Nurses, how do you view your job?

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I recently had a discussion with someone who views nursing as "just a job". But I feel it's more than that. They are using the fact that I am a new nurse against me and saying that basically I will eventually say it's " just a job". I never want to have that mentality though. I know that you get caregiver strain here and there and its hard work. But never could I picture saving lives as "just a job". Thoughts?

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Specializes in ICU.

It's just a job. An interesting, fulfilling job, but still just a job. If I lost a part of me every time one of these little people died, or went home with a terrible family, or had bilateral grade 4 bleeds, or or or... I wouldn't be able to do this anymore. They are not my children. They are not my family. The people who make this job their life don't last long.

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Can you really not do that? I want other peoples opinions. It's sad that a lot of people I've seen up here like to argue with one another and try to prove points. I thought being apart of this was going to help me, but every post I see, there are people that like to try and do exactly what you are.

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Can you really not do that? I want other peoples opinions. It's sad that a lot of people I've seen up here like to argue with one another and try to prove points. I thought being apart of this was going to help me, but every post I see, there are people that like to try and do exactly what you are.

You want to hear what you want to hear.

It's background info directly relating to your question is it not?

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You want to hear what you want to hear.

It's background info directly relating to your question is it not?

Lol I have a feeling that that's not why you posted that. Thank you though :)

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Specializes in Med/surg, Onc.

Well I read the other thread too.

I've hit my one year on an oncology/med/surg floor last month.

Nursing was never just a job option for me. It's more than that. I came to nursing after other things, after years of marriage and a child etc. Nursing is part of my identity. I can't just turn it off and say "it's just a job".

That said I work hard at leaving work at work and learning how to decompress so I don't worry about it 24/7.

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Well I read the other thread too.

I've hit my one year on an oncology/med/surg floor last month.

Nursing was never just a job option for me. It's more than that. I came to nursing after other things, after years of marriage and a child etc. Nursing is part of my identity. I can't just turn it off and say "it's just a job".

That said I work hard at leaving work at work and learning how to decompress so I don't worry about it 24/7.

And that's what I was trying to say. You just said it better. I'm not talking about taking the work home with me. But I am talking about not wanting to end up saying its just a job.

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Well I'm not a nurse yet, but it'll probably be just a job. Nursing school for me is a means to an end, I plan to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. So while I'm a nurse, it'll likely be just a job, one that I enjoy, and will work hard at, but just a job. However, once I become a midwife, that will be my calling.

I think nursing can be just a job and still be able to give compassionate and adequate care. There are nurses who got into it for the pay and flexibility and long term potential, it doesn't necessarily mean that that when they are working, they are unable to be present and give 100% of themselves. It's not a calling for everyone.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I think the "just a job" comment was misinterpreted. I think that in response to your question of how to leave work at work, remembering that it's "just your job" is an important tactic in being able to function in your regular life. Yes, we all signed up for nursing because we are passionate about helping others. We are empathetic, compassionate, caring, etc. Yes to all of it. That being said, we still need to be able to go home to our families/friends/self and be able to take care of them and ourselves. Remembering that it's your job, and not your entire life helps with that.

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My country home health gig is not just a job to me, it's my work, my trade. However there are boundaries that I set to make it feasible to say transfer a lovely scared patient to hospice. I look it as while they passed through my hands I gave them my best work and then it was time for someone else to provide their skilled service while I moved on to the next patient who then got my undivided professional attention.

Another way to look at it is that I can't give my best work to my current patients if my head is still with discharged patients. It doesn't mean I don't have memories, but that patient was a new patient at one point who took an even prior patient's slot in my case load. When they're mine they get the best I can give and then I let them go.

I would advise you to give consideration to all opinions, even the ones that seem contradictory.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
I recently had a discussion with someone who views nursing as "just a job". But I feel it's more than that. They are using the fact that I am a new nurse against me and saying that basically I will eventually say it's " just a job". I never want to have that mentality though. I know that you get caregiver strain here and there and its hard work. But never could I picture saving lives as "just a job". Thoughts?

It's definitely a job. But "Just a job"?

Nope, it's a career, my livelihood, my choice - and my responsibility to develop it.

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