Nursing for compassion or the financial reward?

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:trout: Although I hate to judge people, but some times I can't help it. I look at the actions of some of my co-workers and came to the conclusion that they chose nursing for the financial reward.

What do you think icon5.gif Do you think some people go into nursing for the

money icon5.gif Would very much like to hear your opinion.

Specializes in acute care.

I am going into nursing because of the money and flexibility. I also like the fact that it is a career and not a job. If I stop working at one place, I can get a job at another place...If I decide to move to another state, I know I won't have to rack my brain and decide what kind of job I will get. I can just contact the hospitals, nursing homes, etc and inquire about open position. I also love the fact that there are so many areas that

I can work it...If I don't like working in the adult units, I can work with babies or children, for example...Personally, some of the areas I am interested in going into (after I do a min of one year in med-surg) are L&D, NICU, ER, and visiting nurse.

I DEFINITELY love the option of working 12 hours shifts. I plan on having a family and want to be home with my children as much as possible. Right now, I work as an HHA, 3 days a week, 12 hours a day and LOVE IT!

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

My answer: yes.

I definitely think this is what I was meant to do. I am also very glad that I get paid to do it, seeing as how the bills certainly don't pay themselves! I think I earn every cent of my salary and then some, depending on the night.

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Money and flexibility

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.

Combination of factors....including the two you mentioned.

Liz

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

how about both?

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It's pretty difficult to show compassion when you can't pay the bills. I used to really enjoy being a nurse. Now I am in Management, and I don't feel like a nurse at all. Unfortunately, I had to make a decision between what I enjoyed doing, and the opportunity to make more money. I hope to go back to patient care someday, as management isn't as satisfying for me.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
how about both?

BINGO!!!!!!!

I'm an oddball in that I didn't know what salaries nurses made when I started taking co-reqs. I knew I wanted a career in health care, and I liked helping people, and having seen first-hand want nurses do when I was an inpatient convinced me to go for it.

I wasn't long after starting that I heard about the salary which was 3 times what I was making at the time, and that kept me motivated.

Years later, I still like people, and I'd like to think my empathy, compassion and desire to help sick people well is still part of my motivation.

However, in addition to that I have a mortgage and other bills to pay. When the going gets rough in nursing I still have the mortgage at the end of the day and would like to keep this house and retire sometime. So the money motivates me on those days.

So the rewards are twofold for me as well. It's not either/or for me either. It's both.

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Finiancial Reward?????? Not In The Rural Areas. Thats Just Funny.

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I went into nursing because I like caring for people and seeing improved outcomes.

I STAY in nursing because of that but I would NOT do it for free so yes, I do it for the financial reward. One reason I have my BSN and am currently working on MSN-further my opportunities and pay as a nurse.

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I may be a naive nurse, but if I were only in it for the money my patients would suffer... I work in a facility that uses A LOT of travel nurses and our turn over is incredulous despite being the top paying hospital in the state and the company seems wonderful. I don't quite understand why staffing and shortage just keeps getting worse and I haven't even been an RN for all that long. It only seems to be at the patients peril. What if every travel nurse took a regular position would the disparity in pay really be that bad?

:mad:

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

We're subject to Maslow's heirarchy too:

I have to eat, sleep, and take care of myself physically, intellectually, and emotionally before I can care for or about anyone else.

Although I felt I was "called" to be a nurse, I would not be able to remain a nurse if I didn't make enough money.

In fact, I'm looking at ways of optimizing my salary as we speak. I'm not looking to get rich, just trying to pay my bills.

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I got into it for the money - i've been a nurse for 15 yrs - a hospice nurse for the last 5 - now i know no-one goes to heaven pulling a u-haul - i'm in it for the difference i may make to another

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