nursing a calling?

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do you think nursing is a calling? or just a career you want to do? i know what a calling is but how do you know nursing is a calling for you? i want to work in the health care field..im a senior in high school..graduate in may and will probably start pre-reqs for nursing this fall..ive been interested in nursing for a few months now and im just trying to get as much information i can about nursing. thanks

Specializes in Critical Care.
I am tired of hearing that nursing is a calling. I do not want to sound mean spirited, however, do you think healthcare is a calling for ceo's? Nurses have a right to earn a living wage! Secondly, what is wrong with wanting to provide for your family. I hear about nurses not wanting to take their breaks. Excuse me, but when is it better for you to be a martyr and not look out for your own health and well being? I can assure you that no one else will.

Reminds me of an HR manager: "I just don't understand nurses in it for the money. . ."

Calling nursing a 'calling' means that the money doesn't matter. As long as TPTB believe that this is a factor in how they pay nurses, it WILL be a factor in how we are paid.

I'm a high-tech, well-trained, critically-thinking, beside monitor and interventioner. No matter my motivation - the result is not a 'calling'; it is a highly marketable asset.

And no, nursing wasn't a calling for me. I'm in it for the money. But, I'm also darned good at what I do. From a technical aspect. And, from an emotional aspect.

The question should never be how some facility can 'facilitate' my 'calling' but rather, how much are my skills worth to you. . .

I'm not saying that nursing isn't a calling for some: I know it is. I'm saying we should de-emphasize that. The whole 'caring' emphasis reduces us to a caricature. That's part of nursing, but it's not the sum of it - by any means.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

Wow, I don't feel so guilty about also doing it for the money. Thanks.

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Reminds me of an HR manager: "I just don't understand nurses in it for the money. . ."

Calling nursing a 'calling' means that the money doesn't matter. As long as TPTB believe that this is a factor in how they pay nurses, it WILL be a factor in how we are paid.

I'm a high-tech, well-trained, critically-thinking, beside monitor and interventioner. No matter my motivation - the result is not a 'calling'; it is a highly marketable asset.

And no, nursing wasn't a calling for me. I'm in it for the money. But, I'm also darned good at what I do. From a technical aspect. And, from an emotional aspect.

The question should never be how some facility can 'facilitate' my 'calling' but rather, how much are my skills worth to you. . .

I'm not saying that nursing isn't a calling for some: I know it is. I'm saying we should de-emphasize that. The whole 'caring' emphasis reduces us to a caricature. That's part of nursing, but it's not the sum of it - by any means.

~faith,

Timothy.

I agree with Timothy. But, and I'm sure he'll agree, being educated and marketable and making the most of that marketability does not preclude compassion.

I just don't want to be a martyr to my career. Money is important. Good working conditions are important.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I agree with Timothy. But, and I'm sure he'll agree, being educated and marketable and making the most of that marketability does not preclude compassion.

I just don't want to be a martyr to my career. Money is important. Good working conditions are important.

Of course I agree - to say that compassion isn't part of nursing would be like saying wheels aren't part of a car.

But, to say that compassion IS nursing is the same as saying wheels are cars. No, a car is much more than just wheels, however essential those wheels may be to the final product.

And we should demand the retail price for cars - not the discount price of tires - for our services. But, that's difficult to do when our value is universally compared to the price of tires.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Of course I agree - to say that compassion isn't part of nursing would be like saying wheels aren't part of a car.

But, to say that compassion IS nursing is the same as saying wheels are cars. No, a car is much more than just wheels, however essential those wheels may be to the final product.

And we should demand the retail price for cars - not the discount price of tires - for our services. But, that's difficult to do when our value is universally compared to the price of tires.

~faith,

Timothy.

Very nice analogy. Unfortunately, too many nurses are willing to accept being valued at the price of the tires because they want to see strictly as a calling. That devalues nursing as a profession, and I can't accept that.

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this was a great thread. i am 31 y.o. female and nursing will be second career for me. i agree that nursing or any career for that matter is not necessarily by all means necessary a calling. but one gets older and matures and becomes wiser and realizes that a job is something you do for many reasons. if any job was a calling you could believe with all your heart it was your calling and suck at the job. i'm with the response earlier about wanting a nurse that has mad skills PLUS compassion. as i begin my pre-reqs i plan on learning and soaking up every bit of info that comes my way, assess it, and apply when necessary. i am a compassionate person by nature, so i am happy to finally arrive at a career where i can be valued for my education and expertise while integrating my true nature.;)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

This has been debated many times here before, and it's gotten hot.

All I ask, is people keep it respectful and try to understand, that for many, nursing is not just a calling or a career, but both. There is no "right" reason for entering medicine or nursing, except to each individual.

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I am tired of hearing that nursing is a calling. I do not want to sound mean spirited, however, do you think healthcare is a calling for ceo's? Nurses have a right to earn a living wage! Secondly, what is wrong with wanting to provide for your family. I hear about nurses not wanting to take their breaks. Excuse me, but when is it better for you to be a martyr and not look out for your own health and well being? I can assure you that no one else will.

AMEN! But in that same view, I believe to be caring and compassionate you have to LIKE being a nurse because after 12-16 hrs and people yelling, upset, gripey, etc it is a prerequisite. This does not mean, however, being a martyr. I do think we are way underpaid for everything we do, but in addition there are tradeoffs (sporifice though they may be). There are many jobs for people who are not "people people" in nursing as there are for others. I think it is a mistake, however, to look just at the money because the quality of your care will suffer.

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Specializes in ICU, Education.

Wow...

I just had this discussion with my director. It seems that many new nurses today are in it for the money, options and flexibility. I am not blaming them. Nursing should have much to offer materially, as it is very tough job. But when that is the ONLY reason the profession is chosen, I think it is a problem. I chose nursing because i have always felt a need to help people. However, I wouldn't do it if it didn't pay me and I couldn't support my family well doing it. What bothers me is that many nurses today just don't seem to care about their patients. I have even heard them referred to as "specimens". I think i am a great critical thinker with a lot of skills, but I look at my patients and families as people who need me, and always try to care for them as I would want me or my family cared for. I am somewhat offended by the comment regarding it's better to have tough smart nurse vs a caring scatterbrain. This implys that the caring nurse is a stupid whipping post. I have been rather disturbed by nurses who take 45 minutes naps, read their books, surf the net, take tons of smoke breaks, when thier patients are a mess, or in pain, have not been turned,and they have no clue about the progress of their patients ( lab results, xrays, progress notes not looked at). I have worked with plenty of nurses who are great in a crisis, but I would not want them taking care of me... period. I have worked with plenty that if the patient is tubed & sedated and no family around all night, then the patient gets minimal care. I've seen alarms ignored to the point of danger. I am not saying that many of you out there who are taking the other view, nurse like this, but I AM saying there are MANY out there who do. At the same time, I believe this profession is much tougher on those who really care about their patients. I think this is a great discussion to have & i am hoping not to get flamed for my response.

Doris

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Growing up I had two passions - the Army and the human body and healthcare. If my parents had let me, I would've been a combat medic or related in the Army by now.

Since the Army wasn't an option, I searched the healthcare field. I couldn't afford Med school so my aunt suggested Nursing.

Now I keep asking myself why didn't I choose this earlier? :)

Nursing isn't a "calling" to me per se but one of my "philosophies" when it comes to nursing is certainly the compassion. To be able to help others at their most dire moments. The sick, the injured, the dying. Alleviate suffering and pain - physical, mental as well as emotional. To save lives - both in the literal sense and in the philosophical sense.

Plus! The pay is nice. I'm a professional. The options of where I want to work are literally limitless. The job market is good. Flexible hours.

Of course I agree - to say that compassion isn't part of nursing would be like saying wheels aren't part of a car.

But, to say that compassion IS nursing is the same as saying wheels are cars. No, a car is much more than just wheels, however essential those wheels may be to the final product.

And we should demand the retail price for cars - not the discount price of tires - for our services. But, that's difficult to do when our value is universally compared to the price of tires.

~faith,

Timothy.

Brilliant post! :) I also agree with Deb - there is no "right" or "wrong" answer here.
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When I got out of high school, I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do. I had never thought about becoming a nurse until around my 2nd year of college. Over the summer I had wanted to get a job so I wouldn't be bored out of my mind. I found out the hospital in my hometown had a program for students where you get paid for observing and helping out with little tasks. I thought what the heck, I had never been inside a hospital and had no idea what went on in one, I was completely clueless. After a few days of being there and watching the nurses, it was exactly what I wanted to do. I can't really explain it, but it felt right... like this something that I can do for the rest of my life.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Nursing is not a "calling" for me. I didn't grow up wanting to be a nurse at all, I wanted to be an MD. I have always been interested and good in science and have always been fascinated with the human body. I have just always been interested in the health care field my whole life.

I didn't even consider nursing until I was about 30 years old and didn't want to go through medical school with 2 little girls at home who still needed me a lot. So I started researching all the jobs in the health care field and found that nursing fit me best. I think nursing will be good for me, and I good for nursing. It works both ways for me.

It was important to me that I went into a career that I enjoyed, I needed something that paid fairly well (someone has to pay for braces, private schooling, a car, a house, bills, etc) and had oportunities and advancement, and was flexible (meaning I can work just weekends if I want for example; I also like working nights). I also wanted a degree in something that I could actually get a job with.

So for me, there was a LOT of things I looked at. But I have classmates who for them nursing is truly a calling. One is a 50 year old women who is going back to school to finally pursue her dream of being a nurse after taking care of her family and putting her dream on hold for years and years. Is she better than me? No. We are just different.

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