Nurses who don't have the "passion"

Nurses General Nursing

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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 :)

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Specializes in progressive care, cardiac step-down.

Like many PPs, I chose nursing for stability and a living wage. After graduating with a liberal arts degree in a crappy economy, I needed something that I could do quickly (2 year ASN), that would allow me to be financially independent. The first couple years were tough. I had 3 jobs in 2 hospitals. The third one stuck. It is challenging and stimulating in the right ways. I work my 3x12s, but I actually spend a fair amount of time on off days talking to nurse friends about work and reading up on new things that I encountered that week. I like to say that I am a student of the profession. I'm proud of being a nurse, but I wouldn't say it's my passion or calling. It is my career, and in many ways it defines me. I am more worldly and open-minded about various lifestyles and beliefs systems than I ever was, even with my fancy liberal arts education. I think critically and solve problems more effectively. Being a nurse has made me a better, stronger person.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

My family is my passion. Nursing is a job that pays the bills. I'm very good at it, but I'm not passionate about it, nor was I called to nursing

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 :)

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

To whom are you speaking?

So sad. You don't know what you are missing.
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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

"Sinful"? Oh puke.

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.
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I did an undergraduate degree which had little job prospects. I then was adamant i wouldn't go back to uni. However life had different plans for me. In one year Iwas made redundant in one job, then got a job that I hated (supposed to be customer service but was sales). Changed jobs to a better paying one, got made redundant AGAIN. Was so poor then did a Teller marketing job! No I did not get fired... I was that unlucky.

my roommate was studying nursing and I would proofread his assignments. So I thought why not! I enjoyed reading about the anatomy and physiology. I also had a very silly idea what nursing was, which is what other people told me.

nursing is not my passion or my 'calling' but I do sometimes get passionate about 'fixing' things that other nurses/ healthcare team have not recognised or been to busy to chase up. I still love anatomy and physiology and pathophysiolgy. I'm also stating to really brush up on pharmacology.

The best thing I love (I didn't have this at my previous nursing job ) is asking why things are happening, I love learning from the healthcare team: pharmacists. Doctors and other nurses (this is the same for these professions too: I have educated doctors and pharmacists on a few things as well!)

So I do get passionate but no it's not about the fact "I'm a nurse" it's about being a team and learning off eachother's knowledge, ultimately for the patient.

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Hi, don't worry I did not have a 'calling' I kind of fell into nursing out of necessity. I was a carer working in a care home for people with dementia I had been there for 6 years and I enjoyed it most of the time. Then I discovered I was pregnant my BF was happy but even at 22 I was less than enthusiastic at First, I had never planned to have children.

So fast forward 9 months I had this little person who I was to provide for and leading up to his birth me and my now husband found it was very expensive, and I knew on our wages combined it would be a real struggle. So I set about looking at what to do. University was very expensive and we could not afford that, but then I stumbled upon nursing, here in the UK they pay you to be a nurse, no tuition fees, the money is not great but it's better than spending thousands and being in debt.

So when my boy was one I went to college studied hard and took a weekend job and eventually got into university for metal health nursing.

I'm now 7 years qualified and I love it, it is the best career choice I ever made, and my family have a good standard of living, which was why I did it in the first place, so you may not have a 'calling' or always known you wanted to be a nurse. You will only find out if it's for you by being one. If once qualified you decide direct nursing is not for you there are many other things you can do without direct patient content. But I promise you once you know you have helped someone and the happiness you get from it, you will be hooked. Good luck from the UK xx

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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.

you're entitled to your judgmental opinion

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Nursing is not a passion or a calling... it's a job. Some were drawn to the field for altruistic reasons.. but corporate health care beat that out of them.

You will have your own reasons to start, stay, or stop.

Best wishes , whatever you decide.

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Nursing is not a passion or a calling... it's a job. Some were drawn to the field for altruistic reasons.. but corporate health care beat that out of them.

You will have your own reasons to start, stay, or stop.

Best wishes , whatever you decide.

I totally agree. It doesn't matter how or why you came to be a nurse. All that matters is that you do a good job. I suppose this is true for almost any job but I feel like the patients are vulnerable and relying on us to advocate for them so it is that much more important. Just keep their best interest in mind and the rest should (hopefully) fall I place.

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Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.
many do it for strictly monetary gain. I personally think it's sinful to do just for money.

My motivation makes it sinful, despite the fact that I do an outstanding job and am regularly praised by my patients for being attentive and energetic in my care?

The profit motive and doing a good job are not mutually exclusive and one needn't have a drop of passion for the job in order to be an excellent nurse.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.

SINFUL? Sinful?

While I am happy for you that you've found a rewarding position, I have to caution you that nursing is a career, not a calling. "Just for the money" is an appropriate reason as any other for going into the field, and I've found that folks who have researched the career and decided that the schedule flexibility, stablility, benefits and income meet their needs are folks who are more likely to have career longevity than folks who are in it because they think they have a calling.

Your post is inappropriate in this venue. You want to talk about sin, your place is the Nursing and Spirituality Forum.

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