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.
To be honest, I hate people. Humanity is pretty revolting. I will still be a great nurse. I am intelligent, and one of the top students in my class. Nursing school has been as easy as a stroll through the park. You people who whine about what a hard job nursing is obviously have a very narrow field of experience in other work industries. My only worry about nursing is working with a bunch of whiners and self-proclaimed saints like some of the posters on this forum.
:) Yes, a lot of people do go into nursing because of the money, but let's just hope that these people also have a caring and compassionate spirit about them. I find it hard to believe that someone would spend years in nursing school and still say they are only doing it for the money. Nursing school is hard, and it's no fun cleaning up poop and vomit,but it comes with the territory.The majority of nurses out there that I have had when in the hospital were very caring and compassionate. The only bad experience I had was when I just had abdominal surgery and the nurse came in and made the bed with me in it, well she dropped the mattress about 18 inches, yes with me in it, 1 day out of surgery. I thought I was going to pass out it hurt so bad. A friend was visiting me and her mouth fell open, she could not believe it! The nurse never made a comment, just gathered her sheets and left! I'd say she needed to brush up on "How to make an occupied bed" skills. :rotfl: Anyway, maybe she was just there to get a paycheck, or maybe she had a bad day, but whatever. I think back on that and I try to be very gentle to every patient, no matter what I'm doing! I am going to enjoy the money, the flexability, the benefits and taking care of people who need to be taken care of! :balloons:
Specializes in Trauma acute surgery, surgical ICU, PACU.
Why don't we demand a pay cut and show 'em what martyrs we are?
:chuckle
Wasn't the idea of a "loftier" motivation for entering the profession once used as a justification to keep nurses pay low? No way would anyone in this thread, incl the OP want to go that route again!
I think it is probably true that in the past people went into nursing simply because they had a desire to help people. It was different then. Most men were the bread winners and if a woman wanted a career it was seen as an extra not a necessity. Today it is entirely different and choosing a career that is going to allow you to support your family is certainly not a crime. Some do it because they want to be involved with helping humanity in some way. Others because they want to be able to take care of their family. Some are highlyh intelligent; some are not. Some care about the 'whole' person who is in their care and others feel only responsible for 'doing a good job' at despensing the correct meds, and carrying out procedures and documenting correctly and not making errors. Every nurse is different; every patient is different. To me I am my doctor's customer and I am my nurses patient.
We all want to be good at whatever we choose to do. I've had patient/nurse relationships many times over the years and only had two nurses (oops, maybe three) who didn't belong in the profession. But I've had nurses who greatly contributed to the healing process simply by being concerned.
To me there are people who are just good people who care, whether they are doctors, teachers, nurses, law enforcement officials, etc., and there are people who are not particularly nice people and it shows when they are at their jobs. Personalities and character comes through in any job.
Keep smiling, do the best you can for the patients in your care despite the politics. We truly do depend on you!
P.S. I was in for a three hour surgery; two surgeons, anesthesiologist, physicians assistant, scrub nurses, circulating nurses, etc.
From 6:30 a.m. until 7:45 a.m. while waiting to be put under, not one person said one word to me except for ONE of the nurses. I still think of her and am very grateful to her for that 'human' contact at a time when I needed it.
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.
I'm not sure where the perception of nursing and great money came from. Common knowledge has been that you never enter nursing if you are primarily doing so for money. I personally left a job paying $20,000 more than I currently earn as a nurse! Some would say 'stupidity' however nursing gives me flexibility, security, constant challenges, choice, a feeling of freedom, contribution, potential to travel, meet a variety of people and the quest for learning will never cease. I could not get this sitting in front of a computer, working 9-5 feeling like a rat on a wheel being beholden to the corporate conglomerates! Whatever your reasons for entering the profession, just be true to yourself, but don't lose sight of the vulnerability of the persons in your care.
I was totally vulnerability for a total of 8 hours in surgery and PACU and wound up feeling betrayed and abandoned. Never had a bad experience before and I had over a dozen surgeries. It's all up to your doctor and nurse. So please heed his advise! And thanks!
Hi
I'm not sure where the perception of nursing and great money came from. Common knowledge has been that you never enter nursing if you are primarily doing so for money. I personally left a job paying $20,000 more than I currently earn as a nurse! Some would say 'stupidity' however nursing gives me flexibility, security, constant challenges, choice, a feeling of freedom, contribution, potential to travel, meet a variety of people and the quest for learning will never cease. I could not get this sitting in front of a computer, working 9-5 feeling like a rat on a wheel being beholden to the corporate conglomerates! Whatever your reasons for entering the profession, just be true to yourself, but don't lose sight of the vulnerability of the persons in your care.
Wow! Funny, I read every post in this thread and I don't recall anyone whining or claiming to be a saint, merely people honestly stating their opinions and their personal reasons for entering the field.
No, there is nothing wrong with choosing this field PARTLY for the money, benefits, etc. However, there is also nothing wrong with wanting to help people. I gave up a very good paying job (more than I will make as an entry level nurse), but one that I hated going to in the morning. I am pursuing nursing because I truly want to help people. That doesn't make me a saint, but it doesn't make me a whiner, either.
Why would anyone go into nursing for the money? THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THE SHORTAGE!
.......gosh!
Actually, it's one of the main reasons nursing schools are bursting at the seems and have long waiting lists of students. The money and that it's steady work during an uncertain economy. Not that people aren't adding on other reasons for becoming a nurse when they go into nursing. But it's a fact that during better economic times the waiting lists were as long as they have been the last six years.
However, when the get out there and find out how hard it actually is, many decide it isn't worth it. :rotfl:
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.
By your statement, are you then assuming money to be the only draw for some? When you have a thriving field in the presence of a bad economy this naturally is going to draw many into nursing who are looking to re-establish some sense of financial stability for themselves. The pay is decent, however, I know I could make more money in sales, or bartending for that matter, than I could being a nurse, and without the stress and hardship of getting through nursing school. The bottom line, people are naturally going to gravitate to fields that offer opportunity; and I feel that those who chose a career in nursing have selected it for reasons other than income alone.
Humanity is pretty revolting. I will still be a great nurse. I am intelligent, and one of the top students in my class.
That is the scariest statement I have read thus far and I have read them all.
My daughter-in-law left a very well paying job to go into nursing. She started as a CNA. One day she was telling me about a very angry, uncooperative patient on the floor she was working. I told her that more than likely under all that anger was a tremendous amount of fear. She then took care for this uncooperative patient keeping in mind that fear may be the reason. By the end of her next shift, she was the only one who had this patient smiling, more relaxed and completely cooperating with her. A nurse who cares enough to see a patient beyond their outward behaviour has the winning combination of intelligence and understanding and be a GREAT nurse!
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.
Well I agree with Hollyster. I am a nurse of 17 years and came into nursing because I believe I was put on this earth to be a nurse. However if a nursing job was not paid money I would not be doing it for a job. We have come a long way and just now beginning to be recognized as a profession, even being recognized for our input. I think what we should be concerned with is: Is the new blood coming into the profession able to continue moving this career in the right direction? If so then the money will also increase. Let us all be good mentors and raise our young as if we love the profession. Bye from Texas Kay ER RN
yes with me in it, 1 day out of surgery. I thought I was going to pass out it hurt so bad. A friend was visiting me and her mouth fell open, she could not believe it! The nurse never made a comment, just gathered her sheets and left! I'd say she needed to brush up on "How to make an occupied bed" skills. :rotfl: Anyway, maybe she was just there to get a paycheck, or maybe she had a bad day, but whatever. I think back on that and I try to be very gentle to every patient, no matter what I'm doing! I am going to enjoy the money, the flexability, the benefits and taking care of people who need to be taken care of! :balloons:
night owl
1,134 Posts
Whoooa John!
One suggestion. Stick with animal health care. :)