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?

[Toliyk]

Regardless of whether someone has a passion for nursing, I expect them to be competent and professional. I feel that people should generally have an altruistic nature for them to be a "good" nurse, IMO, but I don't think that is a big factor to be a successful and competent one.

[nursegj]

I've been a nurse many years and have seen changes in the profession and not necessarily for the better. There was a time that one went into nursing for the genuine passion of aiding the sick. Now, so many go into it for the steady paycheck and have about as much passion for nursing as a milk dud. The paycheck, not the patient has become the goal. Now before anyone out there gets upset, of course I am not talking about every nurse. There are still caring and compassionate nurses who truly have the patients' interest at heart, but unfortunately some do not. For example, one patient told me a RN was already in the room and the patient asked for the bedpan. Instead of taking a few minutes to put the patient on the bedpan, the nurse told the patient she would get the CNA and spent ten minutes looking for a CNA to do it. If this nurse had ten minutes to look for a CNA, why didn't she just put the patient on the bedpan herself rather than have the patient wait? Would that nurse want her loved one treated like that? I don't think so.

Yes, nursing provides one with a decent income, but if you don't have a passion for the profession you shouldn't be in it. Plain and simple. All of us at one time will experience illness or injury. Do you want the nurses providing your care to have their paycheck as their priority or your well-being? I am not saying that nurses should not be concerned about income. What I'm saying is if that is the primary reason they have chosen the profession, then it is the wrong reason.

[rnnluvnit2006]

Nursing does not have to be your passion to be a great nurse...but if it is...how awesome it is to get paid to do something you love to do...

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

For me, nursing is a job... a very well-paying job that provides outstanding benefits and job security.

I work hard for the same reasons that I've always worked hard: That's was they're paying me for.

I do it because it compensates me well. I do it well because the patients deserve that I do it well.

[Unfixable]

The reason nursing isn't a passion for me is because when you do what's right instead of getting praise, you get ridiculed. Ridiculed because the nurse before you couldn't figure it out. Because the doctor couldn't figure it out. Because the nurse manager couldn't figure it out. But YOU did. And instead of patting you on the back and saying "good job", they pick apart every meaningless thing they can to make you appear incompetent. Nursegj if you went into work tomorrow and your manager told you that you would no longer get paid for working would you still do it? If not, it's not a passion. Nobody pays me to be married to my spouse, but I still do it. Nobody pays me to exercise, but I still do it. Nobody pays me to do interior decorating in my house, but I still do it. That's what a passion is.

[Neurotic Student]

I dread when I apply for a job and it tells me to describe why/how I came to be a nurse. I'm thinking, you really don't want to know...it's not that exciting.

[terri visco]

you may have to help someone die. from mother to child. you're not a nurse anymore. you're human.

[terri visco]

you have to be human....love...sorrow ...joy

[Farawyn]

Hi terri. To whom are you speaking?

[terri visco]

if you don't like helping people...it's not your passion...period

[honeyforasalteyfish]

if you don't like helping people...it's not your passion...period

There are many ways to help people it doesn't just apply to nursing.

The point I am making is maybe nursing isn't a passion for people, but they still enjoy helping others.

Perhaps they hate nursing, but donate to charity.

[WorldTraveler50]

As a patient, I totally respect all hospital staff and nurses!

As I was in ICU in 2006 for acute renal failure, they were all wonderful except for 1 older nurse in the step down unit on my d/c day who was flat out, arrogant, rude and impatient.

No compassion what so ever!

Sounds like she was burnt out and I admit, I did call her ***** and she sure got mad and said, don't talk like that to staff! Sorry, but if you're gonna be disrespectful and be a ***** i'm gonna call you a *****.

I know you may be stressed but be grateful your getting a good salary.

There was one middle aged icu nurse who got mad that my bp cuff wasn't staying on and said, This is getting ridiculous, you're like a child" Do some older nurses that have done their job so long get annoyed when things like heart monitor leeds coming off at no fault of the patient.

For the most part, i've always gotten compassionate care from younger nurses to middle age nurses but some of the old ones just tend to be burnt out and take it out on good patients. This one had wrinkly skin, bags under her eyes and a mean streak!

When I was in the ER recently, I had a good nurse who I wouldn't say showed passion but she was very respectful and knew her job well. The morning crew always shows more compassion. Night shift personalities are quite different. I know the ER can be stressful especially at the one near me who gets the drunks & druggies hoarding that small ER.

Whether or not nursing is a passion, just as long as I don't get a ***** disrespectful nurse. I either wonder why she went into the field or has all those years made her bitter.