Nursing is pathetic...

nursedude · Dec 23, 2002

Special salary increases - These aren't for everyone - only special people (who don't have many bills to pay...)

http://data.bls.gov/servlet/NCSOutputServlet?jrunsessionid=1040629288226279519

Data from US Dept of Labor...

MrsK1223 · Jan 18, 2003

Why is that if money is brought into a nursing question it's deemed as bad. I'd love to meet those of you who would work for free. Every non nurse I know think we make great money. Until you work and see you are pushed to limits not many other professions are pushed to, you realize that you are not getting paid what you feel your worth is. Of course I looked at the money cause it appeared to be pretty good. It was a JOB that seemed to have demand for nurses and I knew I could find work anywhere. I have moments where I feel I'm helping people and doing something meaningful and that is rewarding. I would certainly tell someone to make sure nursing is what they want to do. There's no shortage of nurses, there's just not any current nurses willing to put up with the horrendous situation nurses are put in. I refuse to work in a hospital. I will not be put in a position where I have people's lives in my hands and I'm so short staffed that I cannot give quality care. I will not work 16 hours, then another 16 hours and never have time to recoup. I take care of number one so that I can take care of my family and patients. I feel so saddened by the state of nursing and the lack of respect given by authorities in healthcare and those under the direction of nurses. I am 2 yrs out of nursing school and very disheartened.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2003

NurseDude-

I agree with you, 100%.

NancyRN · Jan 18, 2003

:imbar

cutesabutton · Feb 2, 2003

I see Nursedudes point. Haven't you all noticed the trend? RN's are being replaced slowly but surely in every facility by techs. They are taking more and more roles, skills and responsibilities away from the nurses to give OJT to "techs". Most have no college education. They learn by other "techs". It's happening allover. Very slowly but surely, nursing will not be nursing in a few years! They will live without us. Or without us but a token few around. Times are a changin and not for the good!

MrsK1223 · Feb 9, 2003

I would not recommend nursing to anyone at this time.

Genista, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2003

maia 1212-

That was very succinct! Care to elaborate?

MrsK1223 · Feb 10, 2003

Originally posted by kona2
maia 1212-
That was very succinct! Care to elaborate?

Sure. I will elaborate. HMMMMM lets see:

1) Unbelievable working conditions

2) Inadequate pay = to amount of responsibility

3) Lack of respect from anyone for the most part

4) No support from government or administration of healthcare facilities

Thats just some basics we all experience at some point or time. In my particular area it is horrible and I haven't met a nurse around me that hasn't asked me this very question, "why in the hell did you go into nursing?" The local hospital can't keep new grads or even seasoned nurses including my mother who is now looking to go anywhere,pay cut and all.

I'm not saying nursing itself is bad, I'm just saying I would not encourage family or friends to go into it at this time. There are really better ways to make a living unless that person knows without a shadow of a doubt that it's for them and they know exactly what they are walking into. I didn't know the conditions nurses were working in until I was half way thru school. And we are doing this for a living despite what some of the nursing martyrs say.

PhePhe, RN · Feb 16, 2003

Is pretty sad that in 2003 an RN can go work at an entry level position in pharmaceutical clinical research and make at least $50K a year. They appreciate the medical and clinical experience has. Thats what I did in 1990!

Jay-Z · Feb 17, 2003

Look. to all of ou who are saying Nursing is c**p need to get real. tell me why you went into Nursing in the first place. and try to tell me that deep down it ain't rewarding. And don't even try to tell me that the changes and advancements in our career happened overnight. Please. If you want the Nursing problems of all countries to be solved then y'all need to stop your whining and get back what you owe yourself from years of Nursing

Self respect

Tilleycs · Feb 20, 2003

Has it occured to anyone that if you DID make more money, there will STILL be people in other fields (some of whom have *gasp!* less formal education) who make more money than you? What will you do then? Not be happy until you're the highest paid profession on earth?

I understand that you want to make more money, but EVERYONE wants to make more money, and everyone can justify it based on their importance. They can all make a lot of the same arguments you make.

mludwig · Feb 23, 2003

Well I have just joined this organization and this is my first reply to anything.

I am not in nursing for the money. I have worked multiple other professions before going to college for nursing. I started college at 32, with two small children and a pain in the butt new ex husband. I have been a nurse for six years. I have worked med/surg, nursing homes, prn staff, ICU and am currently an ER nurse.

I am in nursing because I love nursing. I voluntarily take all the student, the orientees, and the difficult doctors and/or patients. I feel that nurses are special people and are usually called to care for others. I work overtime.

I take care of a very ill father-in-law at home and have four young adult children and a new husband. I work almost straight night shift since my husband works straight days so that someone is here with my father-in-law around the clock.

But I would recommend nursing to any one with the calling to become a nurse. Caring for others is the best and most rewarding calling that I can imagine and I hope some day to become a nursing instructor- when I am no longer able to do the hard but rewarding tasks of floor/hospital nursing.

I love my job- there are days that I cry, but the rewards outweigh the down sides.