Nurses that “only do it for the money”

angeloublue22, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

I do it for the money. I also care about my patients but yeah mostly for the money.

Sour Lemon · Mar 31, 2019

You've managed to irritate and make a poor impression on a lot of people. Fair enough. It's just the internet. A less identifying avatar might be a good idea, though.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

Wanting a fair paycheck (or, like, needing one to LIVE) in no way diminishes the care we give. I like to help people, it feels fulfilling when my patients actually let me help them - but I could also volunteer at the hospital a couple hours a week, save the world that way, and be much less stressed. The paycheck is actually a big deal. Nurses can't survive just on knowing we've done a good thing, though it certainly is nice to contribute. We gotta eat, have a place to sleep, pay for the prescriptions it takes to continue being a nurse...

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

Certainly didnt do it to become a millionaire, but make a nice wage

Could have done much better financially if I'd stayed working in social policy analysis

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 31, 2019

Nursing provided me with the means to live a solidly middle-class lifestyle and I was grateful for that, as my family and I were very poor before I became a nurse. I also enjoyed taking care of people, so the wages were icing on the cake. Now my son is an RN and making very good money, more than I ever made in my career, but to be honest he's in it mostly for the money. He's a good nurse; he just doesn't see it as a calling, and there's nothing wrong with that.

AFJ32780, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2019

2 hours ago, Sour Lemon said:
You've managed to irritate and make a poor impression on a lot of people. Fair enough. It's just the internet. A less identifying avatar might be a good idea, though.

??

AFJ32780, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2019

3 hours ago, JBudd said:
As for getting your knickers in a wad (it's my ball and I'm going home, delete the thread!), seriously? This wasn't even an arguementative thread; people are giving opinions and different viewpoints... what else is a discussion for? Do we actually want to all sing in a chorus, absolutely same words and melodies. Give me a grand smashing wild & wooly symphony any time.

Ok ??

AutumnApple · Mar 31, 2019

Ah, the old debate about "for the money vs calling" nurses.

I have a problem with this debate as a whole. Actually I have a handful of them.

Ok, it's more like a truck load.

* Not many nurses actually fall into either category (for the money or for the calling). While we may associate ourselves with one belief system more than the other, the truth is we're all a bit of both. In short, while we may debate one side or the other, we tend to be more alike than different once the talking stops and we have to go to work.

In my experience there really are no pure "for the money" or "for the calling" nurses.

* The whole debate is obese with assumptions.

Biggest one is that the "for the money" crowd is lazy, and the "for the calling" crowd is harder working. This is so not what I've witnessed. In fact, this assumption is the polar opposite of what I have seen. My experience shows me, more often than not, the loud "for the calling" crowd (or at least the ones who claim to be, me.......again, I don't think the two sides actually exist) is just covering up their work performance shortcomings with this "God says it has to be this way" attitude.

Another one is that the "for the calling" crowd are less likely to practice critical thinking or that they can't prioritize their day.

How about the one that the "for the calling" crowd is more in touch with their people?

Heard the one that people "for the money" call off more?

I could keep going. None of them are fact based.

* I don't know a single volunteer nurse. Not one. Not one that does direct patient care anyway. Soo.......

We are all doing it for money. If you accept a paycheck, you've done it for the money.

* How is the argument from either side even slightly valid?

Umm...........nursing doesn't make us rich (as many have pointed out). So, how is it "for the money" or not?

I don't know what to say. Truth is, I just find a debate about two teams who don't exist and which one is more right a bit on the pointless side.

Reminds me of the comic book fights the boys in grade school used to get into. "Who would win, Superman or Mighty Mouse?". And they truly got in fist fights about it.

Mursthetics, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

You can't deposit passion into the bank.

/username, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

2 minutes ago, Mursthetics said:
You can't deposit passion into the bank.

Wrong. You can't deposit passion into a bank that takes money. There are lots of other Banks around that make their money off of deposits and withdrawals of passion.

Emergent, RN · Mar 31, 2019

21 minutes ago, /username said:
Wrong. You can't deposit passion into a bank that takes money. There are lots of other Banks around that make their money off of deposits and withdrawals of passion.

Passion is a short term emotion. Just like in human relationships, it burns out, and then the hard work of day to day living begins.

/username, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

The banks that accept passion limit your deposits in order to preserve maximum yield.