Nurses who don't have the "passion"

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 20, 2016

Hello nurses, I'm not yet a nurse, I'm not even officially in nursing school. I'm just another Rn-hopeful. I have a couple of questions for a specific group of nurses. I'm talking about the nurses who didn't feel like nursing was their passion or calling. What made you start/stay in nursing? Did you learn to be be love your job? Or do you continue to do it because it's a job?
I sincerelely appreciate any answers that you guys can give. Thanks :)

Nursing as a calling is a huge fallacy that causes no shortage of undue angst among nurses or nursing students who have been made to feel as though they don't "belong" because they haven't experienced "the calling." My own unscientific observations have noted that students who don't have the calling do better in school and tend to be more competent nurses than those who do have a calling. My guess is that they work harder rather than depend upon the endless reserves of compassion and love for their fellow man that they are sure they possess.

Nurses who do not have a "calling" tend to be happier in their careers and less subject to burnout than those who DO have a calling. The nurse who went into the profession to hold the hand of frightened patients and soothe fevered brows very quickly finds out that it isn't a thing like she expected, and she doesn't have TIME to hold hands or soothe brows between the med pass, incontinece care, wound care and dealing with anxious, irritable and sometimes mean, nasty or psychotic families.

The nurse who goes into nursing for a relatively stable career that will be in demand in the future, flexible scheduling and solid, middle class pay and benefits finds exactly what she expects. That nurse tends to be more satisfied with her career and to enjoy more career longevity.

mellowdude · Aug 20, 2016

I love reading the responses of everyone.

I believe the passion is the desire to help people & to guide them in difficult times in their life. However, going on this alone will not make you

an RN.

One knows this field is right for them when they are willing to endure the challenges that come with this career like the following:

Enduring 16 hour shifts, rude & obnoxious patients, fellow co-workers who have a don't give a sh&t attitude who don't care to help, witnessing the horrors that humans do to other humans are just some examples.

If one can find the motivation to continue to do this career with kindness & compassion, despite all the BS, you know you are right for this career.

I am a Paramedic working on my pre-reqs. I worked in a busy 30 bed ED in Chicago as an EMT while getting my medic. If I could put up with that, I can certainly handle nursing. The hours had been long, some of the co-workers had been rude, I smelled like BO & was tired beyond belief & I miss those days. I can't wait to return.

I think it would be better if programs had students take a CNA or EMT Basic course before any other nursing pre-reqs. It will save many students time & money.

Libby1987 · Aug 20, 2016

[snip]
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.

I agree with this. It's my commitment that drives me, and also makes it as much my trade as a means to earn a living. What that commitment means for me has changed and grown over the years. It has matured and inspired me and I believe it is what will help me achieve self actualization, with nursing as the medium.

mellowdude · Aug 20, 2016

Someone mentioned they are sick of physicians giving the RN sh&t because they got woken up in the night.

If an MD ever gives you sh*t for calling them, tell them "This isn't about YOU it is about your patient."

Any male MD that whines about being woken up doesn't deserve to be called a man. They are a child. I feel bad for the wives of some of these physicians. It must be a real burden to be married to a man without testicular fortitude.

cocoa_puff · Aug 20, 2016

Honestly, I have never had a passion for nursing. I've been told it's a calling, or that it takes someone really special to be a nurse, but for myself, I don't think that applies. I'm not big on the "caring" aspect. I became a nurse because I like learning new things, I like the science/medical aspect, and I like problem solving/critical thinking. As a teenager, I wanted to become a physician or a chemist, but my family recommended nursing for the career stability and that it didn't require as much time/educational/financial investment as the other careers I was thinking of at age 14. While I do like taking care of patients for the most part (the best part for me is tucking in a little old lady/gentleman in bed with a warmed blanket and having them peacefully fall asleep) and I love educating patients/family members. What I don't like is rushing around, managing the care of 5-6 high acuity patients, dealing with demanding patients, rude entitled family members, deescalating risky situations, taking care of patients who only seem to be taking advantage of the system for 12+ hrs, and getting phone calls every five minutes from lab, monitor room, family members, physicians, radiology, the OR, the ED to get report on a new patient, and the other nurses and CNAs. I don't like being the one who gets called for everything and has to coordinate all the care. I feel like I'm pulled in every direction possible and I have no time to stop and think. So, no. Nursing is not a calling or a passion for me. I go to work, and do my best to take care of my patients, work hard, help my co-workers, try to learn something new and improve every shift. I'm planning to move on from floor nursing in a few years, whether it is PA or CRNA.

Erythropoiesis · Aug 20, 2016

Job security. Definitely the job security. I mean...I'm a nurturing personality and I think I'll do well, but, I never had a romantic view of nursing. I'm not a nurse yet and this could change when I start working as one but for now the only thing that excites me is the knowledge that I'll be financially secure. I love the medicine aspect of things and I love what I'm studying. It's all very interesting to me, but the nursing profession was a practical way for me to get out of a slump I'm currently in.

Newelette1 · Aug 20, 2016

It definitely us a passion for helping others, though many do it for strictly monetary gain. I personally think it's sinful to do just for money. The love of people, and helping get the sick recover is rewarding above what I can write or think.

Newelette1 · Aug 20, 2016

So sad. You don't know what you are missing.

Newelette1 · Aug 20, 2016

I disagree. Many dedicated b doctor's are awake for long hours. Somethings can wait until morning. Compassion is the keep that opens many doors.

benwade · Aug 21, 2016

I think it's important to recognize the power of cognitive dissonance. Working as a nurse will "force" you to either quit if possible, or grow to like nursing. Insanity is the only other choice, but thanks to cognitive dissonance that won't happen.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Aug 21, 2016

I was 17 years old when I started nursing school. It was a common profession in my family, I thought I could do a decent job, and it had worth besides just a paycheck. I'm 46 now, still nursing. You cant see the human condition so intimately in any other profession. We see the best and the worst people, and health care levels them all. As for passion...I can't summon passion for much at 5am, but it makes a difference if you can go in to a job that makes a difference for people. I couldn't feel the same satisfaction if I was say, a salesperson.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2016

Passion and calling are so subjective.

I was named by a nurse (named me after herself and my mother inserted her last name) who impacted a lot of lives in her long career as labor and delivery nurse.

I was amazed at the lives she impacted when I heard the testimonials at her funeral.

Given all that hoopla, I fell into nursing because that was one of the more easy traditional work roles for females in my day.

Looking back now I would have traveled another path.

I am good at what I do. I do MDS office work but it is the most crucial job that drives a facilities' care, interpretation of care provided to the public and the revenue.

I like what I do but being a nurse defines only one facet of me and it is not the most important one.