Nurses Who Don't Want to be Nurses

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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?

Personally, I was not "called" to nursing. That does not make me a bad nurse!!! I was a young adult female who could not support myself, I did well in sciences in high school and I liked working with people---hence nursing!! I treat every patient as I would want a family member treated and I give emotional support the best ways that I can. I pull through emergencies and do the advocating for my patients as needed. Yes, I also expect to be paid for my work and always get frustrated when I have to stay late to finish something because I know that will come up later in some evaluation format. Nursing can suck you dry, and I have known those nurses who entered the field with compassion come to the realization that it is hard work, there is nothing pretentious about nursing. I would rather have a nurse who was a good, realistic, efficient worker than a dreamer!!

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Some, like me. Consider nursing as a job. Do I respect my job? I sure do coz it pays bills. Do I have a career- absolutely! Do I have to suck it up till I get there- definitely. So sorry it ain't like that in ur utopia.

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Specializes in MICU.
I don't give a flying spaghetti monster why anyone else chooses nursing.

Damn!!!

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
It's not a big deal if someone chooses to be a nurse for the pay, but for that to be the ONLY reason, I honestly don't get it. I feel like if you don't have a true purpose to being a nurse, you're going to be burned out so fast because from what I've read, it's not an easy job. I've also seen posts about people hating their job and maybe people go into nursing with passion and are excited for the job and end up hating it, but it seems as if you're more likely to end up hating it if you didn't have a true drive to be a nurse in the first place. Also, those who go into nursing just because are taking up spots for those who actually, truly do want to go into the profession and most likely aren't giving patients as much care as another nurse. I'm not judging, but it's a lot to think about and I wanted to know others' opinions.

No, the concept of doing a compassion assessment or something like that to give spots in nursing programs would not result in better nurses or less nurses burning out. Both nursing and people have too many dynamic qualities to arrange things in neat squares like that. An overly touchy-feely type nurse could easily lose her ability to prioritize which you must do when you have 5 things that all must be done right now.

It sounds to me like you are defining nurse in a certain way in your mind and then saying that someone who is "only in it for the money" doesn't want to be a nurse. Well, they obviously do want to be a nurse.

It might not be for the reasons you expect, that's all. I personally am against all "cookie cutter" views of people and know some of the best nurses are those you might say at first glance would be a terrible nurse. I'm thinking specifically of a particular charge nurse who had a grey ponytail and growled at everyone. He also had one of the most indecipherable British accents I've ever heard. He was one of the best nurses ever. There really is enough going on in nursing school that nobody should be taking inventory of their cohort's motives. It just never results in anything good. Judge by behavior.

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I was vehemently against it, actually. My mom was one so if course I wanted nothing to do with it! ;)

I got a BS in another field right when the economy tanked. I did this and that, largely for free. I was doing what i loved but could see I was signing up for a life of always scraping by, feeling inadequate, and not having benefits despite a high likelihood of getting seriously hurt at some point. I was a horse trainer. I still love training, but I could see I'd never have the lifestyle I wanted, and that's not just financial- that's being able to take a day off, to leave work at work, to not have to be on the road every weekend after busting my butt all week to be ready for the weekend. Plus I stink at salesmanship.

So I racked my brain. I wanted something that would use my previous education and experience at least a little. I wanted something I could have a reasonable expectation of finding a decent job in. I wanted something that would allow me to work anywhere in the world and had a variety of possible duties. I considered something in the business sector but wanted to do something more meaningful, plus I wanted to totally avoid any sort of sales, whether of a product or my skills.

Nursing fits that pretty well. Are there other things that would be more fun to me? Sure. Horse or dog trainer. Artist. Animator. Social justice worker. Elementary school teacherPhotographer. Makeup artist. Be a hobby farmer and sell my fares at the Sunday market. Any one of those things would be fun and fulfilling and feel more like a calling, but they ultimately are also hobbies I could pursue while doing a career that checks off those other necessities, like a paycheck that lets me show my horse or get a sweet new lens once in a while.

I do think it's a problem if you loathe nursing. But it can still be a good fit for someone even if they never felt called to nursing.

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Lol, it seems like the percentage of people who became nurses after a failed attempt in another career is higher than that of most other professions. I know I number among those who already had another bachelor's degree!

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I think people need to be realistic. If a person is doing their job and patients don't have an issue with care then who cares why they became a nurse? People have to be able to care for themselves and their family. A nursing pay check does that. I certainly had no visions of being Flo Nightingale. I hated every minute of floor nursing and am now in graduate school. It doesn't mean I didn't do the job well.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

You're definitely right! I didn't think of it like that.

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
It certainly sounds like you are judging. Exactly what would you "confront" such a nurse about? How is it your business to know why someone chose to be a nurse? Do you ask your doctor the same question, your attorney, your grocer, your mailman/woman, your hairdresser, your garbage man?

I never said it was my business, but yes I do tend to ask what made people choose their profession. I'm not the career patrol officer who's trying to get answers from people and tell those who give me the wrong reasons that they don't deserve their job.

I asked a question because I was truly curious. I realize that nursing is a job just like anything else, but there are so many people I know who complain about their job as a nurse and say they want to quit and then I also hear about nurses who feel that way and do not take care of their patients as adequately as they should. A job is a job and if someone complains constantly about working at McDonald's or Walmart or JCPenney's etc. and their work is slacking, I would definitely confront them. I would ask them why they're there then. "Because I have to pay the bills." Well then grow up and quit complaining, why are you letting other people know you hate your job? Especially while making it obvious to customers. I've hated my jobs but still excelled.

Anyway, I can see why people are like "this" about my question. I guess it's comparable to those who post asking whether they should be a nurse or a doctor? :)

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Also, I'm not saying no call to nursing= bad nurse. I wasn't called to nursing either (albeit I'm not a nurse yet, either way I wasn't called!!!), but I feel as if I'd serve a purpose in the profession. I love helping people, I have goals.

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

The only reason it bothers me is because some of them get admitted to the program before others who really DO want to be nurses, and who would also be great ones. It irritates me to think someone is in the nursing program now who doesn't want to be there while I am busting my ass to get in.

I also think there are different levels of not wanting to be a nurse. Not growing up knowing it was what you wanted to do is different than thinking you are above wiping bum's. ;-)

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It's not a big deal if someone chooses to be a nurse for the pay, but for that to be the ONLY reason, I honestly don't get it. I feel like if you don't have a true purpose to being a nurse, you're going to be burned out so fast because from what I've read, it's not an easy job. I've also seen posts about people hating their job and maybe people go into nursing with passion and are excited for the job and end up hating it, but it seems as if you're more likely to end up hating it if you didn't have a true drive to be a nurse in the first place. Also, those who go into nursing just because are taking up spots for those who actually, truly do want to go into the profession and most likely aren't giving patients as much care as another nurse. I'm not judging, but it's a lot to think about and I wanted to know others' opinions.

Sooooooo you aren't a nurse? Nothing to see here people move along.

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