Is it wrong...

[ThePrincessBride]

I hear alot of people wanting to get into Nursing not because they want to "help" people, but because they want a decent salary, job flexibility and opportunities for advancement, most wanting to become Nurses because they want to continue onto grad school to become CRNAs.

I admit. I am somewhat of guilty of this. One thing that did attract me to Nursing IS that it isn't a typical 9-5 job desk job with only 2 week vacations and that there are many fields of Nursing to get into. And I did look into CRNA, but decided that knocking people out isn't that fun or exciting.

So, nurses: do you think it is wrong to get into Nursing for the reasons discussed above? And if not, are you guilty of this as well?

[MissBeanerRN]

Oh, forgot to add that there is no wrong in wanting your bank. I sure want and enjoy mine. I might no be sipping champagne when I'm thirsty, but I still got to get mine.

[oliviajolie]

I agree with most of these comments and I appreciate the honesty of my fellow nurses. I started out as a CNA because I needed a job, plain and simple. Realized once I started that I was good at what I do. Went back to school for my nursing license because I figured that if I was gonna stay in healthcare I may as well earn more money. The wonderful thing is that although I fell into nursing for the job and the security, I'm a nurse because I LOVE WHAT I DO and loving what I do is part of what makes me a great nurse. If I hit the lottery big tomorrow, I'd still be a nurse and yes, I'd do it for free...just not full time, lol, and in an area where people couldn't afford basic healthcare. Don't wanna sound preachy, but we all have God given gifts and talents and mine just happens to be taking care of people. So I know I'm blessed to be able to earn a living doing something I love although it ain't always easy!

i couldn't have said it better myself!

[oliviajolie]

Exactly how I fee;). I do it for free part time, also in an area with little to no healthcare or education and in poverty.

Two main reasons I became a nurse and why I do it for free are because for one, I grew up as daughter of a uneducated and poor single mother in very bad areas. I saw many sad and unessesary things happen to people, especially kids and the elderly due to poor or no heathcare, little to no education, and lack of funds. Even if they might have access to healthcare, there was not enough education to know when to go about seeking it. Unfortunately there were not enough people to provide this care, they were the neighborhoods nobody gave a #### about. People with so much potential and no support. I was once there, my mother was once there. The other reason is because I was always facinated with medicine. Even as a little girl I remember watching medical documentaries and always wanted to know more and more.

I will continue to do it free as long as I can.

totally agree:up:

[pedicurn, LPN, RN]

I hear alot of people wanting to get into Nursing not because they want to "help" people, but because they want a decent salary, job flexibility and opportunities for advancement, most wanting to become Nurses because they want to continue onto grad school to become CRNAs.

I admit. I am somewhat of guilty of this. One thing that did attract me to Nursing IS that it isn't a typical 9-5 job desk job with only 2 week vacations and that there are many fields of Nursing to get into. And I did look into CRNA, but decided that knocking people out isn't that fun or exciting.

So, nurses: do you think it is wrong to get into Nursing for the reasons discussed above? And if not, are you guilty of this as well?

Nursing really has a lot of negative ( even dysfunctional) dynamics.

It has a quite a few persons of dubious motivation/morals/skill ... shocking but I work with nurses who are in it for the 'big money' who don't give a d*mn if their p'ts suffer in pain, don't care to pick up on the small important signs etc. Some of these are fired from time to time ... theft from the hospital or their coworkers often features.

I also work with some nurses who don't need to obtain an income from nursing ...only come in to maintain their licenses. Some of these don't seem to care for their p'ts very much either ... nursing is a drag for these ones. They come in and do the minimum - hang their fluids, give a bit of blood, do their vitals and their meds. Never mind any turns, mouthcare, mobilisation, education ... no extras.

Victorian hangover still permeates our 'profession' ... a whole lot of lower status women went into nursing during that time. They didn't have many life choices. The conditions we still experience are reflective of this low status. Ever wonder why relatives are allowed to abuse us ??? Why do some doctors speak to us like we are servants? Or treat us like 'low class' individuals?

Why does management continue to relate to us like uneducated children?

What you need to do is work nursing for what it can do for you (given all the above garbage)

Nothing wrong with utilising nursing for the travel opps ... or for the more highly paid positions.

It's ok to milk nursing to the max ... as long as one is a d*mn good nurse and is a decent, caring and kind individual

[MoLee228]

I agree with most of these comments and I appreciate the honesty of my fellow nurses. I started out as a CNA because I needed a job, plain and simple. Realized once I started that I was good at what I do. Went back to school for my nursing license because I figured that if I was gonna stay in healthcare I may as well earn more money. The wonderful thing is that although I fell into nursing for the job and the security, I'm a nurse because I LOVE WHAT I DO and loving what I do is part of what makes me a great nurse. If I hit the lottery big tomorrow, I'd still be a nurse and yes, I'd do it for free...just not full time, lol, and in an area where people couldn't afford basic healthcare. Don't wanna sound preachy, but we all have God given gifts and talents and mine just happens to be taking care of people. So I know I'm blessed to be able to earn a living doing something I love although it ain't always easy!

My story is similar. I got my accelerated BSN because I couldn't get a decent job with my first degree, plain and simple. I knew there would be a job waiting for me when I finished the program, so I did it. I also worked as a nursing assistant during the program and quickly learned (through both work and school) that I loved the field of nursing. I love it even more now that I am working in critical care and I have the added responsibility and critical thinking as an RN.

I went into it for a paycheck, but I am staying because I love it. There are plenty of people who go into it for the $ and end up hating it...they leave quickly. Several people who I started working with didn't even make it to the end of orientation before they hit the road!

My response to the OP is no, it is not wrong to go into nursing for a job and a paycheck. However, I agree with Zookeeper that a paycheck is NOT enough to KEEP you in nursing...you must have a love for nursing, too, if you want to make a lifelong career out of it.

[OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN]

I went into nursing at age 30 because:

1. I've always wanted to be a nurse

2. I wanted to make more money

Does this make me a better nurse than someone who:

1. Wanted to make more money

2. Always wanted to be a nurse

NOPE. I think anyone who decides to go into nursing, whether money is their primary reason or not, absoulutly needs to have some basic human compassion and "want to help" others, otherwise they won't last the first semester in nursing school.

My husband is in sales and loves it. I wouldn't go into sales even if I made triple my wage because I would absolutely hate it and be terrible at it. Someone won't last long in nursing if they don't have the basic charactaristics of compassion and wanting to help others.

[st4rl4dy]

While everyone in my nursing class were talking about personal stories about helping and being helped and being inspired to go into nursing, i never hid the fact that i wanted to always have a job and make good money. You gotta like something about what you do and if the paycheck is the best part and it's worth it to you then so be it. Even within nursing you see this, some specialties get paid more and you see some nurses jump specialties for that reason. A lot of patience is involved in nursing so most people find a specialty they love and that is the single greatest thing about nursing, you want 9-5, 4 hr shifts, variable work, kids, elderly, no patient contact etc.............you have options in nursing and the stable pay to go along with it. A lot of people jump ship to nursing when their job market fails and end up never leaving. Nursing has a way of getting you and either you eventually get fired or you start finding satisfaction in what you do. Feeling good about yourself is really why most people go into nursing, because helping makes you feel good not because you want to help. The money got me sucked in and the elderly patients i had as a CNA keep me looking everyday for that LTC nursing job or any job for that matter.

[orthonurse55]

There's not a thing wrong with choosing a career because of its perceived stability, flexibility and suitability for your lifestyle. There's also nothing wrong with (gasp!) appreciating the nursing salary.

There will always be those who try to convince you that they're only in it to help their fellow man, but I have little patience with those assertions. In my humble opinion, all those who claim a higher motivation than us poor slobs who work for the paycheck should chuck their paying positions and join The Little Sisters Of The Poor. Mother Theresa would approve.

I'm sorry to burst your bubble - I've been a nurse for almost 38 years now and have had great paying jobs as well as lower paying. Right now I am in a lower paying and very rewarding and fun job. I am not Mother Teresa, not a Saint and don't want to be a nun. I love being a nurse! I never even thought about money or job security when I went into nursing! Honestly, it was just a bonus to the profession that I realized many years later. I went into it because I love helping people, even the crabby ones! Always have, always will!:anpom:

[orthonurse55]

I agree it's ok to get into nursing for financial reasons. However, I think that those who go into it because they feel it's some sort of calling will have a higher chance of sticking to nursing and possibly suffer burn out less. People who go into nursing just for the money may decide later down the road that it's just not worth it.

I also think our patients can tell one from the other. I usually can!

[orthonurse55]

It's a career, not a voluntary ministry. However I will say this, those who have no ppl skills or compassion need to steer clear. Some degree of emotional comforting will always be required in this field to be outstanding.

Nursing is a PROFESSION; Accounting is a career.

[backatit2]

While you are entitled to your opinion about the "cheesiest answer in the world to, "why do you want to be a (fill in the blank)? is "because i want to help people", but "helping people" is not the primary reason people go into ANY profession." You are wrong. That is EXACTLY why I went into nursing, and I actually know personally others who did for the same reason. I have worked for free more than once, and will do so again. While the paycheck that went along with the paid positions I worked paid bills, NOTHING compared with the payment I received when I was able to help those in need, who could not pay.

we can agree to disagree. if someone isn't cut out for it, they aren't going to stay no matter what the pay in any profession. you have to have some level of compassion for others, but "helping people" is a generic answer. if nurses got paid minimum wage, i guarantee the passion for "helping people" wouldn't be so high.

[JacknSweetpea]

As I've said before in similar threads.....if you went into nursing soley to "help mankind and be all-compassionate"....join a holy order. Leave the rest of us with a living to make alone.