grrrrrrrrrr- i don't know about you, but logging in to my computer and seeing things like this flashed across my screen upset me! nowhere in there does it talk about caring for patients, or compassion, or the fact that you need to invest your heart and soul to be a good nurse! only " make great money!!!" no wonder we get students and new grads who have no idea of what they are getting into...and sadly don't care- just in it for the paycheck.
#1 degree - nursing
there is no hotter degree than nursing. fortune puts it atop its list of fastest growing jobs. the u.s. department of labor agrees, forecasting "excellent" job prospects for nursing graduates.
So many people that are responding, to me, seem to be thinking in absolutes.
It is ok if money is A factor, but not THE factor. There is a big difference between the two.
This would extend to any profession, not just nursing.
Think of the following:
If you were diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, would you want a doctor that only saw you as a contribution to their Ferarri fund, rather than actually caring about doing his best to cure you?
If you were sued, would you want a lawyer who only cared about his percentage of legal fees, rather than having enough of a passion for justice to REALLY work hard for you?
Heaven forbid a family member or friend be assaulted or killed by a criminal, you would want police officers and detectives that really cared about their work, or just cared about getting paid?
If your house was on fire, wouldn't you want firefighters that cared about saving your family and your house in addition to their benefits package?
Having something of a passion, or at least a desire, to do what you do for a living is just as important a factor as how much income you'll take home, IMO. If not for YOU, then for the people who will be in your care day in and day out.
So many people that are responding, to me, seem to be thinking in absolutes.
It is ok if money is A factor, but not THE factor. There is a big difference between the two.
This would extend to any profession, not just nursing.
Think of the following:
If you were diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, would you want a doctor that only saw you as a contribution to their Ferarri fund, rather than actually caring about doing his best to cure you?
If you were sued, would you want a lawyer who only cared about his percentage of legal fees, rather than having enough of a passion for justice to REALLY work hard for you?
Heaven forbid a family member or friend be assaulted or killed by a criminal, you would want police officers and detectives that really cared about their work, or just cared about getting paid?
If your house was on fire, wouldn't you want firefighters that cared about saving your family and your house in addition to their benefits package?
Having something of a passion, or at least a desire, to do what you do for a living is just as important a factor as how much income you'll take home, IMO. If not for YOU, then for the people who will be in your care day in and day out.
In each of those cases, I would want the person who was most capable, regardless of their motivation.
Since we are just making up hypotheticals, if you were a sports fan, would you want your favorite team to be comprised of mediocre players who absolutely have a passion for the game or a lot of championship caliber players who are interested in the biggest contract?
I already posted about the irrelevance of motivations for entering into a profession in another very similar thread . I'll add that I'd be more concerned about the person who said they absolutely love what they do and would do their job for free than I would be about the person who said they only do it for the money. At least the person who said they were in it to get paid was being honest. People work to get money to do other stuff for fun. Furthermore, I don't see anyone up in arms that the kid flipping burgers at the local McDonald's is only doing it for the $5 or whatever an hour. Nobody gives a **** whether he/she has a passion for flipping burgers or not. I don't see how nursing is any different. As long as the nurse, or the kid flipping burgers, is able to complete his or her assigned tasks in a safe professional manner who cares why they are there? A few people who think their **** don't stink? Give me a break. Motivations for doing things don't change the results.
Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.
I've never made that much money! I am an RN, BSN with 20 years experience and I make $16/hour but I do have an awesome job! Even when I was in ICU at the hosp I worked at 18 years I didn't make NEAR $30/hour and I was almost at the top of the payscale.
In each of those cases, I would want the person who was most capable, regardless of their motivation.
Since we are just making up hypotheticals, if you were a sports fan, would you want your favorite team to be comprised of mediocre players who absolutely have a passion for the game or a lot of championship caliber players who are interested in the biggest contract?
*sighs* I think that you were just being facetious, but the huge difference is obviously that the outcome in the examples I gave affect a person for the rest of their life. Can't say that about a sports team (and I won't even get INTO how against million dollar contracts I am )....
You can probably tell by my name that I'm a student. Am still doing pre-reqs. I am not going into the profession for the money but do need to earn a living so I can support myself and family. Have worked as a social worker for several years. Most social work jobs require a Masters yet you're lucky if you earn $40,000 at the height of your career. Starting pay even with a Masters can be in $20s and low $30s.
Am wondering how nursing salary is influenced by type of nursing and the region of the US where you practice? What are other factors that influence potential earnings?
Geesh...nowhere did I say in my original post that nurses are under/overpaid for what we do-I certainly wouldn't do this for free...my original point here, was that a lot of people are going into nursing for no reason other than the expected paycheck. I stand by my original post- You have to be invested (or CARE) about your patients to be a good nurse, IMHO. If you feel differently, more power to you. I haven't met too many good nurses who don't give a hoot. And for the record, I NEVER said we shouldn't be compensated. We do a darn hard job under difficult circumstances, and most nurses really do care about their patients.
The problem I have with things like my original link is:
1. It gives people who don't really want to be nurses the idea that this would be a good professional fit for them.
2. People who have no clue about what nursing entails are in for a RUDE awakening once they get into nursing school.
3. Is it fair to do this to people? They might pay a lot of $ for tuition, only to find out they don't have what it takes to be a nurse.
4. People who aren't cut out to be nurses are getting spots in nursing school that could go to someone who SHOULD be there.
I've had people tell me "Well, it's GREAT money for only having a 2 year degree!" All I can do is shake my head, and think that these same people are going to be in some MAJOR culture shock.
All the more reason to increase the entry into practice to a BSN. Too many individuals are going in to nursing, because it is seen as a job you can make a decent salary at, and only go to school for two years.
Increasing the entry into practice would cut that down ALOT!
*sighs* I think that you were just being facetious, but the huge difference is obviously that the outcome in the examples I gave affect a person for the rest of their life. Can't say that about a sports team (and I won't even get INTO how against million dollar contracts I am )....
I was not just being facetious. In each and every case I would want the people that are most capable, period.
So not only do you think some brilliant person is not as good a choice to case for someone as a so-so intelect with a ton of passion, but you begrudge other people who provide a service the chance to make as much for themselves as possible? Not very compassionate:clown:
What irks me the most about this whole subject is that nurses have fought for a very long time to be recognized as a PROFESSION and not a "calling". How many doctors do you suppose go into the healthcare field because they were "called" to it? How about other PROFESSIONS? Lawyers? Stock brokers? We as nurses (or soon to be in my case!) are PROFESSIONALS, just as doctors and lawyers and every other profession. We need to lose the whole self-sacrificing mumbo jumbo because that is what is holding the profession back. Just because a person goes into the field for the monetary aspect and the prospect of fairly secure employment does not mean they will not be a competent, caring nurse.
And I do agree- for what nurses do, they are seriously underpaid. Perhaps that will change when nurses are more widely recognized as being PROFESSIONALS.
cherrybreeze, ADN, RN
1,405 Posts
So many people that are responding, to me, seem to be thinking in absolutes.
It is ok if money is A factor, but not THE factor. There is a big difference between the two.
This would extend to any profession, not just nursing.
Think of the following:
If you were diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, would you want a doctor that only saw you as a contribution to their Ferarri fund, rather than actually caring about doing his best to cure you?
If you were sued, would you want a lawyer who only cared about his percentage of legal fees, rather than having enough of a passion for justice to REALLY work hard for you?
Heaven forbid a family member or friend be assaulted or killed by a criminal, you would want police officers and detectives that really cared about their work, or just cared about getting paid?
If your house was on fire, wouldn't you want firefighters that cared about saving your family and your house in addition to their benefits package?
Having something of a passion, or at least a desire, to do what you do for a living is just as important a factor as how much income you'll take home, IMO. If not for YOU, then for the people who will be in your care day in and day out.