Maybe I'm just old and cynical, but....

Schweet · Feb 22, 2011

I decided to become a nurse when I was young, back when the economy was doing well. That was also before I knew how much nurses got paid. I have always liked helping people and I am not fond of sales. Would I be a nurse for no pay, no. Would I take a job that pays less because it's the job of my dreams, absolutely.

I believe what people mean by saying, "it's not about the money," is they like helping people and why not get paid to do just that?

futureRN_Anastasia · Feb 22, 2011

Nursing is an honorable way to make a living, but nurses are not martyrs.

Well said.

Nursing is probably one of the very few professions that pays a godawful amount of attention to the motivations of its members. Are you doing this for the money? Are you a nurse because you love fellow humans? Are you a nurse because you're caring?

Oh c'mon, this is totally incorrect! You will encounter it in any profession, even the most boring, and unrelated to human beings at all.

Student4_life · Feb 23, 2011

With the risk of getting flamed I'll add that I am not doing it for the money. I made that mistake with my first career (well not entirely true, I chose the military because I felt I owed all of you something for growing up in America, but I picked my career field because it payed the best), and came to hate my job even though it had a real purpose and payed more than I could spend.

I don't believe in altruism, no one is truely selfless. But I can objectively say (although I am just a pre-nursing student so I'll admit that I am still a bit naive) that I am not doing it for the money. I am not going to punch the clock to collect pieces of paper ever again. Money is a non-factor for me, not that nursing is a calling from god, but money is the very least of the reasons I chose nursing.

Of course you could argue that I wouldn't work for free, and thats true, but I don't think that makes me in it for the $$$.

That being said I have nothing against those that do it for the money, or for those inbetween where the money is good but so is the job enjoyment (where most of us fall), but for me I am chosing a job because I like it and not because of its pay.

ponytailman · Feb 23, 2011

for some of us nursing was an end to a means [KEEPING A ROOF OVER MY HEAD}. Over time the benefits of the field compared to other fields can and are quite unique- pay,shifts,variety of jobs,etc. But i do believe that to do the job that we do we all have to have a little extra empathy for our patients if we keep showing up for the next shift. But if i win the lottery,take my id badge and book my flight to the carribbean.

lckrn2pa · Feb 23, 2011

I had a calling to become a nurse......a woman that was friends with my mom called and said if I went to LPN school the hospital would pay for it, she was the CNO lol.

Fiona59 · Feb 23, 2011

No, darling. I'll get flamed. I nurse to get out of the house and away from my kids and husband.

We're not wealthy, maybe comfortable by some standards. The extra money my job has brought in has paid off our mortgage early and is considered the "gravy money".

Would I do it for free? Hell, no. My parking costs alone eat up the first three hours of my cheque.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

When I say "I don't do it for the money," what I mean is that I, unlike the majority on this thread, do NOT think nursing pays very much. Relative to what most of my friends with similar levels of education make, I don't find the salary offered to nurses to be even remotely comparable. But in spite of that, I like my job, and continue to work at an undervalued and underpaid profession. Therefore, I can say that I do this job because I like it, "I don't do it for the money." In other words, if money was my main motivator, I would definitely have chosen a different career.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

From what I've noticed from reading these boards, you're right about the pay. Unfortunately, the pay seems to be all over the map, and some areas pay nurses relatively well. However, in many areas, the pay is too low. In fact, I cannot believe how low the pay is in some areas.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

But I read one more post where people say they aren't into nursing for the money, I am going to scream.
Seriously? Is anyone THAT naive?
NOBODY does work for free, out of the love of their hearts, unless they're independently wealthy and need something to do, giving back to their fellow man and all that.
All these people who are horrified at those who do nursing or doctoring or lawyering or any other profession for the money -- really??? And you personally would do it for free because you love your fellow man so much?
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for helping one's fellow human along their road of suffering and trying to help them as we are able, I've done it for years. But I would not do all the down and dirty work of nursing for someone I didn't personally love or respect for free. And when they say they're not in it for the money, that's what it implies to me, that they'd do it for nothing if they had to.
Anyone with an ounce of sense in their head picks a career that they have interest in AND pays enough to live on!!!!! You don't see lines forming to dig ditches for free. BUT.... a lot of people are taking up technology type jobs - interesting, not dirty and they pay decently.
Maybe I just didn't get enough caffeine this morning, but I read several posts in a couple different threads about how the money didn't mean a thing to them and it makes my brains curdle!! Horse freakin' feathers!!!!!!!!
(And no I'm not in financial difficulties and yes I make decent money).

Book to read: "Nursing against the Odds" by Suzanne Gordon. Talks about how hospital administrators have used this idea "nurses are altrustic, we don't need to pay them appropriately" to keep nursing pigeon holed. I am LOVING this book and I'm only on page 89.

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2011

Our bosses take advantage of this martyr mentality, people. The folks who claim they wouldn't do this for the money are the same ones who will accept lower pay, and you'd best believe that upper management loves this!
I'm sorry, but Hell would need to freeze over before I'd do this job for free. Nursing is an honorable way to make a living, but nurses are not martyrs. If I am willing to give my employer hard labor, they had better show me the money because I do not work for free. There's nothing wrong with doing this job for its monetary returns. I also believe that we should stop bashing people who do admit to being nurses for the money. Nothing is wrong or inherently evil with seeking stability and security through a job in the nursing field. Almost no one in the U.S. shows up to the work for free.
Nursing is probably one of the very few professions that pays a godawful amount of attention to the motivations of its members. Are you doing this for the money? Are you a nurse because you love fellow humans? Are you a nurse because you're caring?
Let's look at other educated professions in society. No one is examining the ulterior motives of the physician, lawyer, stock broker, professor, engineer, computer scientist, historian, consultant, physical therapist, banker, urban planner, businessman, accountant, or pharmacist. Other members of their professions aren't hassling them about having selected their respective career fields for the love of the job or other altruistic reasons. Their colleagues are not interfering and asking, "Is this a higher calling from God?"
Someone's personal reasons for entering the nursing profession are none of my business. We, as nurses and student nurses, should take a lesson from other professions and stop attacking each other over demanding the most competitive pay for this job. I do not work for free, and I want to be paid competitively for the services that I render.

Ok..seriously, let Brian know we need a "superkudos" button...standing ovation to your post! Thank you for so eloquently putting my thoughts to words!

Moogie · Feb 23, 2011

Until we live in the "Star Trek" society where money is no longer used, we all work for the money and ideally, we enjoy the work we do, to earn the money.

im_melba · Feb 23, 2011

im an unemployed new grad. have yet to land a job. but im looking. i went into nursing b/c it is a degree that i could obtain in four years and be useful and practical. Even if i choose to not be a nurse anymore, i can use the skills/knowledge i have learned to care for my own family and friends. its an honest living that pays the bills. also, there is job security. Additionally, there are so many different opportunites that nursing has to offer, all while making use of my bsn and not having to go back for more school.