Irritated that everyone feels the need to mention they want to help people

friendlyjane · Dec 24, 2012

I do agree that I get annoyed when people are asking about money and which way to go in nursing to make the most money and others respond with, " if your in it for the money then chose something else, it is for the love of the job and patients", they make you feel bad for asking about money. I mean gosh darnit people, I am sure you would not do it for free would you. If you love it so much for the passion of the job, then help the hospital out and refuse to get paid.

I will say there should be both great knowledge and wonderful nursing bedside manner. I was in the hospital for 2 months on bedrest trying to save my baby while pregnant. We lost our last daughter at 20 weeks the year before and the same situation was happening again. I was in the hospital from 20 weeks pregnant to 29 weeks pregnant when my son was delivered. When I say I was on bedrest I mean I had to stay flat on my back and not even sit up bc my cervix was so jacked up. When you are in a situation like that you feel like you are going insane sometimes. I mean my view from my window was a brick wall and I only had 6 tv stations to watch. I read 2 books but after 2 weeks in the hospital without much mental stimulation a persons brain turns to mush. I could not keep my mind on track to read a book. I had to deal with the fear of seeing another baby die in my arms and seeing my hausband try to be brave and take so much on his shoulders without much help and seeing my older 2 kiddos try to handel their mama being away from them and the fear that they were gonna lose another baby too. If I had nurses that just had the knowledge and seemed not to want to be invested in my situation I would not of liked to have them as my nurse. Most of my nurses were AWSOME and along with my hubby, they helped me in this very hard situation. If I had nurses that did not care it would of been a much harder time for me. But they did care and we talked and became friends and they inspired me to become an RN. I just can't imagine having a nurse that did not care.

PMFB-RN, RN · Dec 24, 2012

It appears to be a pattern that the majority of people here appear that they feel the need to mention they're main reason for wanting to practice nursing is because they want to help people. They also indirectly suggest those that do not will not succeed in nursing and therefore should chose another path. It is also these same people that state they're not in it for they money. Certainly I am not the only one who believes this to be ******** and possesses the ability to see through such transparent lies.

*** I DO help people and find it very satisfying

My logic being based on the fact that treating family or having an emotional bond with a patient weakens important treatment, hence why treating family is frowned upon

.

*** What is the evidence for your claim?

Those who say they are not interested in the money and just want to help people, are silly and are unrealistically trying to impress others.

*** I am interested in maximizing my income AND helping people. Those who are in nursing for the money are idiots. There isn't enough money in nursing to do it just for the money. I like my pay check and benifits I get from my work but if that was my only priority I sure and heck would not be in nursing. I would be in something like investment banking or business where serious money can be made, not the solid middel class lifestyle nursing can provide.

If one is truly good at somethin, do it for money, don't sell yourself short or underestimate your true value.

*** If making money is the goal the first thing to do would be to pick a field where making a lot of money is possible. That isn't nursing. I don't know any nurses who make than $140K at the very tip top of the pay scale. Most will never make anything like that much. Whoever claims to be in nursing for the low pay offered in nursing is an idiot.

rubato, ASN, RN · Dec 24, 2012

First off, nurses don't make a ton of money, so anyone who's in it for the money is a fool.

Second, it's not like it used to be. There's not a ton of job security and assurance in nursing, so if you're in it for the security, you're a fool.

Thirdly, if you don't want to "help people", don't go into a profession whose goal is to "help people".

Yes, the term is overused, but it's a HUGE part of the job. I'm not a touchy feely person, ever. Now that I've gotten through my first semester of clinicals, it's my favorite part of the job. I love talking to my patients, helping them through their anxieties and worries, rubbing their backs, touching, letting them know someone is there for them. That's the part of nursing that I didn't think I would care about, and I care about it the most!

Compassion_x · Dec 24, 2012

I decided I wanted to be a nurse when I was 16. And yeah, part of it was because I want to help people, and make a difference in peoples lives. I'm not saying that because I want to impress anyone. But life is too short to work in a cubicle with a boring job that only makes a difference to a company in it for money. I also think it's ridiculous that you think everyone who says they want to be a nurse to help people are lying. And I really don't think anyone would be a nurse for long for nothing. Although I do roll my eyes at anyone who says they'd do it for free, because you need to survive somehow!

I do agree with you on the need to be detached from patients, but only to an extent. Yes, nursing and medical care could be given better with no emotional attachments, but it's at least equally dangerous to not care about the patient.

Alisonisayoshi, LVN · Dec 24, 2012

It appears to be a pattern that the majority of people here appear that they feel the need to mention they're main reason for wanting to practice nursing is because they want to help people. They also indirectly suggest those that do not will not succeed in nursing and therefore should chose another path. It is also these same people that state they're not in it for they money. Certainly I am not the only one who believes this to be ******** and possesses the ability to see through such transparent lies.
My logic being based on the fact that treating family or having an emotional bond with a patient weakens important treatment, hence why treating family is frowned upon.
All a great nurse needs is to have an obsession with medicine and its functions. Also to understand its relative material. An understanding of human psychology and A&P and etc.as well.
As long as you have advanced communication and behavioral skills, it does not matter if you truly give a crap about a patient personally or not. As long as their needs are met and wheather chemistry is accurate, that's all that matters.
Those who say they are not interested in the money and just want to help people, are silly and are unrealistically trying to impress others.
If one is truly good at somethin, do it for money, don't sell yourself short or underestimate your true value.
Would you want a genius doctor with no compassion to treat you, and if he fails his family will go hungry? Or an intellectually average doctor with all the love in the world who is not getting any incentive to find a cure.
I am sure this will anger many, but the truth hurts.

As a person who is becoming a nurse because I have been a patient I had to breath before responding. I had a great career. Great money, lots of opportunity, advancement galore. I made a choice this year, stop, quit, and go into nursing. I did it because I just kept getting the wrong kind of nurses. I'm sorry, IMHO, as a patient first, you are so wrong it makes me sad. A nurse guides me gently through care. Gives me a shoulder to lean on, a chance to cry when I am scared. They treat me gently. They are there in the hospital when I have been admitted watching boring daytime TV with me because my family can't visit, they are braiding my long hair so it doesn't tangle because my arms are too weak when I am sick. They are cleaning me up after I lose control of all bodily functions in a CT machine and cry about it. They do not shame me in that. They are explaining to my family what's happening in terms they understand. They are telling the patient next to me that to please stop reading their food menu aloud because I've been NPO for a month and its making me cry for food and water again. They are explaining my insulin pump to me, they are texting me dose changes on the fly, they are talking me through extended bolus the night before thanksgiving cause I'm freaked out that I've never used it but I'm going to need to. They are pushing me to finish nursing school because I'm what nursing needs. More people that CARE! Yes I want a competent nurse, but I WILL NOT SETTLE FOR A NURSE WHO IS NOT ALSO COMPETENT IN CARE AND LOVE! Nursing is about care! 13 years ago I laid almost dying for 6 months, I loved the good nurses, I loathed the bad. The really good nurses, they tracked me down after, checked on me. They CARED! 13 years ago I thought, I wish there were only good nurses. I hate these ones that barely talk to me. That treat me like a number. I wanted to make a difference in nursing and patient care. So it's not bs. That's why I am doing this. Rant over and it is a rant so I hope it makes sense :)

cee cee g · Dec 24, 2012

Good grief by [COLOR=#003366]Trenbolone Acetate, Focus on making all of those "A's" coming your way until graduation and then just do you. Sounds like allnurses.com is bringing you down. Are you taking antidepressants or something? Merry Christmas to you and happy new year. Stop reading those kinds of posts. Our world has MUCH greater problems going on right now than this. Its not that serious is it. RELAX RELATE RELEASE or just take a laxative. :no:

queserasera, RN · Dec 24, 2012

Considering the persons user name is anabolic steroids and this is their only post, I'm going to go ahead and call Troll.

Beautiful Mind RN · Dec 24, 2012

To say this is the cold, hard, truth...is pushing it a little. This is your view and opinion. Not the truth.

Sure, some superficial people will say they are in it to help people, when they might be really be in it for the money. Or others might be like you, in it for the logical reasons. Go to work, practice medicine, give satisfactory care, and then end the shift and go home. Like a robot.

However...in my opinion, I believe, since we are human, it is hard NOT to get attached to patients and/or feel some sort of connection to them. After all, you are caring for a person who is at the lowest and most vulnerable point in their lives. That in itself, is an emotional feat. For you are not only providing for their bodily needs, but giving them support in all other aspects...emotionally, mentally, spiritually...whether you see it or not!

I truly can say, from the bottom of my heart, that when I am finished with school and I step into the real world of nursing, I hope to use both my critical thinking skills and my skills to be able to take care of someone. For that is the kind of person I am...smart, but caring.

There are some genuine people like me out there! And I can see, by the replies to your post, there are some right here in this forum.

Hopefully, you'll be able to see that as well....

malamud69, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2012

HMMMM...quite the "grey" area(not really!) As a PCT almost done with nursing school who works on a busy telemetry unit in a large city hospital, I see it like this...simple and to the point. I care, yes but do I "bond" with every patient...no(like in the "outside" world one does not befriend or become close to all people we encounter)...would I like to because it makes the job easier...yes. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to come along and pick up the pieces with the patient and more often the family after they have just been treated like S^%$t by a rude/bad/indifferent (usually) nurse/aide/doctor...so chew on that for a while...human beings are not a "number" although more and more as healthcare becomes retail they are...we are the first line of defense. My first day in CNA school it was made clear that we are the advocates for our patients...some people grasp that and some do not. This type of work is not about money...it never can be...it will not work that way-no matter how much my manager wants to ration towels and pads etc...One day, maybe we will gain control of human care back from the insurance companies and we can truly start treating each other as human beings with compassion again???

fasnv · Dec 24, 2012

I'm not a nurse yet, but I'm a pre-nursing student. For me, education is like a gamble except I will be guaranteed to win if I make it happen. If I will give up down the road for some reason, then I will lose.

If I knew that I'm passionate in treating people, I could start a little bit earlier in life. I'm not borrowing money for my education, and tell everybody that I'm not into money. I'm not a millionaire. In contrast, I will do care in helping people and I will not mind to give free hours to some people. It happens that nurses get paid better than any other job. If you really think about nursing, it is not the most relaxing or pampering job in this planet. I'm aware that many of those people visiting in hospitals, clinics, and etc, are either sufferers, or family members of sufferers. I'm not gonna expect people to put up with my bad attitude.

I realized that I enjoy treating and observing ill people, so I will do my best in this field. I even enjoy repairing computers, which aren't humans. Every time I succeed, I see an accomplishment.

There is a good side for both bonding and treating with patients. It makes the treatment a lot easier. If a nurse cannot show his or her humanity to the patients, they should consider taking technology class, or other field that do not require any human interaction.

The goal is treating patients, not their dramas. Do whatever it takes to make them follow your instructions. Can you imagine wrestling with a stubborn patient.

Separating myself from money and reward seem too difficult. I'm not implying that people should keep praising me and etc. I will be happy with a good paying job, insurance, and be glad to provide needs of patients.

Getting paid in things I will enjoy, I will be the happiest person to work everyday.

Why do you assume that everybody is the same? Frankly, I'm intrigue with your assumption that nurses just want to work for free.

Trenbolone Acetate · Dec 25, 2012

Okay I typed my initial post on my touch pad and apparently a paragraph is missing. Anyways, WOW. There are some responses that made me think twice and made me question whether I still hold a firm belief in the original post. One of them for example was the comment that was made referring to a patient that may have no family and expects the nurse...etc.. That was a thoughtful post and it is respected. Again, I am not here to "troll" as Chelsea13 suggested because my screen name is that of an anabolic steroid. Using your logic Chelsea13 as you applied it to me, you must be a thirteen year old, so your not old enough to even dwell here. I do have a degree in Chemistry and was recently fortunate enough to be apart of research involving Trenbolone, which is not primarily used for bodybuilders. It has been my life these few months. Back on topic.

So therefore with that being said, my post was not to stir up trouble among the variety of personalities here, but to address something that should/needs to be said, as many other posters did in fact agree with what was said in part. Yes, what I said is a matter of opinion, but so is the claim "You should not go into nursing if you do not care about people" That is an opinion too. I almost feel that I am surrounded by idiots having to point something so trivial out.

Also, by that logic, you should not go into personal training if you do not care about the health of others, because lets face it, personal trainers do in fact do wonders when it comes to preventative care. You would not want to hire a personal trainer and pay thousands to one that is sympathetic and compassionate and may feel sorry for that client to take a break, or do another exercise because of some minor discomfort. Next time you go to the gym observe the clientele receiving personal training and make an attempt to monitor their conversation and physical exertion. There are way to many ineffective breaks and insufficient training because an attempt to forge a compassionate bond is drowning the importance of the purposed event.

Hell by that logic, you shouldn't even attempt any career for that matter. Most, if not all Careers, jobs, tasks, benefit humanity in some sort of way.

You can still have meaningful interactions with patients and at the end of the day not be emotionally involved as some of you are saying is the most important. Its called communication skills.

Lets face it, the human body is a chemistry set, THAT IS IT. Doctors and Nurses are Chemist. As long as you understand and can apply the actions with the means to balance any possible reactions in the safest manner, there is nothing more important than that. I am not saying you need to be an ******* to your patients, just have conversation skills.

I think it is funny that people still say that the money has nothing to do with becoming a nurse, But still it will be one of their biggest concerns when applying for a job. So why dont you just work there for minimum wage and save the hospital money? Or if you care about people so much, pay for the treatment of those who can not afford treatment? Or volunteer? There are plenty other jobs out there that help people, much more than nurses do.

Yes nurses do help people, mostly with ADL problems, but so does the grocery stock boy. The stock boy doesn't stock to PRIMARY help people, it is just part of the job. What I am trying to say, at the end of the day it should'nt be that your upset because John or Mary died, but that John and Mary died because you were ineffective in your abilities to keep John or Marys life processes going because you lacked sufficient abilities to administer proper care in a field you love so much and were drawn to because you want "to help people", but because your love for medicine and chemistry and the human body. If you want to help people, there are many others things you can do that are superior to nursing, but oh wait..they don't pay near as much!

fasnv · Dec 25, 2012

If everybody is superior, who works in the bottom?