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
Are you trying to say that nurses are working the system? If that's true it very isolated. Pretty across the board every nurse position today is a tough one.
Me if I were to begrudge anyone those rates, it would be the populace who unnecessarily live in a brutal remote area.
I'll keep my nice job with a respectable income in a beautiful part of California. I have no beef with those nurses willing to live in those conditions.
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People live in undesirable places because
, in most cases, that's all they can afford. Don't think they should be vilified for that.
I'm glad you love living in Ca. Someone has to live there, bit not me:). It's nice the first couple of days, but then we run away screaming. I need wool and I need to think!
I have live, pay a mortgage, have children and have to pay for college for them. I go on vacation, I have a car, I do to a fitness place, I am in graduate school. Of course money is important. I would not work for free.
Having said that - when I was young and decided to go to nursing school I was attracted to the possibilities and I knew I would have a job for the rest of my life unless something dramatic happens. I chose nursing as opposed to other careers that I considered because I like the whole nursing care aspect and I am good at it.
The cost of feeding yourself alone in rural Canada is insanely high.
I can feel your pain. I live near the "end of the line" and all that food has to get transported a long well. I can afford nutritious food, but work with many who can't. Rural poverty is HARD.
First and foremost, I advocate for my patients and provide excellent nursing care.
I also advocate for myself. I am not a martyr and have needs outside of nursing and work. Money matters. If I am compensated appropriately and have adequate time off, I am at my best to give my best to patients. It is partially my responsibility to make sure these things happen.
As an RRT-NPS with a MS degree in Respiratory Care, with over 34 years experience. I often tell co-workers, if it wasn't for some financial obligations (student loans) I'd do this for free. I have fun every time I go to work. Love pediatrics, but recently moving to a rural hospital, where NICU/PICU patients are a rarity. Enjoy yourself, have fun. Not everyone is motivated by money, in the healthcare setting.
"Overworked and under paid..." this is the phrase I grew accustomed to hearing growing up as the daughter of a dialysis RN. A nurse's job doesn't end when he/she clocks out for the day. This is also what prompted my career choice, as my mother actually discouraged me from following in her footsteps.
I also had a former employer phrase it this way, "Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can make life easier" and in my opinion, RNs deserve every penny for their hard work day in and day out.
, in most cases, that's all they can afford. Don't think they should be vilified for that.
I'm glad you love living in Ca. Someone has to live there, bit not me:). It's nice the first couple of days, but then we run away screaming. I need wool and I need to think!
If that's all they can afford then they don't fall under the category of the populace who unnecessarily live in a remote brutal area. And begrudge doesn't equal vilify for me, please don't put words in my mouth.
We have had and will comtiniue to have patients who live in areas out of choice that do require us to drive in precarious conditions because they refused to go to a SNF for say short term IV infusion during the midst of winter. I do begrudge them a little but for this, since they have a choice.
Working on my thinking in rural Northern California.
A nurse's job doesn't end when he/she clocks out for the day.
It doesn't? Mine sure does! I know there are a lot of jobs in a lot of professions that are salaried and they don't clock in or out so they get paid for the inconvenience or longer hours. But if you're clocking out you really should be clocking out, when I'm not getting paid I'm also not working!
I must fall into a minority of nurses who don't feel overworked for the pay received, I work hard for my pay but I don't feel like it's not enough for what I do. if I was living in an area of the world where the conditions meant I was being paid more to even be living there then that makes sense. lousy jobs for whatever the reason is they are lousy need incentives to have anyone take and keep them!
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
"Overworked and under paid..." this is the phrase I grew accustomed to hearing growing up as the daughter of a dialysis RN. A nurse's job doesn't end when he/she clocks out for the day. This is also what prompted my career choice, as my mother actually discouraged me from following in her footsteps.
I also had a former employer phrase it this way, "Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can make life easier" and in my opinion, RNs deserve every penny for their hard work day in and day out.
Keep up the good work ladies! (and gents
It doesn't? Mine sure does! I know there are a lot of jobs in a lot of professions that are salaried and they don't clock in or out so they get paid for the inconvenience or longer hours. But if you're clocking out you really should be clocking out, when I'm not getting paid I'm also not working!
I must fall into a minority of nurses who don't feel overworked for the pay received, I work hard for my pay but I don't feel like it's not enough for what I do. if I was living in an area of the world where the conditions meant I was being paid more to even be living there then that makes sense. lousy jobs for whatever the reason is they are lousy need incentives to have anyone take and keep them!
The heck it doesn't.
Hmph, I'm familiar with the 'a nurses job doesn't end when they clock out' state of mind. Although, I stopped saying that after my second or third year so...........
When I did use the phrase, it was more of a reminder to myself that...........it's hard to describe.......
That nursing is difficult and I have to be completely ready for each shift. This means eating right, getting enough sleep etc etc.......
It's like a way of telling yourself 'I can't be out until 2am drinking if I have to be at work at 7am' thing.
:yes:
subee, MSN, CRNA
1 Article; 6,134 Posts
People live in undesirable places because
, in most cases, that's all they can afford. Don't think they should be vilified for that.
I'm glad you love living in Ca. Someone has to live there, bit not me:). It's nice the first couple of days, but then we run away screaming. I need wool and I need to think!