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

[joshmiller2010]

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.

[ixchel]

Sorry but how old are you? Nurses are people too, and people come in a wide, wide variety of flavors. To expect a field with over 2million professionals in the country to be full of 'saints and angels' is incredibly naive.[/quote']

There was a "second career" nursing student who just graduated with the second degree bunch at my school. She was overheard by some of us talking about how she hated that second degree students didn't have their own clinicals and how much she hated that they were put with the first degree students who were basically kids with no "real" responsibilities. She didn't say this directly to me, but to another student in our clinical group with a few of us traditional BSNs literally next to them overhearing it all. Did I mention she's 24? Not to be ageist, mind you, but when you're 3 years older than the average traditional student in our program, and you're standing next to a 30-something traditional student who actually has had a "career" (that spanned more than two years and kids), it's a little bit nutty to say our clinical groups need to be segregated just because you feel like your "life experience" makes you better and more mature than the young women you are elbow to elbow with in the majority of your classes. Thankfully, I think she was the only one with that attitude.

[nonnocere1988]

To be fair, one's kindness and empathy is not always flaunted. Perhaps some individuals with hard exteriors are simply not keen to advertise their sentimentality regarding the field of nursing. Nursing school is not the type of program individuals often complete simply for a paycheck. It is strenuous and competitive. I like to think that to make it through nursing school, everyone must either contain or develop a semblance of passion for the nursing field. It's hard to simply be envisioning one's paycheck while holding the hand of a dying man...

[Nolli]

Ok so I see two sides to this. I'm a convert to nursing and it took me a long time to find my way. That said I was looking for something that paid the bills and also helped people and had more autonomy and critical thinking involved than what I was doing. So I do understand when people say they want to get paid/have stability and also when they have found their calling. It wasn't a snap decision or something I did on a whim. I really do love it, but in a way I am ok with people who don't although I wasn't always. Other people do make snap calls on going to nursing school or have other reasons for their decisions. I do not judge them based on how they made it, but from what they do going forward.

Regardless of why we choose to become nurses we need to look at what behaviors the person exhibits and the kind of care they deliver. Do they act professionally? Are they competent? Do they deliver culturally competent care? Do they make the calls for things like occupational therapy etc? Is the care holistic and patient/family centered? This is what is taught in school and this is the standard everyone should adhere to.

A "sweetie" nurse and a "paycheck" nurse (I hate those terms!!!) are both bad if they are unprofessional and refuse to do ADLs, text all the time during clinicals, disrespect others, or display apathy towards the patient/family. Regardless of why they want to be a nurse it is unprofessional and disrespectful to do what they do. I have seen both types do it and I understand where you are coming from. Some people are just not cut out to be nurses and its frustrating because they pass. Not saying those who can't pass are better, but they both have different reasons as to why; one is unprofessional and the other isn't making the competency cut. We need both to be good nurses.

[MedicalPartisan]

The pay? I guess for only 18 months of school the pay is somewhat decent but surely that can't be a deciding factor for most. New nurses in the health system I work for start off at only $20.xx an hour and we're also on a pay raise freeze. I was a bit disgruntled to discover new RN pay here in Florida. And the thing is, other than places like California where there are unions, Pensacola nurses make more per year than most other places (per City Data).

[MamaTeresaSN]

I have to giggle and think about a dear friend of mine who switched majors (to nursing) so she could get a job to support her husband through his masters and doctorate in a much more lucrative career. Twenty-five years later she is still a nurse, and loves it. She is brilliant enough to have chosen any career she wanted, but never regretted choosing nursing all those years ago for that paycheck.

I am one of those idealistic passionate nursing students, and my wonderful professor has to keep reminding me that I can't fall in love with every patient - it will make me a "sad nurse." She is so right. I feel for you, there are those like you describe in my class too. There is one whom I know will never talk to a patient - never talks to anyone, mumbles monotone responses to questions only, in an almost whisper. Do I think this person has the personality to pull off this career? Not for me to say, just because I would not want someone like that caring for me. I understand how you feel, but I have made great friends with a couple of those paycheck nursing students, and I will tell you I would gladly accept them caring for me! Some people show care in their own way. I would follow the advice from above. What your peers do is really none of your concern. Plus, I kind of like having my professor and the employees of the agencies where we have our clinical experiences always smile and grade me well for always standing out for giving every ounce of effort to learn and help. That is what you can take from it too! Think of the sloughs as making you look good, and silently thank them for it!

P.S. - I am one of the class grandma's who didn't get to go to college until all my kids finished college. We all have our own reasons. This isn't anything for me but the final fulfillment of my lifetime dream, and it won't hurt to collect that paycheck when it's all done.

[Crazed]

I'm so poor after all these years of nursing school that I am going to frame my first paycheck stub.

Every morning when I pass this stub it will be a reminder to me as to how much I sacrificed to be able to earn it. I might even take a few "selfies" with it.

Because on those days when everything goes wrong, and you swear you smell like c.diff that nice paycheck sure does pay for the hot water in the bubble bath.

And honestly in an increasingly businesslike model of healthcare where CEO's make more than doctors why shouldn't a well trained nurse like making money?

One of the great lies of nursing school is that if you're passionate enough that you'll be able to reinvent the wheel when the truth is you need a entire team just to talk about how the wheel might need a little polishing. A few of those on your team might be the very people you can't stand now because they have a full life outside of the identity of being a nurse.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

I hope you don't accuse your patients of this stuff. I have been a nurse since 2006. I am amazed you have the time to worry about everyone else around you not reaching your standards. Essentially what you are saying is that ANYONE who does not think or do exactly like you do is "wrong"? I didn't know I needed to check with you as to what proper motivations and reasons for doing something. You will have many different patients when you are out there and I hope you don't judge them as harshly as you do your peers. I served in the military for 10 years before going back to school. I am SOOOOO upset I didn't have you around to tell me what I should and should not be doing and what my proper motivation should be. Thank you for the brilliant insight into how all humans should think and act.

[MSNhopeful]

I'm a student in an accelerated (no nursing background) MSN program and I'm in it for the paycheck AT THIS POINT IN TIME. Do I hope to find a passion? Yes. If I don't find a passion will it suck? Yes. Will I quit or burn out? Probably not. It's a job and it gives me money to pay bills with. There are tons of people out there who are not fortunate to even find work at a McDonald's. I'll count my blessings whether or not I find a "passion." Finally, rather than me find a passion. The passion has to find me. In other words, how the healthcare system works and treats me, the existence of a good solid company, coworker relations and company culture, etc. are all things that factor into whether or not I think a "passion" has found me. I'm not out there to martyr myself. I want to do good by this society, but I also need society to do good by themselves and by me.

[Username invalid, RN]

I'm a student in an accelerated (no nursing background) MSN program

I've never heard of a MSN program that didn't require any nursing background prior to program entry. Do you have a bachelor's degree in another field? If you don't mind me asking, how does your program work? I'm too deep into the traditional route, so that isn't an option for me, but I find the existence of this fascinating. (Google didn't get me anywhere on this, either.)

[FutureNurseInfo]

So, I will be short and sweet, hopefully . To begin with, I understand how you feel. However, the trend will continue no matter what, so just stop worrying about those so-called paycheck nurses and concentrate on your own learning, and very soon graduating! Also, we can agree to disagree when people think nursing is lucrative. It might be so for some, not so much for others. When I began my working career earning 5 bucks an hour at my first job was a very lucrative gig. But then again, I was 18 and had no bills to pay. Then I graduated from college and began teaching earning mid 40s. I was single, so no kids or a spouse to support. That was a lucrative job. Now, years later, that kind of salary is very miserable. The point is, based on one's idea of the world, and what is expensive and affordable, some may think nurses salary is lucrative while others not so much.

So, as I mentioned before, you are in nursing because of your passion, right? So, as long as you stay true to yourself, and you know you are in this profession for all the right reasons, then who cares what everybody else does in your class?

Cheer up and enjoy the rest of your time in the program!

[MSNhopeful]

Hi Username invalid,

Yes I have my previous bachelor's degree and had to complete all the prerequisites for entry into the program. The first year we do all the required courses, labs, and clinicals required to learn about nursing and to take the NCLEX. The second year we begin the master's level coursework in resource management, policy, ethics, epidemiology, and other things related to management. Here is a link if you'd like to look into it more :) And after the first year of the program, we work up to half-time as RNs while beginning and completing the second year coursework.

Entry Level MSN | Master of Science in Nursing | Pacific Lutheran University

[Username invalid, RN]

MSNHopeful,

Thanks so much! Very cool. I looked through that link for awhile; what an awesome program! I have a cousin with a BSBIO (but no job,) so I'll forward the link on over to her, just for fun. I bet she'll find it equally as interesting.

Just the existence of that program... wow! Well, I'm glad you found it for yourself, & I hope you find your passion out there when you finish!