Nurses Who Shouldn't be Nurses

crmdy423x · Jun 2, 2005

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.

What money, I feel we as nurses are grossly underpaid. I did choose nursing because I wanted to help people and I feel it's outrageous how little someone whom takes care of your loved one gets paid for it. We except entertainment as the top paying jobs. Crazy world we have.:angryfire

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 2, 2005

What money, I feel we as nurses are grossly underpaid. I did choose nursing because I wanted to help people and I feel it's outrageous how little someone whom takes care of your loved one gets paid for it. We except entertainment as the top paying jobs. Crazy world we have.:angryfire

succinctly and well-put.

If you want to do charity or mission work, there is plenty. But dont' get in a huff because your colleagues want fair pay and compensation for a very tough (and getting tougher every year) job to do! It IS a profession and not just a calling for some.

Love jnette's quote, too.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2005

I think the increase in patient complaints comes from 2 directions: nurse/patient ratios and unrealistic expectations of "customer service" on the part of some patients and their families.

Agreed. 30 years ago we had patients who came in to be "checked out". They were perfectly fine, but were just having a bunch of tests. It made it a nice job. Now, those patients are outpatients and only the sickest fills the beds. The public still clings to the old image of the nurse being the nurturing, mothering type. And, when we are sick we would all like to go back to being a little kid being taken care of by our mothers--at least, that's the perception of the public. That's a hard mold to break. Nursing has gone way beyond that. However, it's interesting that the nurses who find the time to introduce that element of nurturing into their interactions with their patients seem to be the loved role models of everyone. We would all like to have a June Cleaver for our nurse if we are hospitalized.

And, yes, when the doctors came onto the nursing units we gave up our chairs for them to sit down. They were kings, folks, because most of them owned a large piece of the hospital or they controlled the board of directors. They did have the power to fire someone on the spot. Times have changed.

Pleaides · Jun 2, 2005

So what if some of us became Nurses for money and job stability/mobility? I became an RN precisely for that reason. For 24 years I was a flight attendant until American Airlines destroyed that world, stapled me to the bottom of the seniority list and then furloughed me. Airline employees always have to be looking out for the next job. Anyway, after years of dealing with the traveling public, I found the transition into Nursing to be not difficult at all. I liked airline passengers (most of them) and I like my patients (most of them). Nursing work is much like flying, it's sometimes difficult and chaotic, usually very rewarding both emotionally and financially. I tell the truth when I say I chose Nursing for reasons other than the lame "I love people and love to help them" stock phrase. So there.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2005

. . .I was unable to do it so my instructor did it instead of patient suffering needlessly. My instructor who is a NP specializing in OB, stood right there in front of everybody and said to me "I don't want you to feel bad about this. This was a very difficult cath to do, and I've done quite a few more of these than you have." But later on I hear from students that weren't in the room that someone was saying the instructor said it was my fault, I didn't do a good job, etc. Meanies! Hurt my feelers. I told my instructor what I had heard (because we're all about team builing and support) and she said that there was NOBODY in that room that could have placed that cath. . .

Some people (your fellow students) are immature and unfeeling. Gossip is hurtful and has no place anywhere. It is a people problem requiring administrative and communication skills more so than nursing. That's one of the things that makes nursing so much different from what it was years and years ago. Nurses today are expected to be supervisors and managers in addition to performing nursing skills. To some extent the nursing skills are easier to content with.

Knoodsen · Jun 2, 2005

Why don't we demand a pay cut and show 'em what martyrs we are?

mommatrauma, RN · Jun 2, 2005

So what if some of us became Nurses for money and job stability/mobility? I became an RN precisely for that reason. For 24 years I was a flight attendant until American Airlines destroyed that world, stapled me to the bottom of the seniority list and then furloughed me. Airline employees always have to be looking out for the next job. Anyway, after years of dealing with the traveling public, I found the transition into Nursing to be not difficult at all. I liked airline passengers (most of them) and I like my patients (most of them). Nursing work is much like flying, it's sometimes difficult and chaotic, usually very rewarding both emotionally and financially. I tell the truth when I say I chose Nursing for reasons other than the lame "I love people and love to help them" stock phrase. So there.

That's not really fair to say that "I love people and I love to help them" is a lame stock phrase, just because it wasn't your reason for choosing this profession, doesn't make it any less of a reason for someone else...Everyone makes choices in their life for different reasons...If you did yours for money then that was your choice don't put down someone for doing it for different reasons...

Ming · Jun 2, 2005

This is a very interesting topic. I am an Australian nursing student. Over here, the pay for nurses is not very good at all. I love nursing, but I intend to do medicine when I finish my nursing degree BECAUSE the pay for nursing is so bad. I don't find many students motivated by money here because the pay is really not very good, and if that were your sole motivation another career would be chosen I am sure. Unfortunately, nursing courses are often among the easiest tertiary courses 'to get into' here, so it doesn't often tend to attract the most academically gifted students. I am often surprised by how little you really need to know to pass, and agree with someone else's sentiments that there are very few in my class I would let touch me! I think that hospital trained nurses probably were better prepared for their work, but for the sake of the future and respect of nursing as a profession, it is imperative that nursing stays a university, standardised, recognised degree.

I do believe a certain amount of empathy for others and caring ability is absolutely essential for the makings of a good nurse, but good personal characteristics do not in my mind, excuse poor clinical knowledge and competency. I see so many really lovely caring people at uni, who's clinical knowledge leaves a lot to be desired. I would rather be cared for by a less personable, clinically competent nurse, but I do recognise how important caring is to others, especially lay persons. As a student I tend to tire of having the holistic care model shoved down my throat, and feel that too much time is taken on psychosocial topics which could be better spent on patho etc. I am not saying we shouldn't study it, but just not so much. I must stress that I do not disregard the importance of caring qualities in a nurse, but it MUST be balanced by clinical competence.

alexillytom · Jun 2, 2005

That's not really fair to say that "I love people and I love to help them" is a lame stock phrase, just because it wasn't your reason for choosing this profession, doesn't make it any less of a reason for someone else...Everyone makes choices in their life for different reasons...If you did yours for money then that was your choice don't put down someone for doing it for different reasons...

mommatrauma - You're right. It seems though that this whole discussion has been about making nurses, or students like myself, defend their reasons for entering the field. If your motives have anything to do with financial gain, you are already assumed to be the worst nurse out there. That doesn't seem to be a fair generalization either. Just because one has a "calling" doesn't mean they have the work ethic to be a good nurse. On the other side, my entering the nursing profession to better provide for my family doesn't mean that I lack the capacity to care for my patients or a strong work ethic. It seems to me that this whole discussion about "money vs. calling" is just another way for one nurse to place themselves above another nurse. It's very sad. After I finish school, I pray I don't have to actually deal with these kinds of attitudes at work.

Unfortunately, I don't expect to be so lucky.

OntCaRPN · Jun 2, 2005

I know this thread has primarily been about 'love of' versus 'the pay of' but I've been thinking of something else. Here in Ontario we have a huge shortage of nurses. The average age is climbing to somewhere around 50 right now. The nurses are tired and over worked but are very well paid. Most just have to hang in until 55 for a fabulous pension. They're not bad nurses, just older and weary. Almost all of us are good the first few days of a ten day stretch:)

On a funnier note ... we too gave up our chairs for doctors in 1979. We had to allow RN's to go ahead of us in the cafeteria line. If we needed a lift we had to ask RN if we could help 'her' lift my patient!!

hidesert · Jun 2, 2005

Those that go into it for the money won't last when they see how hard the work is....and there's always hope that those that go into it for the money quickly learn that you can get a lot more out of nursing than an income

Elaine

I LOVED nursing school but if my heart weren't in it also, i would not have stayed. I think it is a nice idea that those who go in it for the money, may adapt and stay because of the non-financial rewards. Those may be the ones who'll be taking care of me one day :) :rolleyes:

salinajd · Jun 2, 2005

OK, I don't normally answer or write to this forum although I read it on a regular basis. I went into nursing(LPN) for the health insurance and then the money after my husband became disabled and I had to be the main provider. I had a small grooming shop and loved what I was doing but had to have health insurance. Ya'll mention that there are other careers out there where you can make more money, but please tell me what work(legal) I can get into, go to school for one year, have great benefits, ample leave time, good retirement and make in the mid thirtys in the state of Arkansas! I do work hard for my paycheck but I can't make that money anywhere else without several years of school. Now for the other side I'm a darn good nurse. My patients all seem to like me, I give them the best care I can. I've never worked beside an RN who wouldn't want me hired back as her team partner. I care deeply for all my patients, will throw a fit if they are not properly cared for and can't stand to see a patient kept waiting when they need pain meds or anything else for that matter. I've got my acls, went to classes to learn to read telemetry monitors, push Iv meds, and other classes. All I'm trying to say is I'm a good, caring, compassionate nurse who had no calling to do this. If I could get health insurance, good reitrement, plenty of paid time off, work the schedule I want, and this good of pay working with dogs that would be where my calling is. BUT, that does not make me a bad or uncaring nurse!