Nurses who don't have the "passion"

HeySis, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2016

I'll admit, I did not go into nursing because I had some sort of experience or because I wanted to help people.

I was a single mom in the early 1990's watching many things become automated and masses of people being laid off. I hadn't finished my BFA before becoming pregnant and I needed to find something I could do that would support my daughter and myself. My line of thinking was I could get an LPN in one year and a machine couldn't replace me.... (little did I know the things that could and would in the future)

I liked nursing when I was in school and even my first jobs.... but I had that one patient.

I was assigned because I had the least seniority and no-one else wanted a man that was dying "because he had been too vain to have a tumor removed that might leave a scar". I knew nothing of hospice... "letting a patient die" was not seen as medicine but the lack of heroic efforts. (please remember I am talking about a long time ago)

I learned from that patient and family a lot about compassion, living a quality life, making your own decisions and respecting others decisions. I cared for them in the way I would want to be cared for... and some where in the process felt my value to them and fell in love with nursing.

A few years later I would be in the position to teach others, to train new nurses, and the passion for what I do became even stronger.

I couldn't have stayed a nurse for as long as I have though, if I had not found that passion.. call it rewarding, fulfilling, enjoyable, whatever you like, it does more then pay my bills, it satisfies a part of me that nothing else has.

Surg-OncRN · Aug 19, 2016

When I first thought about going to nursing school I really did not know what passion was. My focus was to get a reliable, good paying job. Nursing did meet those expectations. I was not passionate about nursing when I went into it, but nursing has revealed to me what my passion is. That passion is to keep people out of the hospital as long as I can. By that, I mean keeping them well. Our system is not a health care system it is a sick care system. Currently, I am redirecting my career so I can work in primary care and get out of the hospital. Primary care is the front lines where people first start getting signs and symptoms of chronic disease and this is where I want to intervene. By the time they get to me it is usually too late to help them reverse course or it would have a minimum effect.

Cricket183, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2016

This may sound strange or contradictory but please hang in there with me. As far back as I can remember I knew that I wanted to be a nurse. I was a premie (2 lb 14oz) back when premies really didn't survive (born in 1967). I was in the NICU for many months. Growing up when my mom would tell stories she spoke fondly of the nurses who took care of me (one in particular that was affectionately called Granny). It made an obvious impression on me. However, I never had a deep feeling like nursing was a calling or my mission in life.

I also took a very non-traditional route and did not go to college right out of high school (well I did one semester but then my mom became ill and I had to go back home and work full time and help out at home). I married my high school sweetheart at 20. Had my first son a year later and my second son two years after that. I stayed at home running a home business until they both were in elementary school. I took all my prerequisite classes in the evening, 3-6 hours a semester (occasionally more) whatever my schedule allowed. When we got to a place where we could afford it, I applied and was accepted to nursing school. I enjoyed nursing school and did very well but I have to be honest when I graduated I wondered if I had made a huge mistake. I think I had this romanticized, idealistic notion in my mind of what nursing would be like and the reality of it was completely different.

I went to school with the intention of specializing in NICU. I even spent my Sr. Practicum in NICU. However, the hospital where we lived did not have a NICU. They transferred all their babies to DFW. I commuted to DFW for nursing school (120 miles one way) and had intended to do so for work but I just couldn't do it anymore.

So I reluctantly took a new grad position in oncology. (There were no openings in the nursery.) I absolutely feel in love with oncology and nursing. It wasn't instantaneous. My passion for it developed over time.

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Aug 19, 2016

I wouldn't call what I do a calling. However, I like my work and feel it is important, so that helps me get through the day. I chose it because nursing was a relatively quick and inexpensive program, I enjoyed the subject matter and interaction with people, and I'm able to support myself. I can't say that I'll never get out of nursing, as there are other things I'd like to try in life, but for now it works for me and I feel good about it.

malenurse69, MSN, NP · Aug 19, 2016

Job security, a lot of options for advancement, good pay.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2016

I have no choice but to stay. I have a BSN that took me 6 years to obtain, and I am stuck. I can't get any other job that pays as much as I'm getting now. Even a useless liberal-arts degree is more versatile than a BSN.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2016

Nursing was never a passion, childhood dream, or higher calling of mine. I entered the nursing profession as a practical means to an end. It has provided me with the flexibility, stable income, career mobility, and educational advancement I desire.

As an aside, I was raised by two parents who worked mind-numbing manual labor jobs for a living. Their financial situation was precarious and always on the edge. However, the door to better job opportunities and higher pay had been closed off to them because they had no education beyond a high school diploma.

Since I grew up without many middle class comforts, I wanted a career pathway that provided stability and a certain standard of living without taking up too much of my personal time. Nursing was the answer.

Libby1987 · Aug 19, 2016

I chose nursing because it was practical, graduated young at one of the best times in the industry, and grew into it. First couple of years were bumpy but then I found my niche and thrived. It wasn't until after I stayed at home for 10 years and then went back that I began to love it. Since then life milestones came faster and they somehow increased the reward of the job.

It would be hard to learn my job if I came at it now, and I keep that in mind as we hire and train, but my timing was ideal.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Aug 19, 2016

I chose nursing because it was practical, graduated young at one of the best times in the industry, and grew into it. First couple of years were bumpy but then I found my niche and thrived...It would be hard to learn my job if I came at it now, and I keep that in mind as we hire and train, but my timing was ideal.

My experience started out and has been similar to Libby's. Today's students are much more likely to be deeply mired in debt than I was, but they are usually coming from lack of opportunities and nursing represents one of the best that exists in today's market. To put it in perspective, as a nursing assistant 25 years ago I made $9.50 an hour (working nights without benefits). Today, my students tell me that's what they make, but RN wages have nearly doubled.

Some of my students have "passion," some don't. Passion doesn't seem to correlate with being able to meet the course/program outcomes, but drive to learn/innate critical thinking skills/time spent learning and practicing the material does.

Long story short, "passion" makes a compelling story, but hard work makes you a good nurse.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 19, 2016

Decent money, ability to switch around to many locations/specialties, money, oh and not being poor.

llg, PhD, RN · Aug 19, 2016

It was never a calling or childhood dream of mine either. I chose nursing because it was practical -- and because I wanted to have a career that contributed positively to the world. While I wasn't particularly passionate about nursing, I knew I wouldn't be happy doing something that hurt people for a living -- like make cigarettes, or lured people into wasting their money, or was somehow sleazy, etc. I was seeking a career that would be respectable and do good things.

I also viewed nursing as a flexible career -- with many different possible career paths. I could do direct patient care as a staff nurse, part-time or full time, teach, be an administrator, do research, be an NP, etc. I would have lots of choices -- and as an 18 year old, I was not ready to make a commitment to any one career. I thought that majoring in nursing would be a way to delay that decision, giving me a general field that I could then narrow down as I got older and my needs & preferences developed.

But while I was not passionate about nursing or "called," -- I was committed to doing a good job and to fulfilling my obligations to the patients, my co-workers, and my employers. I believe that committed is more important for success than the passion or "calling" that some people claim to have.