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?

Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
Wake up call! We now have almost 50% of college grads that are underemployed today because there are simply not enough true college jobs out there. Whether they were able to use their degree is besides the point. Some were fortunate and able to but decided they wanted a change or were laid off or outsourced. So many jobs are being outsourced today. Even radiologists are being outsourced to India! Computer programming jobs being outsourced to India and bringing in people on visas! Even secretaries and accountants are losing jobs thanks to computer software and robot voicemail. The only jobs that have some chance of security are those that require hands on care that can't be outsourced!

Aside from people with other degrees, states are also pushing unemployed workers and single mothers into retraining programs for nursing. Nursing is one of the few professional jobs that has a projected increase in job openings. Many jobs are contracting and disappearing from the economy altogether.

Thank you so much for the clarification and I'm so glad you see it how I see it. I hope everyone sees this! Maybe I should have been more specific when I made this post? I seriously couldn't have said it better. And if people still don't understand or view this as something negative, then...

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
From what I've observed over the past four decades, it's those who feel they have a "calling" for nursing who burn out the fastest when the job doesn't turn out to be what they thought it would be. Those of us who went into it because we found anatomy and physiology fascinating, because we wanted an indoor job with a steady paycheck and good benefits or because our first choice profession was for some reason not open to us seem to have more staying power.

You have no idea why someone else "really" went into nursing, and no basis for judging that those without a "calling" or a "true drive" or whatever they're calling it this week aren't giving patients as much care as another nurse. I suspect the entire crux of your argument is the "taking up spots for those who actually, truly do want to go into the profession." I don't know whether you got into your program or not, but we often see posts here from those with a "calling" who are upset because someone who "is just going into nursing for the money" got accepted into nursing school before they did.

Those who went into nursing because they're fascinated and have a genuine interest in physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, biology etc etc, there's no problem with those type of people. As clarified in a previous poster's comment, I'm talking about the nurses who show up to work everyday with a negative attitude and who have jumped into nursing blindly. Sure, there are those who pursued nursing because they felt they had a "calling" and they might not have known what they were getting into. Whatever, I guess my question/point to begin with was, how do other nurses feel when they see fellow nurses who complain constantly and come to work with a negative attitude? Those nurses who can't stand coming to work and show it. I'm not saying that nursing is this angelic profession that only those who have a "calling" should pursue. I know people can't just drop their job and get another degree but come on. I didn't know it would turn into this huge debate where everyone argues about not having a "calling." Oh, and I haven't begun applying for programs yet :)

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.

Oh, and let me add this even though it's not the most relevant: I have a friend who's going to school for nursing but it's not her calling!!! Her dream is to be a baker and I don't have a problem with it. She loves helping people and is very genuine and I support her. I don't have an issue with nurses not being nurses due to a calling.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
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. :)

It's not your place to "confront" them. Who do you think you are! You're not even a nurse yet and you have no idea what nursing is like and yet you feel entitled to judge other nurses. So they complain. Not only is it human nature, but if you actually were a nurse and worked as a nurse you would see there are many reasons to complain! Well I guess you're time will come if you are smart enough to get into a nursing program, finish school and pass boards.

I think you would be surprised at how many nurses are dissatisfied with their job, but many are just better at hiding it. One nurse couldn't afford to retire, but was so stressed out and unhappy she would literally cry at work. We all wished she would retire or at least cut her hours because it was difficult to be around her. I worked with another nurse that would break down and cry at work who had been laid off from her cushy clinic job and could only find agency hospital work.

Even if you think you will make a great nurse and love nursing you really don't know till you do it. Even if you're working hands on as a PCA, nurses do much more than you realize and our responsible for everyone elses job including the PCA but no one else can do the nursing tasks.

If I were working with a negative or bitter nurse I would try to be kind not judge. Help them if you can, distract them or try to get them to laugh and build them up. Be compassionate to your struggling coworker, not judgemental!

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Specializes in hospice.
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.

Just wait. Your turn is coming.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I would hope that everyone has the opportunity to go into a field that they think they might enjoy on some level. My husband went into computer programming for a steady paycheck only, and he hates it. Spending your entire career doing something you hate isn't the wisest choice for one's own sanity!

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Specializes in ICU Stepdown.
It's not your place to "confront" them. Who do you think you are! You're not even a nurse yet and you have no idea what nursing is like and yet you feel entitled to judge other nurses. So they complain. Not only is it human nature, but if you actually were a nurse and worked as a nurse you would see there are many reasons to complain! Well I guess you're time will come if you are smart enough to get into a nursing program, finish school and pass boards.

There are many situations I've been in where I felt the need to complain, but I never complain out loud while I'm in those situations. There's a huge difference. Not only is it unprofessional but how do you think a patient would feel if they overheard you? Or how would your boss take your complaint?

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

When you think about it, despite why someone goes into it, the ones who can actually do it must like it to some degree. :-)

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Specializes in Transitional Nursing.
I would hope that everyone has the opportunity to go into a field that they think they might enjoy on some level. My husband went into computer programming for a steady paycheck only, and he hates it. Spending your entire career doing something you hate isn't the wisest choice for one's own sanity!

You're just going to have to wait until you get in the field.

I've never met a nurse who complained to her patients, and thats what really matters. Everyone has the right (need, even) to ***** from time to time.

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Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.

OP never said she 'confronted' anybody. It's not like the old Hollywood saw where some cop or john asks a prostitute how she happened to decide to become a whore. The only confronting I see here is jumping down OP's virtual throat feet first for asking others how they feel about a nurse who hates nursing. A lot of it seems to have to do with whatever the reader read into the original post.

It got a lot of people's dander up awfully quickly.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

People, she doesn't mean confront like question! She meant it like encounter.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I raise my hands high as a person who hates nursing. This field was my dad's idea for his only daughter back during the days when I was too naive to know that I could have said no. But then what would have been my backup plan? I had no job, didn't know a thing about student loans (only to avoid them at all costs), and LPN school was the only thing he would pay for since it was guaranteed income. Because I'm too old (with the expenses that go along with my years) to start at entry-level salary in what (?...I don't know how to do anything else), I got the BSN (went deeper into the field) to ensure that I can continue to enjoy the one thing that I like about nursing until I can leave once and for all.....:uhoh3::uhoh3::uhoh3:

But, I must admit that the community health course that I took has got me wanting to get out there and interact with people on a pre-hospital stage. I think I can find satisfaction in that...dealing with one patient/person at a time during normal hours.:yes: Heck, I will choose satisfaction and sanity over money any day of week!

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