Nurses Who Shouldn't be Nurses

Stitchie · May 31, 2005

I agree. And it need not be all or nothing. I came in for money, sure. I also care about people. But I would be only kidding myself if I said the ONLY reason I entered nursing was to care for others. I wanted a reasonable expectation of employment until the day I decide to retire----a career projected to grow in the new millenium. Reasonable security. Those were my primary reasons.
But I also give my best when I am at work; there are no "VIPs" with me. All my patients are treated as if they were my family or friends.
No one could convince me people like us should not be nurses, just because our motivation was not a calling. But those coming in just for money will be sorely disappointed. There is no easy money to be made in nursing; every penny will be EARNED.

SmilingBluEyes: I could not have said it better myself. I don't feel 'called'; I feel that I should be paid a decent wage for an honest day's work.

And EARNED every penny is so, so true.

MD's don't go into medicine because they only because they love 'helping ppl'; why should it be different with RN's?

I heard an OB/GYN resident w/ a repoductive endocrinology fellowship say: 'The hours aren't bad, you won't get sued as often because you won't kill anybody, and I'll make a ****load of money'.

That's not exactly the milk of human kindness!

GrnHonu99, RN · May 31, 2005

I agree that a lot of people do it for both.
I understand what you're saying. Occasionally I come across a nurse with the personality of Atilla the Hun and wonder how on earth they could possibly think nursing is the right career for them.

ok this is a bit off topic so my apologies first...can i ask who exactly is Atilla the Hun? lol...I have heard this person referenced to many times already in nursing school and now here too lol....just wondering...:)

Anyway..my take on this subject...well...I am a student and I agree with those that say its not all or nothing...Ive always wanted to be a nurse and I definetly didn't get into nursing for the money although it's a plus. I agree that many do and that is sad. LIke a previous poster said there are easier ways to make a buck..I think that I chose nursing becuase, A.I love the nursing prof and I want to help people and B.it offered me great job security...no better combo than that:) I agree that if your heart is in it you will be a much better nurse all around. The money in nursing is good but if you hate your job and are miserable everyday there isnt enough money in the world to make it worth it....my mom always told me do something you like bc it will be a looooong life ahead of you if you are unhappy everyday!

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · May 31, 2005

I just graduated LPN school. I love nursing, I love everything about nursing, and the idea of having a challenging and rewarding career with many opportunities for interpersonal growth and professional development is really exciting to me. I look forward to going on for my RN. I love taking care of my patients, feeling as though I have made a difference and enhanced their quality of life (if only for that moment). However, I need to think realistically. I have three young children, and aside from the obvious meeting their needs financially to provide food, clothing, and shelter; I also have the issue of being able to afford childcare so I can work. It is not feasible to pay childcare for three children and work a minimum wage job or quite honestly a $10 an hour job. Additionally, as a strong believer in the stay at home mom/wage earner husband model I would not give up watching my children grow and develop 40+ hours a week for anything less than what I am making...and if that upsets people, so be it. I'm going into nursing because I love healthcare with all it's complexities, but also because I love who I am when I am in the nurse role. It just must be noted that if I weren't compensated decently for what I do, I wouldn't do it.

grinnurse, RN · Jun 1, 2005

I agree, too. We had nursing students in my class who were in it for the money. One wanted to be a nurse so that she cold get a good paying job and leave her husband. There are very few from my graduating class that I would let touch me. There are a few like me who went into nursing to help people, but sadly they see this shortage as a way into a steady income.

The class that I just graduated with is just the opposite. There were few in there that I wouldn't want taking care of me :) . When I first began thinking about nursing as a career, I got into the healthcare field to see if it was something that I would be able to put my heart into to help others but I also did it for security (post 911) b/c of the times that we live in and the other plain ol' idiots out here with us. It was also a decision partly based on the thoughts of a means to be able to support myself and children if I decided to leave my husband. I don't see a problem with people wanting to have job security in a well paying position.

We had a few in the class that were stictly in it for the money or as a way of advancement to what they really wanted to do such as flight nurses, etc. Some of them, and you could tell, it was all about the money-no empathy for their patients and I don't think they will be successful or fulfilled in a nursing career. I do believe that nursing is an "art" and you have either got the desire to help or you don't and the ones that don't are going to be the ones doing all the complaining and will have the problems with patient complaints.

I think there are many more factors than a person being in nursing for the money that is causing the problem with complaints. I would say that short staffing would be a huge area along with the rising cost of being able to deliver quality yet cost effective care. Strictly my opinion.

apaisRN, RN, CRNA · Jun 1, 2005

The average person on the street wouldn't do what I do for any amount of money. The intimacy with illness, death and the human body is way too much. I have a job with a great deal of required knowledge and daily life-and-death responsibility (ICU). It's also a job that not a lot of people want to do. By the laws of supply and demand I should be paid well, but, well . . .

I love what I do. It's fascinating and gives me a sense that I do something worthwhile every day. If I pecked away at a computer all day it would be much harder to feel that. AND - I'm a highly trained and credentialed professional and I deserve fair compensation. Should we cut the salaries for doctors, pharmacists and other higher-paid health care professionals because they should do it for pure love? Come on. This whole "nurses do it because they love it" is just a pile of you-know-what to get us to accept poor wages and intolerable working conditions.

lucianurse · Jun 1, 2005

Yes indeed!! Lots of nurses are motivated by the money, and this is in no way limited to the American continent. I think this is a world wide trend. I can speak for the caribbean Island of which I am from. Lots of students enter nursing school, not because they have any interest in or great love for nursing but because of the prospects of (1) obtaining employment in the USA,or England. (2) obtaining citizenship/work permit in these countries, (3) gaining access to material wealth quickly and (4) improvement in the quality of life.

The sad thing is that they are very open about it, and will not hesitate to say this at any forum. They whole attitude reeks of indifference and contempt towards clients. Their actions are not subtle in any way. Though If I may add, that clients complaints may be multifauceted, a lot of dissatisfaction stems from the attitude of these "money/status motivated nurses" who care for them.

SitcomNurse, BSN, MSN, EdD, RN · Jun 1, 2005

I got into nursing becuase it was paid for. I applied for scholarships and grants and was approved, there was a nursing shortage and the college I attended was offering scholarships too. I was told by all my instructors (6 for my nursing class) that I should choose another profession. I just didnt have what it takes.

14 years later I love what I do. I love my population of Geriatrics, and i give back to my country by nursing for the veterans.

Money? c'mon! I work for the state!! There is no money here!! It simply does not exist. If I were to advance my degree, work longer hours, and be a super b*tch, then I could advance like the uppers have(not all but some). Im not. That makes me happy too. :nurse:

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2005

We too have our "appliance nurses" those who are only working to buy this appliance or that appliance for the house/kids:p However not all those are bad nurses - some are the best - they just treat it as a profession not a calling - nothing wrong with that.

ttaraRN · Jun 1, 2005

i also agree! i've been fortunate enough to have begun my career in a hospital (at least a unit :) :) ) with wonderful nurses, who really love nursing. sure, everyone has their fair share of patient and/or doctor complaints, but when it comes down to it we all love what we do. when you have that patient that tells you, you're wonderful, or an angel, or just thanks you for a fresh pitcher of water, it makes it all worth the grumpy families and demanding doc's.

nursing is not money!!! it's all heart! anyone going into nursing for money will not be happy and they won't go to work with good intentions.

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.
so, what do you think.

bloviate · Jun 1, 2005

The statement was this: "We have too many people becoming nurses for the money."

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What money? I have a great friend who makes just as much as I do and all he does is inspect stuff for the Marine Corp as a private contractor. 9-5, weekends and holidays off. If there's money in this job I sure have missed out on it.

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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,."

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My guess is this older nurse was angry with one of the younger people (in age or experience) she worked with and she was generalizing as a way to give a negative perception of most younger workers as mercenary and callous.

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We were talking about the increased patient complaints, and an older nurse stated the above and thats the reason for increased patient complaints.

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Quite frankly, that's BS. I'd say it has to do with not getting catered to as being the most important thing, (despite multiple demands on our attention as health care providers) an administration that will support that attitude, poor staffing, rising costs for the consumer, cutbacks in services etc etc...

This "older nurse" blaming his/her peers for this complex problem would cause me great concern and make it difficult for me to trust and work with this person.

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So, what do you think.

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I think the older nurse needs to move on and let us money hungry folk enrichen ourselves at the expense of the patient.

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kailuaRN2B · Jun 1, 2005

I am a nursing student in an accelerated program. Let me just say for the record that I did NOT pick nursing...nursing picked me! It is a calling and a desire to want to be a part of something bigger - the care and healing of the patient. I am so proud to tell people that I am a soon-to-be nurse. I look up to nurses and was influenced by nurses. So for all the true nurses out there dont assume that all us nursing students are here for the money. There are still a few of us who love to help people and believe it is our calling. Cheesy? Maybe, but I would rather have a nurse by my side and in my corner who enjoys being a nurse - not just the paycheck!

Hell, if money was so important to me i could become an exotic dancer. Dont they make really good money? ha

SharonH, RN · Jun 1, 2005

..
Each of us can tell who the nurses are who are just there for a paycheck, and those who are there because they have compassion and are caring........Its the little things that separate the two.

NO, no, no, no Bob. You cannot tell who is just there for the paycheck and vice versa. I have met many people who claimed to have a calling into nursing and who were bitter and resentful not just of the job but towards the patients, and I have met others who want nothing out of the job but a paycheck but who were still able to do their job well even if they were not brimming with caring and compassion.

Personally, my primary objective is to get paid well enough to satisfy the needs of myself and my family and while I am working, I feel a moral obligation to do my job well and insure that my patients are receiving the care they need no matter what the setting.Those of us who do not feel this tremendous "calling" into nursing are still real nurses. I really wish that we could lose the angel of mercy labels, the job is so much more than that.