Number One Pet Peeve in Nursing School: Future "Paycheck Nurses"

RunBabyRN · Jan 18, 2014

Wow, my school wouldn't tolerate that, but maybe that's part of why they have an entrance essay requirement. No one in my class, at least that I've seen, would even consider behaving like that. Like your school, ours emphasizes that part of being the RN is wiping butts and changing linens and doing all of that work that some might think is "below" them. I can understand why that behavior would grind on your nerves, especially when they're passing!

Don't let it kill your passion, and trust that it'll come back to them when the time is right. Nurse managers don't like nurses that refuse to take on the dirty work, too. They may find that those paychecks they're working so hard to earn won't be coming to them when they can't get work that doesn't involve actual WORK.

PurpleLover · Jan 18, 2014

Why upset yourself over things you have no control over?

I hope ranting helped you.

joshmiller2010 · Jan 18, 2014

I just need to rant for a release before clinicals start next week! :) Definitely makes me feel better

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 18, 2014

However...
I am SO tired of the future "paycheck nurses" in my class. Just to clarify (and this is from an instructor not me) a paycheck nurse is a nurse who really has little to no interest in the field of nursing outside of the job security and pay. You know the kind, probably older, probably doing nursing as a second career, or younger and still thinking "I don't know what I wanna be when I grow up but nurses are paid pretty well so here we go!". My class is pretty large (started around 150 people, now down to about 80) and a good few of the people who just wanted the good pay and a "guaranteed" job were weeded out pretty quickly (usually shortly after they realized nursing school required effort) but unfortunately there are still a few left.

First, why are you so concerned about people and their reasoning for going into nursing? Quite frankly, it is none of your business. Competency and professionalism are all that matter. Reserve your judgment for those who neglect/abuse their patients or practice unsafe, unethical care.

Second, nursing is NOT stable. There is no shortage of nurses. As for the money...it is decent, but there are less taxing jobs out there that will allow one to make more bucks.

It just really grinds on my nerves when I see them passing (barely passing, more often than not) while people who truly want to be nurses, who would be great nurses, fail. These paycheck nurses in training are pretty open about why they're in nursing school (they're nothing if not honest), but they're negative attitudes in class and clinical is getting pretty old pretty quick.

Quit calling them "paycheck nurses." These are your future coworkers. Not everyone wants to martyr themselves and that is okay! Some people are in nursing for idealistic reasons (you) and others are in it for practical reasons. It doesn't make you or anyone else with "passion" better than the person over there who came into nursing for different reasons. At the end of the day, the patient wants a nurse who can do the job and treat him/her in a professional manner. That is all. The sooner you learn this, the better off you will be.

In class they're the ones on their phones the whole time checking facebook or whatever, and when they do decide to tune in to the lecture they ask questions the instructor just answered and waste everyone's time (thankfully the instructors are starting to call them out on it but still). They're the ones bragging about having not even bought the book or taken it out of the plastic wrapping, but not bragging about their grades. In my school, after the first two semesters attendance isn't mandatory (lectures/powerpoints are recorded and posted online) and you can go hybrid and only come to class for tests, and they tend to be the ones who only come for tests.

Again...why do you care? If they fail, they fail. If they pass, they pass. What does that have anything to do with you? Focus your energy on you and not on the other students. You will feel musch better, I promise!

In clinical they like to hide, doing the bare minimum patient care and avoiding anything they don't want to do (answering call bells, giving baths, assisting pts to the bathroom, skills, etc.) and when asked to do these things by the clinical instructor they roll their eyes and whine about it the rest of the day. If a fellow student asks for help they look at them like their stupid and spout little gems like "Ew gross, no." or "That's CNA ****" or my personal favorite "I'm an RN student so go find an LPN or CNA or something."

Let the instructor deal with them. That is really not your problem. Eventually, they will be weeded out of the profession by their school or their first job.

I know the news and everyone likes to talk about nursing be the land of milk and honey, and that kind of representation attracts this kind of person but I can't help but think that if paralegals or electronics technicians or some other associate degree accessible career were paid more than nurses then these people would be sitting in legal or electronics classes instead of medsurg ones.

Obviously. In the end, people have to pay their bills and feed their kids...and there is nothing wrong with that! So as long as they are performing up to par and present themselves professionally, who cares what brought them into nursing?

I have nothing for respect for anyone going through nursing school for the right reasons, but I have a hard time respecting those who don't respect the profession enough to treat it as anything other than a meal ticket.

There are no "right reasons" and it is arrogant for you to say so. What makes your reasons (an idealistic "passion") anymore valid than the calculated, practional ones of some of your classmates? If anything, the latter will be far less likely to become disillusioned by the profession (it isn't all that it is cracked up to be) and less likely to burn out if they have a tangible reason for getting into the field (passion can die, but bills are here to stay).

In the end, work is called WORK for a reason. Some people are fortunate to find their passion, while others may have to settle on what they can tolerate. Talk to some nurses, and I DOUBT they would be doing what they are doing for free or minimum wage.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2014

Of course, you will be working for free when you graduate?

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jan 18, 2014

Why are you so concerned about it? These people are there putting in the same amount of work you are. They are taking the test, doing clinicals, and projects just like everyone else. They are passing. You are going to quickly learn that no matter what the job, there are people who are in it for the money or for job security. The only thing you need to do is keep your head down and worry about yourself.

You also don't know what someone's situation is. Maybe they don't have child care and that's why they aren't coming to class. Maybe they work full time. Honestly, if I had the option to just show up for test, I would. There are times I'm on my phone looking up something but it's not because I'm bored and don't want to be there. You said you are tired of the negative attitude but that's what this is. Accept the fact there is nothing you can do about it and let it go.

CountryMomma, ASN, RN · Jan 18, 2014

I know what you mean, and yeah, they can get really irritating to work with, really quickly. I have one in my class (really small class to start with) and I learned to tune her out within the first month, month and a half of her attitude. She's been an LPN for 15 years, and decided to "screw around" and get her RN so she can finally get that Unit Coordinator position she's been coveting for 5 years. That's the only reason. And that's directly from her. That bit is a direct quote from her. That's her attitude. She firmly believes that RNs are a waste of time and money, that considering nursing a profession is a huge joke, and that being in management means she will never have to lift another finger and wipe another dirty butt again. Yay nursing.

I'm glad you feel better after venting. I'm sure you have a roadmap of scars on your tongue from biting it, and just think of it as training for biting it the next time your pt asks "Can I go have a smoke yet?" as they sit with tele and 4L O2.

And nope, I don't plan on working for free. That'd be stupid, and it was a stupid remark. But I expect people to show at least a small modicum of respect for the "job" they plan on living off of. No wonder the public considers nurses to be glorified CNAs. Nurses can't even seem to decide whether they deserve respect or ridicule, judging by the last few threads in this vein.

Guest757854 · Jan 18, 2014

TO THE OP.... I can definitely empathize with you.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jan 18, 2014

It's fine to work for a paycheck. I think you should focus on helping your failing friends who "truly want to be nurses" instead of worrying about people who are passing with little effort.

KimRN2015 · Jan 19, 2014

Okay so heads up: this may or may not be a rant. I'm in my 4th semester of nursing school and have one more to go (graduating in August!!) and I truly have a deep passion for nursing and I am very excited to get out into the field. However... I am SO tired of the future "paycheck nurses" in my class. Just to clarify (and this is from an instructor not me) a paycheck nurse is a nurse who really has little to no interest in the field of nursing outside of the job security and pay. You know the kind probably older, probably doing nursing as a second career, or younger and still thinking "I don't know what I wanna be when I grow up but nurses are paid pretty well so here we go!". My class is pretty large (started around 150 people, now down to about 80) and a good few of the people who just wanted the good pay and a "guaranteed" job were weeded out pretty quickly (usually shortly after they realized nursing school required effort) but unfortunately there are still a few left. It just really grinds on my nerves when I see them passing (barely passing, more often than not) while people who truly want to be nurses, who would be great nurses, fail. These paycheck nurses in training are pretty open about why they're in nursing school (they're nothing if not honest), but they're negative attitudes in class and clinical is getting pretty old pretty quick. In class they're the ones on their phones the whole time checking facebook or whatever, and when they do decide to tune in to the lecture they ask questions the instructor just answered and waste everyone's time (thankfully the instructors are starting to call them out on it but still). They're the ones bragging about having not even bought the book or taken it out of the plastic wrapping, but not bragging about their grades. In my school, after the first two semesters attendance isn't mandatory (lectures/powerpoints are recorded and posted online) and you can go hybrid and only come to class for tests, and they tend to be the ones who only come for tests. In clinical they like to hide, doing the bare minimum patient care and avoiding anything they don't want to do (answering call bells, giving baths, assisting pts to the bathroom, skills, etc.) and when asked to do these things by the clinical instructor they roll their eyes and whine about it the rest of the day. If a fellow student asks for help they look at them like their stupid and spout little gems like "Ew gross, no." or "That's CNA ****" or my personal favorite "I'm an RN student so go find an LPN or CNA or something." NOTE: Our school really emphasizes, and I firmly believe, that nothing is beneath us at clinical; if someone asks for/needs help then we should help them. I know the news and everyone likes to talk about nursing be the land of milk and honey, and that kind of representation attracts this kind of person but I can't help but think that if paralegals or electronics technicians or some other associate degree accessible career were paid more than nurses then these people would be sitting in legal or electronics classes instead of medsurg ones. ALSO: I don't mean to say that every second career nursing student, or older nursing student, or anyone is automatically a paycheck nurse in training. I have several friends that are older/second career who are in nursing school because they want to be nurses, and they are just now having the chance to pursue their dream for whatever reason. I have nothing for respect for anyone going through nursing school for the right reasons, but I have a hard time respecting those who don't respect the profession enough to treat it as anything other than a meal ticket.[/quote'] I completely agree and don't worry about the negative responses. Obviously they didn't understand that you just needed to blow off steam or maybe you hit a little too close to home for some of them! Good luck!

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jan 19, 2014

I completely agree and don't worry about the negative responses. Obviously they didn't understand that you just needed to blow off steam or maybe you hit a little too close to home for some of them! Good luck!

I understand that OP needs to blow off steam and no, I'm not in it just for a paycheck. OP shared their opinion, and others have shared theirs. Just because they are different opinions from yours doesn't mean they are negative.