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).
it would be lovely to have somewhere safe to express those feelings where the people you express them to will understand and not judge you. at one time, i believed this forum was it. the hoards of student nurses, wanna be nurses and other non-nurses who descend upon any thread where seasoned nurses dare to vent and telling them they're too cynical or not "nice" enough to be nurses have ruined that for us. at yet, we have someone like you saying that "it seems almost taboo to express it."
it would be wonderful to have one forum where we could vent without the pollyannas and goody two shoes descending and judging us. maybe we could have one with a "report button" you could hit anytime anyone becomes too syrupy or judgemental -- and have that person banned from the thread (or the forum) for a year or so.
i have no issues with students or wannabe students reading our vent threads, but the fact that they're allowed to participate in them is one of the reasons you see relatively few of these "taboo" feelings expressed here.
to the moderators -- could we have one forum with alternative terms of service? maybe you'd have to be a premium or platinum member to participate and you'd have to agree to terms of service that included not bashing the nurses who are venting. you could be reported and potentially banned from that forum for injecting syrupy good cheer or notions of a higher calling into those particular threads. is it possible? do many of us want it?
this already exists, it's called a fb "group". haha or on allnurses... ignoring and/or insulting the opinions you disagree with. lol i've been doing it for years!! we're really good at it in the military. haha
I still enjoy my job as a nurse after 35 years. Never have worked for the money, never will. When I start working for the money, I won't love my job anymore.
No one works for free anymore do they? They abolished slavery a long time ago didn't they? I know at my hospital they want us to clock out at 1930 whether we're done with our work, charting whatever and work off the clock until we're done. I for one refuse to do it! There are others though who do it they are so intimidated by management.
They are fools. You get what you pay for, with me at least.
Specializes in OR, public health, dialysis, geriatrics.
Yes, I love being a nurse and I love my paycheck because it allows me to afford a decent lifestyle, go on vacation now and again, provide for my children, and even put a bit aside for when I am retired (which will be 90 the way it is going, but that is for a different thread!).
Do I do it for free? Heck no-though some execs/administrators think we should and don't get me started on how different parts of the country don't pay worth a darn. Think anything south of the Mason-Dixon line-the heat has cooked the administrators and human resource folks brains when they feed you lines like this "people want to work close to the beach (FL) and the cost of living is less here-have they checked the price of houses, groceries, etc. Obviously not if they actually believe this drivel.
If I did OR nursing with all my call hours and honestly putting up with prima donna surgeons (not all but the few who are unfortunately cast a pall over the nice ones) for free I would want someone to check me into a psych unit-because honestly something would not be right in my brain.
Seriously, I truly believe that you can love what you do and expect to get paid well for doing it.
Unfortunately, many people forget that this arena is supposed to allow for healthy vents and opinions. If we can't discuss our feelings here, where can we? Also, I get tired of hearing "mean, nasty, eats young..." Etc... Everyone has a different opinion. As long as we are still respectful, it's OKAY to disagree. That's what makes life interesting, right?
Unfortunately, many people forget that this arena is supposed to allow for healthy vents and opinions. If we can't discuss our feelings here, where can we? Also, I get tired of hearing "mean, nasty, eats young..." Etc... Everyone has a different opinion. As long as we are still respectful, it's OKAY to disagree. That's what makes life interesting, right?
I have a bachelor's in Computer Science from a reputable university. After doing that for over a decade, I've had enough -- and I'm becoming a RN. I could've gotten a MBA and been a project manager "for the money", but I want more out of life than to shuffle papers & make Power-points for pointy-haired bosses. In the medical field, I DO make a difference.
Am I rich? No, of course not. But any job done well is going to be work. If I am going to give up my time & energy it needs to be in something I care about. I can have the wrong outlook and find the bad in any career- long hours, exposure to disease, grumpy patients, bad bosses. But I choose to find the good: that I am doing something that society needs and that I doing it with the most competence and compassion I am able to. And perhaps one day, if I ever find myself in a hospital bed, it will be another Nurse who makes a difference in my life.
I think this is along the lines of Ruby's post earlier here. It's easy to speculate how nursing should be when you aren't a nurse yet. I'm sure all these people care in their own way. However, we as nurses should not have to accept abuse from patients, families, or employers and just take it with a smile. Yes, we should be compassionate and professional. But, there are limits.
I'm one of those that believe nursing is a calling but that does not mean I want to do it for free. I just feel like if it were not a calling, I wouldn't be in the field at all especially with all the stress and bs that comes with it. In fact, if that new place that offers higher wages calls, I will be out of my present position so fast it'll leave some heads spinning.
I wanted a job where I felt like my work had value to others in a significant way. I already had a degree- I probably could have continued to do volunteer work for free with not-for-profits or gotten a social work degree without having to backtrack and take a lot of entry-level science classes (first degree was English). But I wanted to be able to support myself and my future family comfortably.
I used to think that money didn't matter as long as you do what you love until I graduated from college, was on my own with college debt and grown up bills and the stress of not having enough money was so great that I couldn't enjoy doing the things I loved.
I'm in it for the money too, sad to say, but gotta pay those bills. I love most of the children I take care of in Peds, but I would NOT do this job for free. I don't care if I were a billionaire, it is too mentally taxing.
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.
palmsofvictory
37 Posts
this already exists, it's called a fb "group". haha or on allnurses... ignoring and/or insulting the opinions you disagree with. lol i've been doing it for years!! we're really good at it in the military. haha