Nurses that “only do it for the money”

klone, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

Me no understand metaphorical discussion.

AFJ32780, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2019

1 minute ago, klone said:
Me no understand metaphorical discussion.

Ditto

/username, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

Sperm Banks, yo.

gonzo1, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2019

About 15 years ago I got laid off from tech job and went into nursing "for the money and job security." I had absolutely no interest in any altruistic notions what so ever.

Turns out, as time has gone by it has become a very rewarding and meaningful job for me, and I've become pretty good at it. Some have said I'm a natural. I've even become a fan of the very interesting, genius, flawed Florence N. I know a lot of nurses like me. Would you refuse to let us become nurses because we didn't get into it for what what you consider to be "all the right reasons."

There's good people, and bad people in every profession, for every reason imaginable. Diversity and opportunity to grow as humans is what living is all about.

Live and let live

NurseBlaq · Mar 31, 2019

I don't care why people become nurses. As long as they don't make my job harder than it has to be, hurt/kill patients with incompetent practice, or create unnecessary conflict on the unit, they can be here for whatever reason floats their boat. We all live lives outside of work and you never really know someone's story or what they have going on at home. I just despise nurses who don't help others when they're having a good day but expect everyone to drop what they're doing to help them when they're having a bad day. No one should be running ragged while others are sitting back talking. Helping other nurses makes for better patient outcomes and helps rapport on the unit. That's a pet peeve of mine.

guest52816 · Mar 31, 2019

On 3/30/2019 at 4:39 AM, kp2016 said:
You do know it’s 2019 right? Nurses are trained, skilled professionals. Why the heck shouldn’t we want to be paid for our hard work!
This site is full of posts about experienced nurses earning barely more than new grad nurses, unsafe patient ratios and mandated overtime. All of these unfair work conditions have their origins in the archaic notion that Nursing is a vocation rather than a profession. Frankly I think we need more nurses who are only in it for the money!

I would LOVE to see this notion of nursing as a vocation, or calling smashed to bits.

Perhaps then, nurses would STAND UP together, to demand safe staffing ratios, and safe working conditions.

There is nothing wrong with doing a job for the money.

After all, we all need money to survive!

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2019

Weighing in a bit late on this but here are my thoughts. It always astounds me when some come on here (usually a 1st time poster) and asks a loaded question that just seems designed to get a rise out of people. When called on it the poster denies any ill will or intent. I think it's a social media things that involve a generation Z mindset that one can say anything they want, to anyone they want without repercussion.

As far as the question goes I wanted to go into nursing out of high school and after many misadventures finally became a nurse when I was 38. At that point in my life I was definitely in it for. I wasn't trying to get rich but I had stumbled around the world and coming back to the US I realized I needed the security of a home.

So yes I do it for the money - which does not mean that I don't care about the people I serve. I don't care about your motivation as long as you do your job well and are generally pleasant to work with. But I think this question could best be answered by Michael Scott who stated in the American Dream episode of The Office "I was never in this for the money, but it turns out that the money was an absolute necessity for me."

Hppy

AFJ32780, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2019

On 3/31/2019 at 11:55 AM, hppygr8ful said:
Weighing in a bit late on this but here are my thoughts. It always astounds me when some come on here (usually a 1st time poster) and asks a loaded question that just seems designed to get a rise out of people. When called on it the poster denies any ill will or intent. I think it's a social media things that involve a generation Z mindset that one can say anything they want, to anyone they want without repercussion.
As far as the question goes I wanted to go into nursing out of high school and after many misadventures finally became a nurse when I was 38. At that point in my life I was definitely in it for. I wasn't trying to get rich but I had stumbled around the world and coming back to the US I realized I needed the security of a home.
So yes I do it for the money - which does not mean that I don't care about the people I serve. I don't care about your motivation as long as you do your job well and are generally pleasant to work with. But I think this question could best be answered by Michael Scott.
Hppy

Just an FYI my intention was not to get people riled up. You are assuming this. As far as you assuming certain generation do certain things, that is also an assumption. My posts quickly got out of control and certainly regret it. I take responsibility for it.

There are assumptions to be made about everyone and every generation.

Thank you for your post

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2019

On 3/31/2019 at 12:10 PM, AFJ32780 said:
Just an FYI my intention was not to get people riled up. You are assuming this. As far as you assuming certain generation do certain things, that is also an assumption. My posts quickly got out of control and certainly regret it. I take responsibility for it.
There are assumptions to be made about everyone and every generation.
Thank you for your post

You missed my point - And I work with young people and know how the adolescent and young adult mind works. I have also have coached and trained many Generation Z adults. I never said you were intentionally trying to rile people up. Only that you seemed to be unaware of how people might respond to you.

Hppy

AFJ32780, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2019

On 3/31/2019 at 12:16 PM, hppygr8ful said:
You missed my point - And I work with young people and know how the adolescent and young adult mind works. I have also have coached and trained many Generation Z adults. I never said you were intentionally trying to rile people up. Only that you seemed to be unaware of how people might respond to you.
Hppy

I completely understood your comment. ?

But you are wrong my age and generation. Again, if I offended anyone or if acted inappropriate I apologize. My goal was to ask a question and see opinions on the topic. I unfortunately didn’t word it correctly and underestimated people’s passion. Again, please don’t assume things. But thank you for thinking I’m a whole lot younger by the way lol ?

Thanks for your post.

turtlesRcool · Mar 31, 2019

I remember our first nursing lecture. After being told that nurses were consistently voted "the most trusted profession" in the US, the professor went on to discuss how the focus of the medical model is different from the nursing model (curing vs. caring). She then asked, "can you pay someone to care?"

One student raised her hand and said, "well, kind of. I mean, we're not doing this for free." From the look on the professor's face, this was clearly not the answer she was expecting.

The student in question became one of my best friends in the program, and went on to be a very competent and caring L&D nurse. But, yeah, she wanted to be paid for her time, effort, and education. I will be forever grateful to her for giving me permission to care about my paycheck.

My husband makes good money, and I don't NEED to work from a financial standpoint. But I kind of suck at the 24/7 nature of being a SAHM. So I work for a variety of reasons (intellectual stimulation, getting out of the house, camaraderie with my colleagues, satisfaction of taking excellent care of a patient or family member, adrenaline rush of responding to emergencies), but I'm not ashamed to say I'm "not doing this for free," either.

AFJ32780, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 31, 2019

1 minute ago, turtlesRcool said:
I remember our first nursing lecture. After being told that nurses were consistently voted "the most trusted profession" in the US, the professor went on to discuss how the focus of the medical model is different from the nursing model (curing vs. caring). She then asked, "can you pay someone to care?"
One student raised her hand and said, "well, kind of. I mean, we're not doing this for free." From the look on the professor's face, this was clearly not the answer she was expecting.
The student in question became one of my best friends in the program, and went on to be a very competent and caring L&D nurse. But, yeah, she wanted to be paid for her time, effort, and education. I will be forever grateful to her for giving me permission to care about my paycheck.
My husband makes good money, and I don't NEED to work from a financial standpoint. But I kind of suck at the 24/7 nature of being a SAHM. So I work for a variety of reasons (intellectual stimulation, getting out of the house, camaraderie with my colleagues, satisfaction of taking excellent care of a patient or family member, adrenaline rush of responding to emergencies), but I'm not ashamed to say I'm "not doing this for free," either.

Of course not, I’ll be living my parents if I was nursing for free. I totally understand your point.