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
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.
That's how I used the phrase anyway.
then I guess you could say that a school bus driver's job is never done either lol! since a bus driver shouldn't be out drinking until 2am and expect to work well the next day, but let's face it when you're off work you're off work! pretty sure that bus driver doesn't think her job isn't done once she clocks out!
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
then I guess you could say that a school bus driver's job is never done either lol! since a bus driver shouldn't be out drinking until 2am and expect to work well the next day, but let's face it when you're off work you're off work! pretty sure that bus driver doesn't think her job isn't done once she clocks out!
Right. Which leads to why I stopped using the phrase....................
..............I got over my 'I must be perfect, nursing is a calling' phase. lol
But I do have to say this "martyr" business in nursing is a serious turn off for me. It makes me not want to be a nurse, because I'm not interested in sacrificing my health/happiness/life in the name of caring for strangers. I'm going to school to become educated and to do a job. A job that I expect to be compensated for. I don't want to be a hero, or answer my "calling" or make ridiculous sacrifices. I want to go to work that I hope I'll enjoy and make decent money doing so.
If I wanted to care for people and not get paid, I'd volunteer.
I'm in the minority here. Nursing is a second career. It was my chance to fulfill a dream that I always wanted. I never once did this for the money. Thankfully I am married and my husband makes a very decent salary. In fact, he wishes that I didn't work at all. But I wanted to do this for myself. I love going to work and I love my job. And I don't see one penny from it. My husband has my paychecks go into 401Ks and other savings accounts. None of it goes into a checking account and we don't live off of it or spend it. I not only don't see a paycheck, I don't even know when pay day is, and I don't care either. I LOVE what I do, and yes I would do it for free.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Ethics are one thing, a 'calling' is something else again. Most of us got into nursing because the work is interesting and challenging and pays enough for us to live on. I don't remember taking any "oath", but then I'm old. I do remember reciting a pledge, but not taking an oath. And I certainly didn't have a calling, nor do I think one is necessary or even desirable.
Specializes in M/S, Pulmonary, Travel, Homecare, Psych..
Ethics are one thing, a 'calling' is something else again. Most of us got into nursing because the work is interesting and challenging and pays enough for us to live on. I don't remember taking any "oath", but then I'm old. I do remember reciting a pledge, but not taking an oath. And I certainly didn't have a calling, nor do I think one is necessary or even desirable.
No, money is not everything, but we all have bills to pay. We all work to be paid, not to fill our time - unless you're one of the lucky ones. And depending on your age, we all need to save for retirement too.
Why shouldn't we be paid well for our hard work?
As a new grad in 1993, the highest pay in Tucson, AZ was $12.75/hr.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Frankly, I don't think I'm paid enough for my time even now. I say your co-workers are smart, and deserve every penny.
Nobody like to be underpaid - that's the universal rule and trust me, I LOVE money to death.
Sometime it was just surprised to hear from others of how they trying to find a loop hole, and "milk" the system just so they can make more (nurses I met in the lunch room).
Part of why I work two jobs (FT and per diem) is for the sweet, sweet money I can make from it. Would I do this for free? Hmmm, no. I, like every other person on this planet, has bills to pay, has mouths to feed, and want to be compensated well for my time away from my personal life.
Do you like being underpaid? Then you are more than welcome to take those positions.
Nobody like to be underpaid - that's the universal rule and trust me, I LOVE money to death.
Sometime it was just surprised to hear from others of how they trying to find a loop hole, and "milk" the system just so they can make more (nurses I met in the lunch room).
Meh, I've taken PM/night positions partially because of the shift differential. Patients don't pay more, but the hospitals pay more. Is that different than what we're talking about? Nurse and client make an appointment mutually agreeable, but because of the time slot the nurse gets paid more? I truly don't see an ethical dilemma...unless the nurse was lying about availability or something.
Sometime it was just surprised to hear from others of how they trying to find a loop hole, and "milk" the system just so they can make more (nurses I met in the lunch room).
Doctors do this all day everyday. Those nurses are only looking for their share of the pie.
Extra Pickles
1,403 Posts
then I guess you could say that a school bus driver's job is never done either lol! since a bus driver shouldn't be out drinking until 2am and expect to work well the next day, but let's face it when you're off work you're off work! pretty sure that bus driver doesn't think her job isn't done once she clocks out!