We had this huge discussion at work today, and i thought i'd get your opinions.
The statement was this: "We have to many people becoming nurses for the money. Its not like it used to be, where a nurse chose to be a nurse because they liked helping people. Its all about the money,."
We were talking about the increased patient complaints, and an older nurse stated the above and thats the reason for increased patient complaints.
Why does it have to be all or nothing? How come people can't go into nursing for the pay and because they care about people? I care about people but I have a family to feed too. There is no way I would go into nursing if I weren't going to make enough money to adequately take care of my primary concerns, my children. As I've stated before, the most caring, compassionate, efficient, and knowledgeable nurse I've ever met went into it nursing to better care for her family. She just so happened to have the biggest heart and gave my nephew, and family, the best care possible when he passed away. She was so phenomenal that I was inspired to go ahead and enroll in school and fulfill my dream.
I am getting my degree so I can hopefully provide the same kind of care for my patients that we were given. More importantly though, I want to provide my children with a better standard of living and college funds.
I completely agree with the above statement. It shows you care about others and your family. I never thought about being a nurse I only thought that was for the 'smart' people. However the day I deceided to become a nurse was the day I was working as an HCA and a nurse refused to come to a patients aid because 'it wasn't her patient' that night I went home tearful and deceided to train as I nurse because I may not always be the brighted light but as least I care!! I am very glad I did. Also not all care has gone out the window three of the best mentors during my training I have ever had are very technical able and still care after many years!! :)
You know, I am going to say something here that no one else has said, I don't think...
I really enjoy nursing because I feel it's the type of job for me. I like being busy at work (I couldn't stand to sit at a desk all day!) and I like being active, and working with my hands and my brain. Also, it is exciting sometimes, and every shift is different. It is unpredictable, I never truly know what is going to happen from one minute to the next. Very cool.
While I wouldn't say I went in it for the money either, I sure wouldn't do it if for minimum wage. My family comes first, and us having a roof over our heads and food on the table is a must. If I am less of a nurse for feeling like that's a priority, that's ridiculous!!
Oh, and I consider one of the fringe benefits of my job the nice, 'caring' moments I can have with my patients sometimes. Very nice, but not the primary reason I went into nursing.
Good answer. Maybe I started out thinking I could make this big difference, but that faded within the first few years and the reasons you mention is what has kept me in the field long term. Not that there aren't some great tender moments, but the diversity and ability to escape boredom OTJ on an ongoing basis is what keeps me coming back day to day.
Well I polled 17 nurses and wrote down there first response. I asked them, "Why did you choose nursing?"
7 replied - "For the Money"
3 replied - "For the Job Security"
3 replied - "Mother, Sister, family member is a nurse"
2 replied - "Just Because"
1 replied - "I want to become a midwife"
1 replied - "It was the only open job in the army at the time (healthcare)"
WHen i told them i was doing a poll, many of them wanted to change their answer at that time to "i enjoy healing people, or i enjoy making a difference".
Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
I think you should have had them list their top 3 reasons. I'd be willing to bet that even the nurses who answered 'for the money' would have listed something like 'interested in science' or 'caring for people' as the second reason.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Well I polled 17 nurses and wrote down there first response. I asked them, "Why did you choose nursing?"
7 replied - "For the Money"
3 replied - "For the Job Security"
3 replied - "Mother, Sister, family member is a nurse"
2 replied - "Just Because"
1 replied - "I want to become a midwife"
1 replied - "It was the only open job in the army at the time (healthcare)"
WHen i told them i was doing a poll, many of them wanted to change their answer at that time to "i enjoy healing people, or i enjoy making a difference".
Sounds pretty typical to me. Why is it, nursing should be so very different than medicine or law? why CAN'T people become nurses for reasons other than "caring or healing"? I can't explain why anyone would want to change her answer. That is odd to me. Mine have been clear from the day I decided to pursue my schooling until now, 8 years' into my career. And, who did you poll,coworkers? Friends? Strangers? The internet? Just curious.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I think you should have had them list their top 3 reasons. I'd be willing to bet that even the nurses who answered 'for the money' would have listed something like 'interested in science' or 'caring for people' as the second reason.
I agree. The poll was flawed to begin with, but hey, I am beinga nitpicker, I know. It does not prove much or change my opinions, anyhow.
I agree. The poll was flawed to begin with, but hey, I am beinga nitpicker, I know. It does not prove much or change my opinions, anyhow.
It wasnt a official poll or anything........I just read everyones replies to this post, and cordially went up to 17 nurses and said hey __________, why did you go into nursing.......They replied.........I told them why, which most of them changed their answers.........
I didnt want to say hey, Im doing a poll.....Because most people will answer it the way you want to hear it...........i wanted to hear there first instinctive reply to the question...
But i do agree........People enter the healthcare for many reasons........Ive seen nurses with absolutely no compassion at all, but they are the best "clinicians" ive seen, as far as procedural nurses go (starting IV's, dropping tubes and so forth).
Sounds pretty typical to me. Why is it, nursing should be so very different than medicine or law? why CAN'T people become nurses for reasons other than "caring or healing"? I can't explain why anyone would want to change her answer. That is odd to me. Mine have been clear from the day I decided to pursue my schooling until now, 8 years' into my career. And, who did you poll,coworkers? Friends? Strangers? The internet? Just curious.
I polled 17 nurses.....some were coworkers, some where in other departments.
I can almost guarentee you that if it took 6-8 years to get your RN, we wouldnt have as many RN's........We probably wouldnt ever have this discussion.....To go to school for that long.......You have to have good reasons to stick it out...naturally some people go to law school, hate it and leave.......We have a CRTT (respiratory tech, vo-tech diploma) who has her bar card as an attorney.....She didnt like it, filed bankruptcy to cover her student loans and so forth and is now a CRTT.
So you ask why is nursing so different then law or med degrees.....Look at the requirements and length of schooling.......
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Wait a minute....so if a doctor spends 8 years in school, that makes him/her the "right person" for medicine?????? Ummm, I don't think so.
The number of years studying are not the deciding factor as to whether people who, in your opinion, " should not be nurses" join our ranks. Nursing school is not "cake" and many people who perhaps should "not be" are weeded out very quickly in school. Others do make it, but burn out in the first few years of work. Some remain that perhaps "should not be nurses" but you can rest assured, they are in a minority.
Back to your argument and why it does not work: Are there not doctors "who should not be doctors"? (I have met quite a few who are downright dangerous, unethical and scary; are you saying you have not?). Are there not shoddy, shiester lawyers? (we sure hear enough about them). Should their professions be judged by the bad apples? I think not......
I am sorry , but, your length of training/schooling argument holds no water. And your reasons for people "not to be nurses" are not applicable to many of the rest of us. Those reasons you stated people first gave are as legitimate as any other, to me. And I am a very good nurse. :)
I agree with mattsmom, we need to stop trying to be "nursier than thou" if we expect ever to elevate and advance our profession as it deserves to be. Stop questioning people's reasons for entering practice and appreciate the diversity of your colleagues. Respect we all differ and enjoy the really competent, compassionate and caring ones you encounter. Quit looking for reasons to divide us. We have plenty as it is.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It wasnt a official poll or anything........I just read everyones replies to this post, and cordially went up to 17 nurses and said hey __________, why did you go into nursing.......They replied.........I told them why, which most of them changed their answers.........
I didnt want to say hey, Im doing a poll.....Because most people will answer it the way you want to hear it...........i wanted to hear there first instinctive reply to the question...
But i do agree........People enter the healthcare for many reasons........Ive seen nurses with absolutely no compassion at all, but they are the best "clinicians" ive seen, as far as procedural nurses go (starting IV's, dropping tubes and so forth).
Excuse me, but, did you poll doctors to ensure they "had the right reasons" for entering medicine? If not, why not? Should they not be altruistic and just wish to help people? (money a far distant second consideration, of course). Did any of them enter medicine other than just to care for the sick/injured among us? IF you did not poll them and judge them similiarly, why not? Why hold them to different standards than you seem to apply to nurses? See where I am going here?
You know, I am going to say something here that no one else has said, I don't think...
I really enjoy nursing because I feel it's the type of job for me. I like being busy at work (I couldn't stand to sit at a desk all day!) and I like being active, and working with my hands and my brain. Also, it is exciting sometimes, and every shift is different. It is unpredictable, I never truly know what is going to happen from one minute to the next. Very cool.
While I wouldn't say I went in it for the money either, I sure wouldn't do it if for minimum wage. My family comes first, and us having a roof over our heads and food on the table is a must. If I am less of a nurse for feeling like that's a priority, that's ridiculous!!
Oh, and I consider one of the fringe benefits of my job the nice, 'caring' moments I can have with my patients sometimes. Very nice, but not the primary reason I went into nursing.
I like your honesty and feel that you are probably a very good nurse. you sound very caring. You know what they say charity starts at home
One of the reasons that I did pursue the RN degree and decided to go beyond that is because of job security and family-flexible hours.
My DH and I are at that point where if I worked full time, combined with his income ( he is nicely compensated for the work he does; he is in electronic engineering/sales/new product development and design).
If I worked full time, my paycheck would be eaten up by taxes and child care. We'd be paying more than 40% in taxes. Why?
We're planning to move soon; my DH will work (soon, hopefully, keep your fingers crossed) from home, and I'll be able to go back to school full-time, work part time time, and still have time to care for my girls.
One of the biggest, best draws for nursing is the undeniable amount of flexibility it contains. It's nice to be able to call your own hours/shifts -- gives you lots of control, which in turns, contributes to your satisfaction on the job.
Nursing is not a calling for me. That doesn't mean that I don't care about my patients. I feel that I give exceptional care. That does not make me a lesser nurse or human being because I don't feel some sort of 'spiritual guidance'. If anything, while giving care, performing assessments or dealing with end-of-life issues, I am able to remain objective, focused and professional towards my patients. I do, however, react with respect for the patient: curtains closed, tell the docs changes in condition, abnormal behavior/labs/family issues.
For this widespread expertise and knowlegde, I feel that I deserve a decent wage for my time spent devoted solely to my patients. I want to be paid and I am no martyr when it comes to fair, safe working conditions for patients and fellow staff.
I don't waste my time talking to my fellow co-workers unnecessarily (ie, no gossiping for me) but I do try to maintain a pleasant demeanor on the job. I just keep my work and personal life seperate. If that makes me a bad nurse, so be it.
I feel that part of me is on the job 24/7; education, prevention (which our healthcare system does a dreadfully bad job at) and support for decisions already made. It is part of who I am. I don't mind people picking my brains; I give 100% when I'm on the job, but when I clock out, I leave, I'm done and my family gets my full attention.
expatnurse
125 Posts
I completely agree with the above statement. It shows you care about others and your family. I never thought about being a nurse I only thought that was for the 'smart' people. However the day I deceided to become a nurse was the day I was working as an HCA and a nurse refused to come to a patients aid because 'it wasn't her patient' that night I went home tearful and deceided to train as I nurse because I may not always be the brighted light but as least I care!! I am very glad I did. Also not all care has gone out the window three of the best mentors during my training I have ever had are very technical able and still care after many years!! :)