Nursing is a passion?

[mindofmidwifery]

I am aware of this being a touchy topic on AN, but my school has a nursing information session and within the session they state that nursing is more than just a steady income, it is a passion. You need to be passionate and able to set aside your problems to help somebody in "what could be the worst day of their life." Thoughts?

[abc123RN]

I enjoy being a nurse but no not passionate about nursing. It's a job, a means to pay for expensive golf habits and to get the kids through college.

[vandiola]

I disagree. I think what keep wages and working conditions what they are (in the U.S. anyway) are too many going to/graduating nursing school and too many having painted themselves into a financial corner so that they cannot afford to walk.

Main other words, you're indirectly contributing to the problem. (theoretically if you were in the U.S.)

Opposite problem in the UK. Universities can't train enough nurses due to budgets set by the health department. Nursing has always been poorly paid in the UK, even when there was a very small pool of nurses working in hospitals.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

I would say that nursing is a passion of mine. It's what I've always wanted to do and brings me fulfillment. It's part of who I am. I would do it even if I wasn't paid for it. And I think that's ok....it's my own perspective.

[db2xs]

Nursing is not a passion of mine. I am a second-career nurse and left my previous career to do something with more meaning. In a general sense, I am definitely doing that, but really, my passion is in a different part of the health and healing sector than in which I am currently working.

[HeartRNtoREV]

Hmmmmm-for me Nursing is not only a Passion but a ministry as well. Yes I "had the calling" from the time I was a little girl. If you think that nursing is just a job....get out.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I don't buy into that crap at all. It is a job. Nothing more

While I am not directing this at the OP because I do not know him personally, I believe that this attitude accounts for the general decline in nurses attitudes towards their work and by extension, their patients. Nursing isn't like bricklaying or accounting. Nor should it be.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

And that is why many nurses are so hesitant to define nursing as a passion, because of this ongoing debate that those who are passionate or "called" are superior nurses. Those who define nursing as a job should just leave.

For some people, nursing is a job which they are very skilled at. For some people, nursing is a passion.

We need all kinds of nurses.

[Farawyn]

If all the nurses who want to get paid and feel it's "just a job" actually "get out" of nursing, there really will be a nursing shortage.

[NOADLS]

If all the nurses who want to get paid and feel it's "just a job" actually "get out" of nursing, there really will be a nursing shortage.

Less than 1% of the practicing nurses out there will still be practicing.

[Farawyn]

Hmmmmm-for me Nursing is not only a Passion but a ministry as well. Yes I "had the calling" from the time I was a little girl. If you think that nursing is just a job....get out.

Game of Thrones is a bigger passion for me than nursing. Along with my family, friends, food, music and shaking what my momma gave me.

I may be working with you, and "your" patients may also be "my" patients. I'm not going to "get out". I'm a good nurse.

Whatcha gonna do about that?

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

Hmmmmm-for me Nursing is not only a Passion but a ministry as well. Yes I "had the calling" from the time I was a little girl. If you think that nursing is just a job....get out.

I would like to know why you think saying this is ok. That's an awfully strong blanket statement against probably most of us in this profession that are very good at what we do and it's verified so by our patients and superiors.

[Hygiene Queen]

If you think that nursing is just a job....get out.

Sorry, but I'm staying.