Nursing is a passion?

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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?

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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.

What a nasty, ageist post. No wonder you couldn't get along with your nurse.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
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.

I know, it pays for my yarn and motorcycle habits

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I've had older nurses who were so great.. And younger ones who were great.. And older and younger ones who were nasty.

In fact I was just recently in the ER for a lupus flare which usually brings me severe pain but I hate opiates. They make me depressed and sluggish and so I refused morphine, and said "i take fiorinal for pain but you guys probably don't give things like that so im gonna take a nap and ride it out" (im also allergic to all nsaids but aspirin which is considered an anticoagulant in the hospital)

So the YOUNG nurse copped attitude and said I was being non-compliant. didn't really understand cause I am very polite and a good patient.. And was not refusing important medications just the morphine. So I said, "im a nurse and I know what non-compliant means and that's not me." She left and came back with decadron. Pushed it so fast it felt like someone lit a fire under my ***!!

I started crying. Then she was all like "should have not refused the morphine" I swear I've never been treated even half as badly by any older nurse.

Sorry for my long story but I was trying to make a point lol.

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Specializes in OB-GYN.

I am a first year nursing stu ent. I believe that nursing is a calling. I do not have nurses in my family and i did not really know what nursing was until I started school. I'm speaking for myself by the way. Not sure who else feels the same. I think about my patients when I go home. I am making a difference in someones life for a living.When I'm hungry, thirsty, tired my patient's needs come first. I enjoy what I do. Maybe it's because I'm a newbie?

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Specializes in Cath Lab, EP.

I think the better question is: Are you passionate about nursing enough to work within the American Model of Medicine? IE: Illness care for preventable disease; profit based health care; big pharma? If you are ethically able to do those things and maintain The Passion you will love being a Nurse.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

As always - this is a fascinating topic for me. I enjoy all the differing viewpoints.

For me - the word "passion" is associated with a feeling of heightened enthusiasm/excitement/ardor than can't really be sustained over time. Like the early days of a romance. Maybe that's the way I felt in the (very) early days of my career also. But as time went on (lots and lots of time) & I experienced the lows as well as the highs - it evolved to something more realistic and lasting.

I characterize my current relationship with nursing in a way that is similar to feelings for a spouse on one's 40th anniversary... I know it's not perfect. I see the flaws. Honestly, there have been times when it would have been easier to walk away than stick with it. But I believe in what nursing is all about. I am still dedicated & committed to seeing this through for as long as it will have me.

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Thank you for your service! You know, that is something soldiers face as well.... it's a let down of sorts. I just wanted you to know, aside from nursing, that it's not uncommon to feel a sense of underwhel(ment) sorry I know that's not a word. It's all part of it.

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

I have always had a love for being in the healthcare field, especially caring for people. It's the satisfied feeling I receive from the patients' expressions on on their faces and in their eyes. That is more satisfying than even the money. I love to see satisfaction and gratefulness when I help someone in some way.

True, I'm no longer able to perform healthcare work, but I can still touch someone's life by giving advise when asked for if I have the knowledge, a recommendation, or by just listening to an individual talk. Everyone has a story to tell no matter who it is or where the person is from.:nurse:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, med/surg, LTC surveyor.

I have been a nurse since I was nineteen years old. I was taken long breaks from it at times due to stress. To me, it is a calling, not so much a passion. I love being a nurse. I just hate all of the BS that goes a long with it. Not enough time, staffing etc. I have finally found my place in psych. When a patient makes progress and does really well. It makes it all worthwhile.

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When I was in CPM school way back in the day, we actually had a lecture on midwifery as a calling, and like, bartering our services for homemade quilts and the like, and the deep spiritual fulfillment of doing so. I am all for pro bono work, but I am not about to pretend my skills can be fairly compensated by a basket of your backyard eggs and your undying gratitude. Please. I can extend my services to those in need without the patronizing idea that I should be *grateful* that I have the opportunity to work for free because of my passion. Nope.

I do feel blessed and profoundly grateful every day, because I love my job to a ridiculous degree. But if I wasn't fairly compensated and afforded a supportive and pleasant work environment, no amount of passion would make it worthwhile.

Oh, but a handmade quilt ?! I would love a handmade quilt! ( Guess I have a passion for quilts ;) )

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Just here to say that this made me feel a lot better. 'Passion' is such a strong word, I was worried I wasn't cut out to be a nurse because it wasn't my biggest goal in life. Thanks for this thread

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Oh, but a handmade quilt ?! I would love a handmade quilt! ( Guess I have a passion for quilts ;) )

and a well made one could earn a pretty penny on Ebay...

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