Being a newly grad nurse, I can't deny the fact that we are in need in money to help paying bills that have been piled up since we were in school. We doesn't love money, right? I am sure we all do, and we work hard for it.
But after listening to these nurses, I am wondering where is our professional/ethical practice?
I have recently picked some odd shifts and start working in a rural hospital through agency and happened to chat with few nurses who used to work in NWT and Yellowknife in isolated Northern Canada in the lunch room.
All they said is "working up north is good money and in fact, it is like our gold mine"... they went on and on about going through the loop hole such as ask the patient to come and see you after hours and you can get paid for call back, which is legal service just different time slot.. and get paid more.. etc
The more I listened, the more I feel wrong - first thing crossed my mind was "is that why we can't get too much work cause majority of the hospital / nursing facility is out of budget"???? Where is our ethic? I thought we all took an oath.
Well, maybe I am still a "new blood" to the profession and over-reacted with things like that, which is technically happening everywhere (someone has to watch out for themselves kind of mentality)?
"A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.†- Joseph Hall
Nursing is HARD work. I'm a new grad with about 1 month experience on my own. I work my butt off every single shift. It's difficult physically and mentally. I always heard nurses say that it was hard and that you didn't really know until you were actually in it. Well that is so true. Clinicals are nothing compared to an actual shift with 6 patients. I work hard and I earn every dime of my paycheck.
Money isn't everything. It is necessary though. If those nurses are making extra money for working in undesirable areas....then they are definitely earning it...one way or another.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
My school had the traditional capping ceremony complete with the Nightingale Pledge and the candles. I do not, however, remember taking a vow of poverty. Money was part of the reason why I became a nurse in the first place...not that I got rich from it, but I did make a decent living and was able to pay the rent, the bills AND feed my kids in the same month. (We won't talk about my horrible spending habits...that's a story for another post.) That means a lot when you've been living on the wrong side of the tracks and relying on food stamps.
I took an oath at pinning. And I don't recall anything about financials in it. In fact, I looked over my pinning ceremony itinerary and the oath is printed in the back. nowhere does it say I'm working for free or not allowed to buy my Lamborghini.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Candles? There were candles?? I saw no candles. Nobody said anything to me about any candles.
We didn't light candles either.
Don't remember the pinning or the oath, but I know I got a candle, because my avitar is a stylized photoshop deal I made from the photograph on my profile page (phew!)and I'll share!
I think that most of us older nurses originally got into this business because #1 We like to help people in need of care, #2 We would be able to find a job, #3 The rewards of seeing a gravely ill person recovering, etc. Money was never in the top 3 for me personally. However, looking back over the more than 35 years I believe the higher ups certainly have preyed on the compassion of nurses. In general, it has hurt the profession monetarily.
No other profession requires the technical expertise, powers of observation, critical thinking abilities, flexibility, and team spirit required of nurses. With a nurse, you get the whole package that many professions only possess one or two of these qualities and tend to make much more than our female dominated profession.
Patient dynamics have certainly changed in today's microwave society. Patients, families, superiors want it NOW or YESTERDAY. Rarely anymore do we received a simple thanks or I appreciate what you have done for what we do. Do you remember when those simple words meant more than any raise ever could? I do and it's a shame that plain 'ol good manners is a forgotten expectation in today's world. No wonder nurses are becoming more focused on "the money" than the service. I for one am in the twilight of my career and look forward to departing the profession and could not recommend the field to anyone anymore. Sad..
Back on topic. Nurses in the Canadian North are paid by the government.
if the government knows it needs to pay top dollar for staff, it knows why it's paying out. Location, isolation, cost of living. And high turn over of staff. It takes cultural awareness of groups with high rates of historical abuse issues, diabetes at a high rate, substance abuse. It makes me shake my head when posters who are recently arrived in Canada think they are ready to work up there
Honey, one can make good money and still be ethical. Geeeez, I would need triple-pay to live and work way up in Yellowknife! You sound like a busy-body. By the way, love your quote:
"A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.†- Joseph Hall
Signed,
A tainted nurse who has been a probational nurse through my BON's discipline program and came out of the crucible a better RN and a more compassionate person. ...like I give a sh** whether the world looks at my crack or not.
LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN
8,429 Posts
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