Nurses Who Don't Want to be Nurses

Published

What do you think of nurses who don't want to be nurses? Those who go to school for nursing just for the "nice checks" thinking that it's "easy money" or even those who are just going for nursing because they don't know what else to go for. Have you ever confronted anyone in that category?

Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
Why do you feel the need to be so interested in another co-worker's life? What you know about people you work with is only a snapshot of their true self. Focus on the type of nurse you aspire to be and leave it at that.

It's not that I'm interested in another coworker's life, it's that people feel the need to share everything with everyone nowadays.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think there are many nurses like "me" that think nursing sucks... excuse me, not the nursing but the management end of nursing. The bean counters make this job so miserable....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
I think there are many nurses like "me" that think nursing sucks... excuse me, not the nursing but the management end of nursing. The bean counters make this job so miserable....

This is a clear example of a comment made by someone without an understanding of everyone's role in healthcare. We need good nurses but we also need good managers and bean counters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in geriatrics.

Some people do share too much. However, you have very little experience with nursing OP, nor do you know what's REALLY going on with that co-worker, which was the point of my comment.

Try to have some understanding for each other at work instead of passing judgment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, Critical Care.

I'm probably one of these people.

I work full time fire/ems, I can't wait til I can retire. I honestly don't even want to fool with medicine anymore, this includes nursing. I just turned down a nursing job paying more and with free insurance.I just don't have the interest, even for more money.

Nursing is serious hard work. People get the idea it is easy money. I quickly advise them different.

I'm seriously considering taking up welding or some sort of mechanic work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I might be one of "those people". I came from 25 years as a Veterinary Technician. Loved what I did, got paid ok, but was at a dead end. I passed 40 years old and had an awakening. I knew that (for reasons of keeping it short) I could not go on to specialize/advance as a vet tech in order to make more money or expand my knowledge base. What would I do for the next 20 years?

So, my decision to become an RN was completely a business decision. I knew that I wanted to stay in medicine and that I was a caregiver. In light of that, I chose human nursing. I can stay in medicine, be a caregiver, have flexible choices in my career as I age, and am eligible for further education and advancement. So, while not a decision based in "passion", it was an educated decision based on caregiving and medicine-- knowing it would not be easy by any means.

Now that I am in my first RN position with 6-8 vent-dependent patients (because I thought it was excellent experience to get me into the ED eventually), I am not so sure this is where I want to be. This is a big, *******ed deal! However, I shall give it a fair shake for a few months and not complain, for this is what I have CHOSEN. I will care for my residents as best I can and, when I can't, I shall seek help. If I am overwhelmed and out of my league, I shall admit it and either get further training or leave the facility.

No doubt more to follow...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice.
This is a clear example of a comment made by someone without an understanding of everyone's role in healthcare. We need good nurses but we also need good managers and bean counters.

As a woman married to a "bean counter" I thank you for this. My husband is not employed in healthcare, but is a financial professional in another nonprofit sector. If you want your organization to remain financially healthy enough to pay you and stay solvent enough to employ you for the long term, you had better develop an appreciation for those bean counters. Their role is important.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
As a woman married to a "bean counter" I thank you for this. My husband is not employed in healthcare, but is a financial professional in another nonprofit sector. If you want your organization to remain financially healthy enough to pay you and stay solvent enough to employ you for the long term, you had better develop an appreciation for those bean counters. Their role is important.

Very well said!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I remind myself that it really doesn't matter why someone is doing a job as much as if the job is being done well.

Also, if you don't like what you are doing, go find something you do like. That RN goes a long way and has a broad range of places that want you! I don't care if you hate your job. But if I have to spend 12 hours around someone who just puts out mean negative vibes and gripes about everything, I wish you'd just leave.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELE, CVU, ICU.
Having to listen to some old fool say "Time for my pee pee" multiple times a day, every day would end up burning my cookies too.

It actually sounds like this LOL had bladder training at some point. Probably prevented incontinence. Encouraged activity also. I wish we had time to actually address self care deficits with patients and help them get better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
Having to listen to some old fool say "Time for my pee pee" multiple times a day, every day would end up burning my cookies too.

This was maybe 3 x in an eight hour shift, and there were 3-4 different people who could share the chore, so to speak. Plus, the lady was easy to put on the bedpan.

All it would take to set off the bitter nurse was to see the call light for that room go off; and it was a doubles room, so it could have been the room-mate.

Sometimes if you know something is going to happen like that, within your routine, you just do it without fretting or going ballistic. The nurse was OUTTA HAND!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in TELE, CVU, ICU.
I find it incredibly obnoxious when pre-nursing students try to act as gatekeepers of professions they are not even a part of and try to question seasoned nurses about their reason for being in the profession. It is annoying, and I'm still in my last semester of nursing school; can't imagine how irritated the long-timers must feel.

I feel bemused. After ten years of work and eight years of school (four of those years before I was even licensed) I am still nothing more than a proletarian cog in the wheel. This pre-nursing student must come from a very priveleged place if she is honestly dumbfounded at our reaction.

How nice it must be to not wake up everyday not feeling exhausted and terrified. How nice to believe those Johnson&Johnson commercials instead of feeling insulted by them. How nice to think you will be holding hands, staring compassionately into another's eyes, using your magical healing touch.

How nice to think you are above the drudgery and work, and to think you will only make the best choices in your life and career. How nice to think you will only be rewarded for those choices.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion