Not going to nursing school

Intern67 · Jun 16, 2010

nursing seems to be cast as something that rises above the petty concerns of money and opportunity but that is what work is all about.

i disagree, but it has nothing to do with nursing. whatever you do for a living, it is much better if you like it, if it is something you want to do and it gives you satisfaction. i learned this from a couple of professors i got to know. they were awesome at what they did and they absolutely loved it.

i met some other instructors that were not so good at what they did and they didn't appear to like it very much. the issue is not whether being a college professor is a good job or not.

i had a job where i made pretty good money, but i hated going to work every single damn day.

screw that.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2010

Nursing seems to be cast as something that rises above the petty concerns of money and opportunity but that is what work is all about.

I happen to agree with you. Nursing is the only profession that heavily scrutinizes the motivations of its members. Are you doing it for the money? Are you a nurse because you like people? Are you a nurse because you're a selfless angel of mercy?

Take a close, hard look at the other educated professions in society. Nobody is really questioning the motives of the physician, attorney, college professor, engineer, librarian, social worker, physical therapist, businessman, linguist, or pharmacist. Other members of their professions aren't bothering them about selecting their respective career fields for the love of the job itself or other altruistic reasons. Other members of their respective professions aren't asking, "Is this a higher calling for you?"

This might sound blunt, but another individual's personal reasons for entering the nursing profession are absolutely none of my business. We, as nurses and future nurses, need to take a lesson from the other professions and stop beating each other down. I do not work for free, and I fully expect to be paid for the services that I render.

cmonkey · Jun 17, 2010

I'd say that spending that kind of money for ANY job is crazy, but I'm a Dave Ramsey zombie so take that for what it's worth. HOWEVER. There is no reason you can't get an ADN if you want to be in nursing. You can cash flow it if you're careful, and you'll be as much of a nurse as you would if you had the BSN.

If you want to be a nurse, don't let the cost of a program deter you. If you don't want to be a nurse and the cost of the program gets you off the hook, though, then that's fine.

happy2learn · Jun 17, 2010

I choose to not let the current economic status affect my desire to be a nurse.

coffee and toast · Jun 17, 2010

I totally hear what you are saying. Careers are about fulfillment - intellectual, emotional, AND financial. But, be careful about the comparisons you are making. You are comparing (even if in a comical/figurative way) Nursing to a vision of cowboy - nursing doesn't have a very substantiated history of being one of those 'dreamer' iffy professions - artist, cowboy, pro athlete - where yes, people can make money - but its not a sure shot. Nursing IS a strong, stable career. The field is going through some rough times (in terms of job availability) ALONGSIDE many, many other fields in the same boat.

I'll repeat that: The job market isn't bad for nurses in an isolated way - the job market is bad. period.

I believe that hiring freezes, current professionals choosing to NOT retire at the planned age (decrease in investments, need for continued income during these less stable times), and an overall economic slowdown have affected job turnover in areas like nursing, teaching, etc etc.

In other sectors, decreases in consumer spending, changes in markets etc have caused cutbacks in company spending, including layoffs, hiring freezes, very high competition for few jobs, etc etc.

Steering away from nursing because of the economy means you should not consider engineering, teaching (at the secondary or post secondary level), real estate, or veterinary medicine, and probably a few others. I know that those are all fields with many many qualified applicants for few jobs right now. These are not booming times with plentiful job choices, sky high salaries and fluffy signing bonuses :)

But that is what a snapshot of 2009/2010 looks like. I do have faith that the economy will turn somewhat better with time, and that we all - both as individuals and companies - will come to adapt to living with an economy in check. People will begin to retire, companies will begin to hire again, commerce will increase, money will begin to flow to new graduates looking for jobs. Despite how it looks right now, have some faith! Nurses, especially good ones, will be in need. The demand for healthcare is increasing, our population is growing, and aging - as a nurse, you will be needed. If you look rationally at what a nurse does in the broad picture of healthcare, I think you'll be comforted to know that - long range - the job outlook will be good.

If nursing is truly your passion - don't give that up! - I don't think you're being asked to be totally selfless and forgo income to follow it. I'm going into nursing with a desire to be a great nurse and love my job, but I have an equally strong desire to make good money and contribute to our family income. I do believe I will have both, in time.

The fix to hiring freezes may not be immediate, and I am aware it may take me a bit to find a job in these harder times. That's not ideal, but I can accept that, because I know that I am MUCH more likely to be good at what I do (and therefore more likely to be hired, keep the job, and make career advances = higher pay & greater responsibility) if I choose a career that engages me mentally and emotionally, i.e. something I wanna be doing.

How unhappy would you be if you pick a crummy career you don't want and then spend 6 months getting turned down in that line of work? There are no guaranteed career paths out there .......

Moogie · Jun 17, 2010

I happen to agree with you. Nursing is the only profession that heavily scrutinizes the motivations of its members. Are you doing it for the money? Are you a nurse because you like people? Are you a nurse because you're a selfless angel of mercy?
Take a close, hard look at the other educated professions in society. Nobody is really questioning the motives of the physician, attorney, college professor, engineer, librarian, social worker, physical therapist, businessman, linguist, or pharmacist. Other members of their professions aren't bothering them about selecting their respective career fields for the love of the job itself or other altruistic reasons. Other members of their respective professions aren't asking, "Is this a higher calling for you?"
This might sound blunt, but another individual's personal reasons for entering the nursing profession are absolutely none of my business. We, as nurses and future nurses, need to take a lesson from the other professions and stop beating each other down. I do not work for free, and I fully expect to be paid for the services that I render.

I agree. However, there is one profession in which it is imperative to screen prospective members regarding a higher calling---the ministry. My son was recently accepted into seminary and was asked---and will continue to be asked until he is ordained---how he discerned that he was indeed called by God to serve in this capacity. My son can pinpoint the exact time when he first felt called to the ministry. My husband, who is an ordained pastor, can do the same.

In all honesty, I envy them and wish that it was as straightforward as getting some sort of sign from God. I have felt "nudges" or subtle suggestions in my life but never anything as dramatic or life-altering as a "call".

nrice28 · Jun 17, 2010

I agree with what the other posters wrote. But I TOTALLY understand where your coming from. You are absolutely right when it comes to people acting like nursing is only about being a compassionate person and caring. It is about money too. Sometimes when people ask me what I am going to school for I explain nursing and then when they start to talk about how selfless I am I always bring them back to reality as to exactly why I am going to be a nurse. Because I want to make a good living and enjoy it along the way. I mean, nursing is a hard sometimes trying job. its not as whimsical and fairytale like as people want to believe. I mean, my husband is constantly saying remarks about how "atleast I am going to be doing my dream". um...no I actually was a really great artist x number of years ago..and I always wanted to do art. But I also want to help people. I don't know if I conveyed my point like I wanted..but just know I understand what you mean. I feel like the word "passion" when it comes to nursing is thrown around too much by people who don't have it. I mean, call it what it is. If its a passion to you call it a passion. if its not don't. Its okay to me either way. *I was using "you" hypothetically. But anyways I do feel that nursing is my passion...b/c I am very passionate right now. Ask me again in 20 yrs..lol. But I do know that there are so many nurses that are well..not very nice, and you can SO tell its not their "passion". but good luck to you, and 50 grand is pretty steep. I am going to a state school in the fall and its only like 4 grand a year.

nrice28 · Jun 17, 2010

I agree. However, there is one profession in which it is imperative to screen prospective members regarding a higher calling---the ministry. My son was recently accepted into seminary and was asked---and will continue to be asked until he is ordained---how he discerned that he was indeed called by God to serve in this capacity. My son can pinpoint the exact time when he first felt called to the ministry. My husband, who is an ordained pastor, can do the same.
In all honesty, I envy them and wish that it was as straightforward as getting some sort of sign from God. I have felt "nudges" or subtle suggestions in my life but never anything as dramatic or life-altering as a "call".

I totally wish that I would hear a clear cut answer too! I have a really hard time just shutting up and listening. I think that is a gift in itself. lol..but thats so awesome and powerful!

One1, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2010

I agree with you that nursing is not all about the angelic vision of a caring, selfless woman (have I hit all the stereotypes?), but I think that you better DO have some serious passion for some aspects of the nursing profession if you are considering to sacrifice money, sleep, and pretty much most of your sanity for the duration of your nursing program, only to be meeting equal challenges (and rewards) once you start working in the field. I am a second-career student as well and -no, I don't think that nursing is comparable to many other fields.

guiltysins · Jun 18, 2010

I agree with what people have said, but there's a difference between wanting to be compensated for your hard work and seeing nothing but dollar signs. If you remember those selfish teachers if you had any growing up saying they don't care if you learn as long as they get paid (and the pay wasn't even that good!) my elementary school would actually announce on the loud speaker when teacher's paychecks came in on thursday's (code was "the eagle has landed"), or a nurse who sat on her butt for the entire shift! I think that is what the problem is. You doing it for the money is fine with me but you don't have to be a lousy nurse because you don't really want to be there or take it out on your patients because that money train is being cut. If you are good at your job and you can even throw in a little kindess, then I don't really care what your motives are. Personally though, I would NEVER do this major just for the money, I would just go into business, Accountants and HR managers make a killing without the unpredictable admissions process, long days at clinicals and numerous tests (Hesi's) you have to get through JUST to graduate.

Anyway, I don't let the economic thing get to me because shortage or not, they are ALWAYS going to need people in health care. People are always going to be sick, people are always going to have babies ect. That's pretty much a job most people wouldn't trust a computer to do. I plan for the future and not short term. Nursing isn't my passion but the health field is, if I wouldn't have gotten into nursing school, I simply would have switched to a different health major, if nursing doesn't work out for me, then I'll also do that. Just because their aren't jobs at the moment, doesn't mean people should stop going into that field. A lot of teachers are being cut in my state, imagine if people stopped going to school for teaching because of it. You won't see the effects now when there are no jobs but down the line, you more than likely would.

HM2VikingRN, RN · Jun 18, 2010

I happen to agree with you. Nursing is the only profession that heavily scrutinizes the motivations of its members. Are you doing it for the money? Are you a nurse because you like people? Are you a nurse because you're a selfless angel of mercy?
Take a close, hard look at the other educated professions in society. Nobody is really questioning the motives of the physician, attorney, college professor, engineer, librarian, social worker, physical therapist, businessman, linguist, or pharmacist. Other members of their professions aren't bothering them about selecting their respective career fields for the love of the job itself or other altruistic reasons. Other members of their respective professions aren't asking, "Is this a higher calling for you?"
This might sound blunt, but another individual's personal reasons for entering the nursing profession are absolutely none of my business. We, as nurses and future nurses, need to take a lesson from the other professions and stop beating each other down. I do not work for free, and I fully expect to be paid for the services that I render.

Exactly what my boss says.....Personally I think the career is great but I have no shame about expecting to be paid at least as well as or better than what a plumber or carpenter makes....