Nursing for compassion or the financial reward?

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Apr 15, 2008

I went into nursing for the money and the opportunity to make a difference. I'm reasonably content with having achieved both objectives...........although I sure wouldn't be doing this for $9 bucks an hour.

Ginger45 · Apr 27, 2008

Compassion. It's the only reasons I deal with the stress.

leslie :-D · Apr 27, 2008

I'm not NEARLY enough of an angel to be in it for the calling. . .
~faith,
Timothy.

well, i am enough of an angel. :saint:

albeit, a very poor one...

and i need the darned money.

leslie

Brownms46 · May 2, 2008

You don't have to be saint or a missionary, just a person who cares about others, not just there for a pay check. I wanted to be well paid, but I also would never work anywhere just for the money!!!

K98 · May 2, 2008

What is this financial reward you speak of? :nurse:

cursenurse · May 2, 2008

: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 Do you think some people go into nursing for the
money Would very much like to hear your opinion.

There's a financial reward? I haven't seen it! I wish people would get off of the whole compassion deal. a nurse should be personable, pleasant, however, that is not the most important quality in a good nurse. i became a nurse because i did want to help people- but more importantly i wanted a career where i could use my brain! i felt that nursing would be intellectually stimulating, and that i could use my intelligence to heal people. i still get alot of enjoyment out of the problem solving aspects of nursing. i think that is why we do not get the respect we deserve from the public. we need to emphasize nursing as not a "caring" career, but as a thinking person's career. has anyone noticed that the doctor can have the worst bedside manner, be mean as a snake, but he/she is touted as being so smart, "he's mean but he's such a good doctor!" i've heard that so many times. i brought that to the attention of a coworker who praised a dr we work with who is so mean and nasty, even when she told him that she thought he was a good dr, he was sarcastic to her. she admitted to there being a double standard but, she, like noone else cares. a nurse who is not constantly grinning at people, eager to fetch water and dab brows all day, but is constantly assessing, making sure the orders are appropriate and done in a timely manner, etc, is not a "good" nurse.

BinkieRN, BSN, RN · May 4, 2008

I don't see how a person can be a "good" nurse = compassion if they are in it just for the money. A person IMO can't be compassionate about any job they are doing unless they at least have a desire to do it.

Going into nursing I was really freaking about the poop issue but I figured I would learn to deal with it and I did.

Babs0512 · Jun 6, 2008

I could make more money as an electrician or a plumber, AND the hours would be better, so I know I didn't choose nursing for the $$.:chuckle

nursenow · Mar 14, 2010

I have never met a nurse that wasnt in it for the money. If they took away your paycheck are you still going to keep going to work? No and it is nonsense for someone to pretend like the money isnt important. I remember at the beginning of school we all stood up and introduced ourselves. The people that had the big "I just want to help people" stories are the ones that failed out or really struggled finding a job after graduation.

ok2bme · Mar 14, 2010

Money

I spontaneously applied to Accelerated BSN programs after the realization that in 1 year, I would be able to have decent money, flexibility, and job security while pursuing my true career, a phd in health & clinical psychology. Nursing is simply a temporary means to the end for me. It was a great decision for me.