Nurses, how do you view your job?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2015

Your right, nursing is not just a job, it's a sucky job.

I've worked in the fast food industry, the grocery business, downscale retail (the 99 cent store, Target) and a paper products factory prior to becoming a nurse.

All of the aforementioned jobs 'sucked' due to the disrespect from the public, low pay, inflexible schedules, and lack of opportunities for advancement. Now that I'm a nurse, if a patient or family member is being verbally abusive, I have the power to end the transaction. In addition, my pay has more than quintupled from $7/hr in retail to $36.50/hr in nursing.

Believe me when I insist there are 'suckier' jobs than nursing.

DoeRN · Jul 5, 2015

I read the other thread and yeah no comment.

It's just a job for me. I'll be honest about what brought me to nursing. I wanted to become a doctor but due to finances and other "issues" I wasn't able to attend medical school and left school my senior year. Still think about attending even in my old age. I will finish another non-nursing degree next year God willing so we will see.

I was paying student loans and didn't have a degree. I checked out a local college and decided to major in IS or nursing. I picked nursing since I had the majority of my pre-reqs already because I was a science major before.

Unfortunately you will not be able to change the opinions of others OP. It may not be a just a job to you. It is just a job for me which I'm very good at and have plenty of recognition stating this from various patients, staff and awards. It's not my calling and I usually don't tell people outside of work that I'm a nurse. For one I don't want people asking me health questions when all I want is a donut!

Carlalily · Jul 5, 2015

Please don't listen to the naysayers. While there have been some times when my work situation was better or worse, and times when the overwork got to me, I have never regretted being a nurse. I am profoundly grateful that it is part of who I am, not just what I do or have done. It has enriched my life while at the same time allowing me a mostly secure job and decent income for 40+ years. Here are just a few of the reasons why I feel so lucky to be a nurse:
1. I know in my heart and soul that there are thousands of individuals and families out there who are better off because of something I did or said. I know that my knowledge and skills have saved about a half dozen or more lives, and prevented serious injuries or harm to many others. That is an amazing thing to realize, and provides me with a deep sense of satisfaction.
2. I have never been bored, and have never had two days that were the same. I have been able to grow, learn, gain new skills, encounter new opportunities as a result.
3. I have worked alongside some amazing, memorable men and women. Many (not all) nurses are kind, selfless, deeply caring, well-rounded persons; they are not greedy and out for themselves only. Many are a lot to fun and hold great parties! They understand my experiences, and have shared laughters and tears with me. They have my deep respect, and I am proud to have known them and worked alongside them.
4. When I have gotten a bit bored with an area, I could try something new without investing in a whole new education (That does not need that I didn't have to learn new things via reading, CEUs, inservices, etc.)
5. As compared to my siblings, cousins, etc. I have always had decent health insurance and knew I would have at least some funds for retirement. Unlike them, I've also gotten help paying for a bachelor's and master's degrees.
6. As long as you do things right and on time, it is largely up to you to decide how to organize your day--no one micromanages you.
7. At the same time, you get to be part of a team, and to feel good about being part of something bigger than yourself.
8. I use my nursing knowledge and skills to help keep my family and friends healthier, to reassure them and advise them when to get seen, and more. They (and we) can navigate the healthcare world more effectively because of what we know and can do.
9. By being present and witnessing fear, pain, sadness, joy, relief, anger, trust, compassion, gratitude, and deep caring, we know what those things mean. We are (for the most part) fuller, deeper, more aware, and more fully human than many in our society as a result. Because of our society's fear of death and denial of weakness, we have hidden those parts of life away. As a result, many in our society are strangers to real life events. We don't want to talk about a cancer diagnosis or think about what it means to live with MS. Nurses are the one person who will listen to stories and try to understand, and who helps others cope. We don't hide from or deny life.
10. I think nursing helps us develop great strengths and resilience. We have the ability to roll with the punches when life events occur. We have witnessed others get through similar things, know how to mobilize help, and have learned how to cope with stress, fatigue, and overwork.
11. We know that tough times usually don't last, but tough people almost always do. We are able to find and use our strength; when faced with a challenge, we do whatever it takes to get through it. How many persons outside of nursing have ever had a chance to find out what they are fully capable of, or know that they are made of resolve, steel, and self-discipline?
12. We know what matters, and see the competition for money and power all around us as inevitable, but in some ways, hollow. We are rich in life, and in fulfillment. I know that at the end of my life, I will know that a lived a life of consequence. I will be able to account for myself well, and will look back and remember all the good I did and all the lives I touched. That alone has made all the hard work worth it.
My point is this: Keeping the rewards and good in mind can help offset the super-busy days and the bad days. And if you truly hate nursing, you have some choices: you can choose to change your attitude, work with others to solve the problems, or leave.
I am not saying that the job is easy; it's not, and far too many nurses are massively over worked. I think the only solution is for us to organize, to lobby, and to push administration like hell to make things better. I am tired of hearing from nurses about over work for 40 years, yet then also finding out that few of those nurses have tried to solve the problem by documenting the issues, taking it to the leadership, etc. Likewise, almost none of them belong to the ANA, which tries to address this, and even fewer right to Congress to support the proposed bill on nurse-patient ratios.
What do you think would happen if a half dozen nurses on your unit kept track of their days, showed the impossibility of what they are being asked to do, and all signed a letter to the manager? If he or she doesn't respond, you go next to the administrator. No response? Go to the board meeting. If that doesn't work, thing about persons outside the agency that might be your allies.
We are not powerless; we just think we are.
God bless you and guide you along the way. Welcome to the fellowship of nursing.

awesome! nailed it!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 6, 2015

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.

Not all of us signed up for nursing because we are passionate about helping others. Some of us signed up because we're passionate about a steady paycheck. I don't think that makes anyone a worse nurse or less of a human being. In fact, I think "the calling" gets in the way and leads to faster burnout.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 6, 2015

P.S. I didn't read the other thread. Apparently I'm missing some backstory?
ETA: Just because it's not "just a job" for me does not mean I feel that others for whom it IS "just a job" can't be excellent, awesome nurses. Sometimes having the attitude of "just a job" makes one a better, more competent nurse, especially in places like the ED or ICU when objective skill is so very important.

You didn't miss the backstory. You've seen the same thing in a dozen threads just this year. Poster has a "calling" and anyone who doesn't have the calling couldn't possibly be as compassionate, empathetic or as wonderful as SHE is. Only part that's different is that the OP (on this thread, not the OP on the other) lied about having been a nurse more than six months and got caught and called out on it.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 6, 2015

When I'm punched in, I am the most giving compassionate, caring person that I can be. But you bet, once I hit the "are you sure" button on the timeclock webpage, I'm just Joe Blow, mom to 4 kids with supper to make and homework to check. Yes, it's just a job

DAMM! I was sure you were male! And I've even PM'd you about your user name!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 6, 2015

Why so hostile? Dranger just referenced a thread with similar content that may answer your question. It gets difficult to answer the same questions over and over, esp. when some of those question are posted with great frequency. Why not read the referenced thread first, then see if your question was answered?

I think you missed the part where the OP on THIS thread was called out about being new, lied about it and got caught in the lie. All that happened on THAT thread, and Dranger was the one that called out the OP.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 6, 2015

That's interesting. What happens if you're out grocery shopping and someone collapses? Or if you're out to eat and someone is choking? Will you be a nurse then, or is the badge still off?
Absolutely no snark intended- genuinely curious

No worries. There is always some "Nursing is a calling" type who will leap over the bystanders to swoop in to save the day. My badge can stay off.

Seriously -- someone in the pew in front of us fainted in church one summer day. DH and I were amazed at the number of folks who literally LEAPT over the pews to do the sternal rub on the old dear while shouting over the priest, "Annie, Annie are you OK?" Cell phones were whipped out, 911 was called and the 911 switchboard was actually jammed for the 12 minutes until EMS arrived!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 6, 2015

I'm just guessing that That Guy means when he goes home he doesn't ruminate for the rest of the day about his patients or lose sleep over them.
I think most of us would try to render assistance within our abilities and scope of practice.

I'm not getting involved unless there is NOBODY else there -- but there is usually someone with a "calling" to leap in and take charge.

NOADLS · Jul 6, 2015

Another shift, another $275-300.

nurseactivist · Jul 6, 2015

I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was three years old. It was a calling for me. I spent 40 years of my life being a nurse and trust me, "it's just a job." I had great nursing jobs and horrible nursing jobs. However, beyond the clinical skills of your job, there is an art to nursing. I see with our ever increasing technology, it is an art that I fear is disappearing. It is an art worth learning.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 6, 2015

I think you missed the part where the OP on THIS thread was called out about being new, lied about it and got caught in the lie. All that happened on THAT thread, and Dranger was the one that called out the OP.

Yes, I did miss that. Dang, I miss out on all the fun!