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

Nurses Relations

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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? :confused:

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. :smokin:

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. :no: 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!!!!!!!!:banghead:

(And no I'm not in financial difficulties and yes I make decent money).:yeah:

Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

Can't we do both? Work in a profession we truly enjoy and that satisfies our desire to help, serve, etc AND get paid well for it?

I enjoy my job a great deal, I also enjoy the pay scale a great deal!! WOuld I do it for less money? Possibly, depending on other perks... would I do if for free?? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in FNP.

Well I always thought anyone going into nursing for money has inexpensive taste, and I assure you, I do not. ;-) It is a terrible paying job, I can hardly make mad money as a nurse. That said, I wouldn't do it for free either. I do do a lot of mission work for free. Actually it costs me a l lot of money to travel all over the world to be a free nurse. But you know what, those people appreciate it! They say thank you and mean it. They don't insult, berate or demand, and they don't complain that they don't like the kind of ice in their mug, etc. THEY are really the reason I have stayed in nursing, and gone on to become a NP, not the entitled whiny bunch here in the States. I work in the states as I need to to maintain a license and make networking connections so I can pursue my real joy, which is taking care of those that need it, and appreciate it, the most.

That said, if I needed to support myself, I'd probably have stayed a lawyer. I hated it, but I a 9-5 job, could be my own boss (as it is, I married the boss and dropped out of the rat race, lol) and make decent money.

I don't care what anyone's reasons are for their career choice. Just so long as they show up on time, perform competently and spare me their petty dramas. Their motives, aspirations and/or plans for their paycheck do not matter to me one iota.

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Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

linearththinker....

just wondering, you say you go all over the world to help those who appreciate medical care on missions, which is great and I admire you... I was wondering, though, why go all over the world when there are many area in the states who could desperately use the same interventions and cares, such as the inner cities and the Indian Reservations.

Perhaps you would consider these areas as you network....

I am not flaming or attacking, just wondering why, when some say they go on missions to help the world, they don't start HERE?:redpinkhe

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Specializes in FNP.

For the reasons I outlined in my post. I have worked with RAM in the SE US, and it is not nearly as rewarding as in other parts of the world. Not even close.

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Greetings fellow nurses,

I am a 37 year old RN from Michigan with 10 years nursing experience and a current BSN student. I am working for free and have done so three days this week in order to get an insider advantage at an organization that I really want to work for with a specific population that I wish to care for. I am in difficult financial circumstances with school expenses, a teenager and no transportation. Yet I continue to go to work at this organization for free. I want to show that I am reliable, dedicated and determined. So yes, some of us do for good of man and are not wealthy or even fiscally stable. I just really wanted this opportunity to work with this specific aggregate and volunteering was the only way to do it. :nurse:

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Specializes in Oncology.
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.

I second this. I don't think we're paid particularly well and we certainly don't have good benefits or retirement pensions like other careers do. Nursing is a very stressfull, demanding job and I certainly don't think we're compensated as well as other professions for the same amount of education (I'm referring to BSN).

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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?

i would like that. i too am sick of seeing anyone who vents a little being thrashed to the bone by others who apparently don't have a clue what is being talked about.

i try to read at least half of this venue every issue. i don't usually see mealy-mouthed do-gooder threads being bashed by those with experience. usually they are cheered and urged to "stick it out! you're just what nursing needs! follow your dreams!" etc etc.

hmmmm... maybe i'll start my own rant/thread about this issue...

oh... and i'm in it for the money. i like my job sometimes, but i'm doing it to pay for the house, the car, the power and the water... and oh yes, pay for gas to get there in the first place.

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Specializes in stepdown RN.

When I was in nursing school we had to one by one state the reason we wanted to be a nurse. I sat about 1/3 way back in the room and had to listen to all the BS stories about how they wanted to change the world, how they wanted to make a difference in someones life, how they had a horrible experience in a hospital and wanted to be the opposite of that, how they loved working with people and this was their purpose in life....blah blah blah...... I was about ready to jump out of the window I was soooooo annoyed/tired of these STUPID stories. Seriously noone said because it was,at the time I graduated, a guaranteed job/stable job, good pay etc. When they got to me I felt like I couldn't say that I really don't know why I became a nurse. I didn't have a "calling" but was made to feel like if I said this I would be looked at as a terrible person. I remember I just said I had a lot of nurses/aides in my family, which I did, and this was just what I grew up with. But seriously I still dont feel like this was my calling. I love being a nurse but being a nurse is not my life. I don't feel like I am a better person who should be looked up to or be this angelical person because I am a nurse. That makes me want to vomit having to listen to nurses talk like they are the "chosen one" AAAAHHHHHH I am sooo glad I am not the only one that feels like this.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Well I always thought anyone going into nursing for money has inexpensive taste, and I assure you, I do not. ;-) It is a terrible paying job, I can hardly make mad money as a nurse.

You think so? I don't.

I can't think of too many other professions where someone with an associate's degree can make starting wages of $50K+.

My husband and I, who have both been RNs for 5 years, are planning to retire in 10-15 years (and we didn't start contributing to retirement until we became RNs).

Alas, we don't have expensive tastes, though. We live within our means and are smart with our money. But I certainly don't think nursing pays horribly at all.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Klone, I would have to agree with you. Now, some states pay way too low. I'm a new grad RN with an income of 70 to 75 000 annually. I also have a BSN. That money is pretty sweet, if you ask me :)

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
linearththinker....

just wondering, you say you go all over the world to help those who appreciate medical care on missions, which is great and i admire you... i was wondering, though, why go all over the world when there are many area in the states who could desperately use the same interventions and cares, such as the inner cities and the indian reservations.

perhaps you would consider these areas as you network....

i am not flaming or attacking, just wondering why, when some say they go on missions to help the world, they don't start here?:redpinkhe

i'm thinking because the people in third world countries are pleasant and grateful as opposed to the folks here in the us who are whiney, demanding, ungrateful and often abusive.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

It's a personal decision where someone decides to volunteer. If they choose to go overseas, good for them. I don't see any reason to question/criticize a personal choice.

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