Nurses Who Don't Want to be Nurses

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 5, 2014

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.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

I am going to admit up front that I read only the first two pages of responses, but I get the gist.

So at this point I'm going to answer a question with a question: The OP asked what I think about nurses who chose nursing because of the paycheck. Ok. My response is the question "what do you think about teachers, accountants, cashiers, dieticians, psychologists, physicians, and pet groomers who chose their careers/professions/jobs based on the expectation of 'a nice check'"?

I'd say it's none of my business, nor concern, WHY someone chose to be where they are. I'd say it is EVERY BIT my concern if they are not doing right by me in the course of doing their job. But as long as my kid is learning, my taxes are paid correctly, my change is right, my dad's diabetic diet is straightened out because of his medical visit, my brother's head is screwed on a little tighter because of his therapy, and my dog has no more snarls in his fur......I couldn't care less what "brought" these people to do what they do!

mindofmidwifery, ADN · Oct 5, 2014

Are there other professions into which you feel that practitioners should not go into for the paycheck, or because they're not 100% certain about their career choice?
In my experience nurses, and to a lesser extent teachers, are the only professions where outsiders presume a martyr-ish "calling" must exist.

Sure, I don't think anyone should go into a profession just for the paycheck.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

Sure, I don't think anyone should go into a profession just for the paycheck.

I agree only to the extent that I would hope they would go into it because they thought they might like it. Otherwise, it will become drudgery right quick.

However, given the context of the question posed to you, I have a tendency to think that you are being slightly disingenuous.

liberated847 · Oct 5, 2014

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?

Confronted anyone? Wow if you think this is a legitimate question then someone should counsel you LOL. I don't care why anyone goes to nursing school, why should anyone else?

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

Sure, I don't think anyone should go into a profession just for the paycheck.

And you're certainly entitled to your opinion. But it's really not politically correct to second guess others' motives for doing pretty much anything.

Aside from political correctness, it won't earn you many friends in the real world.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

Sure, I don't think anyone should go into a profession just for the paycheck.

I've probably been unduly harsh to you since I see you are very young and have limited work experience. But work is just that work and it is important to think about money when choosing a job! Without money one can't live a good life, instead there will be constant stress over not being able to afford the necessities like a good home/apt in a safe neighborhood, health insurance, child care, car payments etc, etc. There is nothing wrong with going into a job or profession for a paycheck! In fact it is essential and common sense to look for a good paying job to support yourself and your family! If money is no object, then you are either rich or it is just a hobby. Nursing is not a hobby! It is hard, stressful work that can be rewarding at times and yes you can make a difference, but it is not easy and definitely not a hobby! It is nothing to be ashamed of to choose nursing for the money as it is certainly honorable and necessary work that one can be proud of! Those who choose it for the money probably come from poor families that work low wage jobs and to them nursing seems like a way to get rich. To the nursing assistants that want to advance and become a nurse that is a smart and wise choice to look for a way how they can get paid decently, as we all know nursing assistants are among the most hardworking and underpaid workers in the country!

Since you are interesting in becoming a nurse you should ask all your nurse coworkers about nursing as an informal informational interview to learn. But do this in a nonjudgmental way you may find many different answers as to why each chose nursing, what they like and dislike about it. But you must lose the judgmental tone that you currently have wanting to get rid of nurses because you don't like them and they don't meet your high expectations to what you presume nurses to be. You have no idea what they are going thru either in their personal life or their work experiences over the years. If you did maybe you would feel more compassion and try to help them.

A good nursing assistant can make all the difference for a stressed, harried nurse. I'm fortunate to have good CNA's, but one is especially wonderful because she is hardworking, goes above and beyond, and has a wonderfully friendly positive attitude with everyone she meets. She is a real gem and one of the best coworkers I've ever had the pleasure to work with! I find her an inspiration and she makes everyone feel better, both the patients and the staff!

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

Sure, I don't think anyone should go into a profession just for the paycheck.

Well, honestly, the money is the only reason why any of us work, is it not? If I didn't need money, I wouldn't work. Work is not a hobby, it's work. And at the most basic level, the only reason why we work is to make money.

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 5, 2014

Well, honestly, the money is the only reason why any of us work, is it not? If I didn't need money, I wouldn't work. Work is not a hobby, it's work. And at the most basic level, the only reason why we work is to make money.

Completely agree. I work to live, not live to work. I value my time away from work, and if I could afford to drop to part time or quit altogether, I would.

OP, it is truly none of your business why people choose to go into nursing. Those who feel called and those who are looking for a paycheck can be capable nurses. Those who feel called and those who are looking for a paycheck can also be the scariest people to work with. Why someone went into nursing may or may not be reflected in how they practice as a nurse. How quickly someone burns out may or may not be associated with why they went into nursing. I went into nursing because it seemed like a decent paying job with stability (I'll leave the discussion as to whether that is the case or not for another thread- it was when I graduated) and a little bit to do with my like of sciences, especially anatomy. It was mildly influenced by my experience with the nursing staff at the hospital where my brother was treated following a car accident. However, I don't really like people (and less so as the years go by)- that's why I work in a specialty where patient interaction is a minimum as they are under anesthesia. Does that make me less of a nurse? No. I still get patient thank you notes, told by my coworkers that I do a good job, and good performance reviews. But best of all, I get a paycheck that puts a roof over my head, food on the table, and keeps the collection agencies out of the picture. Some of my friends and family don't have that because they chose a degree they wanted, without looking at the job environment before choosing a major. Now, they are working in fields that don't even utilize what they've gone to school for and barely make ends meet.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

Like many others, I chose nursing for various reasons. I do enjoy helping people, I have a genuine interest in anatomy, and where I live, nursing pays well.

However, make no mistake: money is not everything, but if I wasn't paid well, I probably wouldn't be a nurse right now. Given everything we encounter on a daily basis, I expect to be paid well. There's nothing wrong with that. Compassion alone is not going to pay the bills.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2014

Well, honestly, the money is the only reason why any of us work, is it not? If I didn't need money, I wouldn't work. Work is not a hobby, it's work. And at the most basic level, the only reason why we work is to make money.

You read my mind and took the words out of my mouth, work is work, not a hobby!

TU RN, DNP, CRNA · Oct 5, 2014

Years later, the OP was found to be posting "New grad hates nursing!" in General Nursing Discussion.