care what I do. I would love to work at Target for the rest of my life (that was my favorite job a few years back) but they simply don't pay enough and there's not much flexibility in the your daily job. I love helping people. Plain and simple. I look forward to being a nurse because the pay is enough so that I won't have to live paycheck to paycheck. It sucks to do so. I am tired of struggling to make ends meet and there's no way to save money and it's just a vicious (sp?) endless cycle.

Is it wrong to want a job for the money? I mean, it's not like that's the only reason I'd spent 2-4 long, hard years striving for a degree just to make a few bucks more. It's more than that. I am a very optimistic person and find joy in all I do. I'm a receptionist for a busy office supply company and although all of my coworkers seem to hate their job, I love mine. I get to help people and life is too short to be upset. I feel terribly guilty because I feel like those people who rant are ranting about me. :crying2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting financial stability. You shouldn't feel guilty about that. Realistically, to live an average, somewhat comfortable life, it is a little bit about the money.

With that said, I'm switching to nursing for personal fulfillment, as well as financial stability, the many options I have with the degree and job stability. I have a degree in Communications - print journalism, but there's no money or future in that as everything is going online.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am with the OP. I don't understand when others say that the current wave of nursing students are in it for the "quick" money. I have spent the last year and a half of my life in school. I have a year and a half to go if I don't fail any classes and if I pass the nclex. Over three years invested in a two year degree. Then I have to find a job, assuming there will actually be one for me. In the mean time my 401K is going fast. Exactly where is the "quick" part of this? Could I borrow about $50-$60K to live on from some of these folks? Its just untill I start earning some "quick" money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think some people go into it just for the money. As in, they look at the various community college programs and say "what can I do the quickest and end up making the most amount?". But, I also think that those people probably have a higher rate of getting out quickly (not all) and might not be prepared for the bedside nurse position.

I don't think it's wrong to think about financial stability. I had been thinking for the last few years about what I wanted to do when the kids were all in school. Well, that process sped way up when my husband lost his job last year. Suddenly it wasn't what can I do someday, but what can I start working towards now, that will have a flexible schedule so that we don't spend a ton of money in daycare and so that I can still be around most days for my kids, that I'll have a passion for that will also pay decently so that we won't find ourselves in another layoff in eight years (he works in computers and this is not his first layoff). After exploring and researching I decided on nursing (another top runner was becoming a doula, but the hours are as needed). Ideally, I'll end up in L&D, since I have a passion for babies, mothers, birth, breastfeeding and even corificeats. :lol: The fact that I can become a nurse and help people is awesome, but I can't say that money never entered the equation - it did. I want to live comfortably and not be facing another layoff with my husband as the sole breadwinner.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think some people go into it just for the money. As in, they look at the various community college programs and say "what can I do the quickest and end up making the most amount?". But, I also think that those people probably have a higher rate of getting out quickly (not all) and might not be prepared for the bedside nurse position.

I don't think it's wrong to think about financial stability. I had been thinking for the last few years about what I wanted to do when the kids were all in school. Well, that process sped way up when my husband lost his job last year. Suddenly it wasn't what can I do someday, but what can I start working towards now, that will have a flexible schedule so that we don't spend a ton of money in daycare and so that I can still be around most days for my kids, that I'll have a passion for that will also pay decently so that we won't find ourselves in another layoff in eight years (he works in computers and this is not his first layoff). After exploring and researching I decided on nursing (another top runner was becoming a doula, but the hours are as needed). Ideally, I'll end up in L&D, since I have a passion for babies, mothers, birth, breastfeeding and even corificeats. :lol: The fact that I can become a nurse and help people is awesome, but I can't say that money never entered the equation - it did. I want to live comfortably and not be facing another layoff with my husband as the sole breadwinner.

This was encouraging thank you (as were the other posts). You had to think about your current situation and what you like to do and go from there. That's how I am. I'm stuck at this deadend job and most people say that I make enough to survive but I also still live in a poor neighborhood and if I get fired today or tomorrow I have nothing to fall back on...no other job, no 401K...nothing. So school it is...and Nursing works for me. I don't feel so bad anymore about thinking of my financial situation. Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

I think there are quite a few people out there quick to judge others and their motivations. Are all the people criticizing those that are going into nursing for the money or stability trying to say that they would have gone into it for free? I don't think so. Sure, there are people out there volunteering, but I can't imagine that many people go through the schooling and effort to become an RN and then volunteer for their career. I also don't think it's realistic to think that there are people going into nursing "only" for the money. How many people would make it through the schooling and clinical experiences if they don't have a drive to help patients on some level. As the sole income in a family of five I'm not ashamed to stay that job security in the medical field was a strong factor in my decision to go back to school and pursue an RN. However, I think that it will be a good fit for my personality as well. We all have to do what's best for us and I think that ultimately, as long as I feel what I'm doing is right for me, I'm beyond the point of caring much what others think. It's my life, not theirs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think there are quite a few people out there quick to judge others and their motivations. Are all the people criticizing those that are going into nursing for the money or stability trying to say that they would have gone into it for free? I don't think so. Sure, there are people out there volunteering, but I can't imagine that many people go through the schooling and effort to become an RN and then volunteer for their career. I also don't think it's realistic to think that there are people going into nursing "only" for the money. How many people would make it through the schooling and clinical experiences if they don't have a drive to help patients on some level. As the sole income in a family of five I'm not ashamed to stay that job security in the medical field was a strong factor in my decision to go back to school and pursue an RN. However, I think that it will be a good fit for my personality as well. We all have to do what's best for us and I think that ultimately, as long as I feel what I'm doing is right for me, I'm beyond the point of caring much what others think. It's my life, not theirs.

You are absolutely right. Why SHOULD I care what other people think? Even if I did go into this field for the money that would be my business and mine only. You're right. The people who get mad at others for doing what's best for them, are just ignorant to the situation in which the would be RN is going through. I'm done feeling guilty because someone wants to rant about how they assume so many people are going into this field of work for the job and financial security. They are stressing their own selves out worrying about other people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Why do you feel guilty? Going into nursing for the money and wanting the perk of financial stability are two totally different things. You actually want to help people, you sound like someone that would enjoy the job while being grateful that the pay is good. That's not the same thing as people that are going in it JUST for the money. People that go in it for the money and the money alone don't really have a passion for helping people, are short tempered with patients and do minimal amount of work possible to get there.

I live in NYC, obviously very expensive and I also have a passion for helping people. First I looked into early childhood education but I had to be realistic, there's just no way I can live off that salary and I appreciate the people that do it. Nursing is the way that I can help people, specifically Mother Baby, so I can still educate and teach in a way but also have a job that will allow me to live comfortably, I won't by any means be rich but at least I'll be able to have my own apartment and not live with my parents the rest of my life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with the other posters as well! No need to feel guilty!! I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I was 4 and have not changed my mind since! Even during the high school years when we had career people come in and explain different jobs to us, my heart still went back to Nursing. How many 16/17 yr olds really want to work in LTC facilities as a CNA like I did?? I gave up my waitressing job for that one! :lol2: Anyway, point being that even though I have wanted to be a nurse my entire like, I am very grateful that the pay is good, I will have financial stability and a flexible schedule! Dh and I have 4 children and I am very happy to know that if something God forbid, would happen in the future, I know that I will be able to take care of our children! Because of this wonderful economy, dh's job is slow so he has been working two jobs for the past 10 months and barely gets to see us. I am very grateful for all that he is doing, but I am even more grateful that I get to be in school and working on a great career so my husband will never have to be put in this situation again! Because of him I have been a stay at home mom for the past almost 11 years and now it's my turn to help him secure our children's future!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work part-time at Target in Guest Services and I too, love helping people. This past fall I took a long look at my three older kids (one who is in the military so does not live at home anymore, one in college, one a high school senior) and at my two little homeschooled guys (ages 5 and 8) and started thinking that in about 10-12 years, my little ones are going to be doing what my big ones are doing now. My husband and I have practically no retirement money at this point, we are in our 40's and have a long way to go to pay off our house because we've refinanced it so many times. I know I will need to work full-time once we are done homeschooling if we are ever going to retire, so I started thinking about career options for me. I can't work at Target forever, as much as I enjoy working there the pay is simply too low. Nursing just seems like the perfect fit for me. While my kids are still at home, I can continue working evenings and weekends, and once they are older I can work days so I will be on the same schedule as my husband.

One thing that did motivate me regarding money was going for RN instead of LPN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Everyone does it for the money its why its called a job. :) of course if that was the only motivating factor, all the money in the world couldn't keep someone who wasn't really dedicated to the profession from burning out so fast it'd make their head spin. Or for that matter jump through all the hoops we have to continue to jump through as pre-nursing students, nursing students, and nurses! Yup getting paid enough money to pay the rent and electric bill all in the same month... yup I'm guilty too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion