It Annoys ME HOW SOME PEOPLE CAN SAY "THEY ARE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY"

[iheartnursing_cali]

I haven't read any threads about this kind of topic yet... so thought I'd start one. It's about those people saying they are only doing nursing for the money. I mean, that should not be your main reason of taking up nursing. It just gets me so annoyed. I am a current pre-nursing student and will be applying for the ADN program this fall, and the other day in my A&P class I overheard (actually they were speaking kind of loud to eachother) 2 students talking about the "only" reason they're taking nursing is for the "money" to buy anything they want etc...and began laughing :rotfl: and the other student said their family are forcing her into nursing but always wanted to business. I just feel disgusted about the fact that, first of all, nursing is no joke and healthcare in general is no laughing matter. What is wrong with these people? I wanted to just tell them how wrong they are and then suggest to them to change their major because their 2 seats should be saved for those "serious" nursing students wanting to be in the program (like me for example :) ). I mean sure the money is great and financial stability and security is very important for me and my family's future... but what should also be considered important is aknowledging what it takes to become a nurse, having compassion for your job :redbeathe , and just loving what you do , am I right?

Anyone else share the same feelings or know of someone who says they're "only in it for the money"??

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I think i would have to ditto Smilingblueyes first post. Well said.

[RN34TX]

Personally, my feeling is this: All I want in a nurse that cares for me and mine is: caring, compassion, competency and integrity.

And I'll go a step farther.

As a patient, I'd take competency and integrity over caring and compassion any day.

I've worked with way too many "caring" nurses who have patients and families both compliment and request for their care, whom I'd never want taking care of me or my loved ones.

In my experience, the most "popular" nurses with patients and families are those who can fill the water pitchers the fastest, find flower vases, spend the day shooting the breeze with them making small talk.........

Somehow they are under the impression that they are "getting the whole package" with these nurses, but the patients/families just don't realize how much isn't getting done so that the nurse has more time to do the frilly things. It's because they judge a nurse on the "customer service" stuff and thank God I know better the day I become a patient.

The criteria on what makes a good nurse in the eyes of the public is insane to me.

And yes, in a perfect hospital, we'd all have all the time in the world to do those things. But the vast majority of us don't, under many circumstances.

I'm totally taken aback by supposed seasoned nurses who write threads about why backrubs are no longer being given/offered routinely to patients.

As if we've grown to be so selfish and uncaring that we choose to sit comfy at the nurses station or take longer breaks when we would normally have plenty of time to give backrubs.

This thread gave me a similar feeling.

So many students with a Mother Theresa mentality being so disapproving of anyone who dares to enter nursing unless it is some calling to provide thankless care to the point of exhaustion every day.

As if we should be ashamed of ourselves to dare ask for decent compensation for entering a field that few actually would want to do the actual physical labor of on strangers every day because many wouldn't even do it for their own loved ones.

We can all prance around in scrubs with a clipboard in hand like on TV with an "RN" nametag flashing.

The real day to day job is a whole other story and there is a reason why RN's are paid more than what your average associates or bachelors grad job pays.

I think that the "Mother Theresa" mentality and how we should feel privileged and honored to have been chosen to provide care for people and should not expect to be thanked for it in any way is a big part of what's keeping our profession down.

The laundry list of excuses alone that we make for patients and family members abusing us is a perfect example of how we not only allow, but excuse and even encourage people to keep us down as a profession.

We're nurses, not nuns or the peace corps.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Be careful who you judge and how harshly.

The first person I met who said she was in it for the money was in nursing school. She told anyone who asked that she had nothing and was getting into nursing for the money to support her 3 kids.

But she was the most clinically talented (though not highest GPA) nursing student we had. She had a special ability with the older population and it soon became apparent she really did like them. Within 5 years she was head nurse for the nicest LTC in our area. She eventually became the DON there.

Myself, I got into nursing because I liked all things medical, disease process, anatomy, probably a more correct motivation to go to medical school than nursing school. I wound up really liking patients and the personal reward you get from hands on helping folks.

So my original motivation good enough?

How about my friends? I sure would have hated for her to be excluded from nursing for what she said back then because now she is an excellent and talented as well as compassionate nurse.

[clee1]

As a patient, I'd take competency and integrity over caring and compassion any day.

We're nurses, not nuns or the peace corps.

:yeahthat: Amen, friend! VERY well said!

[Princess74]

And I'll go a step farther.

As a patient, I'd take competency and integrity over caring and compassion any day.

I've worked with way too many "caring" nurses who have patients and families both compliment and request for their care, whom I'd never want taking care of me or my loved ones.

In my experience, the most "popular" nurses with patients and families are those who can fill the water pitchers the fastest, find flower vases, spend the day shooting the breeze with them making small talk.........

Somehow they are under the impression that they are "getting the whole package" with theses nurses, but the patients/families just don't realize how much isn't getting done so that the nurse has more time to do the frilly things. It's because they judge a nurse on the "customer service" stuff and thank God I know better the day I become a patient.

The criteria on what makes a good nurse in the eyes of the public is insane to me.

And yes, in a perfect hospital, we'd all have all the time in the world to do those things. But the vast majority of us don't, under many circumstances.

I'm totally taken aback by supposed seasoned nurses who write threads about why backrubs are no longer being given/offered routinely to patients.

As if we've grown to be so selfish and uncaring that we choose to sit comfy at the nurses station or take longer breaks when we would normally have plenty of time to give backrubs.

This thread gave me a similar feeling.

So many students with a Mother Theresa mentality being so disapproving of anyone who dares to enter nursing unless it is some calling to provide thankless care to the point of exhaustion every day.

As if we should be ashamed of ourselves to dare ask for decent compensation for entering a field that few actually would want to do the actual physical labor of on strangers every day because many wouldn't even do it for their own loved ones.

We can all prance around in scrubs with a clipboard in hand like on TV with an "RN" nametag flashing.

The real day to day job is a whole other story and there is a reason why RN's are paid more than what your average associates or bachelors grad job pays.

I think that the "Mother Theresa" mentality and how we should feel privileged and honored to have been chosen to provide care for people and should not expect to be thanked for it in any way is a big part of what's keeping our profession down.

The laundry list of excuses alone that we make for patients and family members abusing us is a perfect example of how we not only allow, but excuse and even encourage people to keep us down as a profession.

We're nurses, not nuns or the peace corps.

:yeahthat:

[Nutmeg5575]

I'm totally taken aback by supposed seasoned nurses who write threads about why backrubs are no longer being given/offered routinely to patients.

As if we've grown to be so selfish and uncaring that we choose to sit comfy at the nurses station or take longer breaks when we would normally have plenty of time to give backrubs.

:roll

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

And I'll go a step farther.

As a patient, I'd take competency and integrity over caring and compassion any day.

I've worked with way too many "caring" nurses who have patients and families both compliment and request for their care, whom I'd never want taking care of me or my loved ones.

In my experience, the most "popular" nurses with patients and families are those who can fill the water pitchers the fastest, find flower vases, spend the day shooting the breeze with them making small talk.........

Somehow they are under the impression that they are "getting the whole package" with these nurses, but the patients/families just don't realize how much isn't getting done so that the nurse has more time to do the frilly things. It's because they judge a nurse on the "customer service" stuff and thank God I know better the day I become a patient.

The criteria on what makes a good nurse in the eyes of the public is insane to me.

And yes, in a perfect hospital, we'd all have all the time in the world to do those things. But the vast majority of us don't, under many circumstances.

I'm totally taken aback by supposed seasoned nurses who write threads about why backrubs are no longer being given/offered routinely to patients.

As if we've grown to be so selfish and uncaring that we choose to sit comfy at the nurses station or take longer breaks when we would normally have plenty of time to give backrubs.

This thread gave me a similar feeling.

So many students with a Mother Theresa mentality being so disapproving of anyone who dares to enter nursing unless it is some calling to provide thankless care to the point of exhaustion every day.

As if we should be ashamed of ourselves to dare ask for decent compensation for entering a field that few actually would want to do the actual physical labor of on strangers every day because many wouldn't even do it for their own loved ones.

We can all prance around in scrubs with a clipboard in hand like on TV with an "RN" nametag flashing.

The real day to day job is a whole other story and there is a reason why RN's are paid more than what your average associates or bachelors grad job pays.

I think that the "Mother Theresa" mentality and how we should feel privileged and honored to have been chosen to provide care for people and should not expect to be thanked for it in any way is a big part of what's keeping our profession down.

The laundry list of excuses alone that we make for patients and family members abusing us is a perfect example of how we not only allow, but excuse and even encourage people to keep us down as a profession.

We're nurses, not nuns or the peace corps.

Excellent post!!

:yelclap: :yelclap:

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

Everyone has their reasons for taking on any job! If it is money...well we must admit that nursing has the potential there! The thing I found is that people that feel that way get their eyes forced open to the fact that the money is far from the actual role of being a nurse!

Me, I had a choice...go for my paramedic or go RN...I chose RN and yes..because the potential for great pay was there and would be of benifit to my family (our paramedics make jack...which is very upsetting!) and the ability to work in different areas of healthcare! I have always been a people person and always wished to help...but at the time of the choice...I wasn't sure between the exact differences so I had to get a tie breaker...Nursing won!

So no, it wasn't all money in my head...but it did break the tie! But thank goodness for me that I understand that it isn't so much the money, but willingness and need to help others when they need you the most :). And that was always my underlying reason for choosing healthcare!

[lindarn]

And I'll go a step farther.

As a patient, I'd take competency and integrity over caring and compassion any day.

I've worked with way too many "caring" nurses who have patients and families both compliment and request for their care, whom I'd never want taking care of me or my loved ones.

In my experience, the most "popular" nurses with patients and families are those who can fill the water pitchers the fastest, find flower vases, spend the day shooting the breeze with them making small talk.........

Somehow they are under the impression that they are "getting the whole package" with these nurses, but the patients/families just don't realize how much isn't getting done so that the nurse has more time to do the frilly things. It's because they judge a nurse on the "customer service" stuff and thank God I know better the day I become a patient.

The criteria on what makes a good nurse in the eyes of the public is insane to me.

And yes, in a perfect hospital, we'd all have all the time in the world to do those things. But the vast majority of us don't, under many circumstances.

I'm totally taken aback by supposed seasoned nurses who write threads about why backrubs are no longer being given/offered routinely to patients.

As if we've grown to be so selfish and uncaring that we choose to sit comfy at the nurses station or take longer breaks when we would normally have plenty of time to give backrubs.

This thread gave me a similar feeling.

So many students with a Mother Theresa mentality being so disapproving of anyone who dares to enter nursing unless it is some calling to provide thankless care to the point of exhaustion every day.

As if we should be ashamed of ourselves to dare ask for decent compensation for entering a field that few actually would want to do the actual physical labor of on strangers every day because many wouldn't even do it for their own loved ones.

We can all prance around in scrubs with a clipboard in hand like on TV with an "RN" nametag flashing.

The real day to day job is a whole other story and there is a reason why RN's are paid more than what your average associates or bachelors grad job pays.

I think that the "Mother Theresa" mentality and how we should feel privileged and honored to have been chosen to provide care for people and should not expect to be thanked for it in any way is a big part of what's keeping our profession down.

The laundry list of excuses alone that we make for patients and family members abusing us is a perfect example of how we not only allow, but excuse and even encourage people to keep us down as a profession.

We're nurses, not nuns or the peace corps.

AMEN!!

I refer to these nurses as the, "Martyr Marys" of the health care profession. You get my drift. And I agree, they are the main reason why nursing has remained in thr 19th century as far as wages, respect, and appreciation. Our professional services, contribution to health care and positive patient outcomes, are rolled in with the "room rate", housekeeping, and complimentary roll of toilet paper.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCCN

Spokane, Washington

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

If they do it well, with integrity and professionalism and they are motivated by money....

WHY NOT DO IT FOR THE MONEY!!!!!!!

(why is it no one ever asks whether janitors/waitresses/computer programmers/electricians/irs agents/etc. whether they have a calling or are doing it "for the money")

[tampabaylpn2rn]

i went in it for the money bottom line. i wouldn't put up with all this crap unless i was making 25.00 an hour as an lpn, which i am. i hate people.

(go Ahead...let's start bashing me now.)

[Q.]

i went in it for the money bottom line. i wouldn't put up with all this crap unless i was making 25.00 an hour as an lpn, which i am. i hate people.

(go Ahead...let's start bashing me now.)

No bashing. That's actually kind of funny. I usually say "I hate people" too.