Question for Students

Nurses General Nursing

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Just curious if you are finding out if your fellow classmates chose nursing because there is a shortage and a good starting salary?

Or do you think most of them are in the nursing program becuase they want to HELP people?

What have little birds been telling you?

Specializes in CRNA.

I can always tell if people are just in it for the money when they say "Im going to be a nurse practitioner right after I graduate."

Just in it for the money???????????????

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I can always tell if people are just in it for the money when they say "Im going to be a nurse practitioner right after I graduate."

Thats a generalization but I think alot of people in my school at least think about NP for more money.

.

And what would be wrong with that?? Since when did wanting more money become a sin?

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I've found it's a lot of salary seekers.. Unfortunately

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

WOW,..don't know where everyone is or where everyone came from,..but I'm in the midwest,.Nursing salary isn't BIG BUCKS here!!! My ex is now driving a truck (highschool diploma) and makes more than I do!! It is a very secure field and I happen to love it,.but many of my college friends w/four year degrees are making way more than I am!! Guess it's all relative,.if your 20yrs old and have worked minimum wage jobs then yes this is a real salary,.but when you have kids, a mortgage, two car payments, trying to save for college etc this isn't the big time!!!! This is a tough job w/alot of responsibility, long hours and often not the greatest of working conditions,.I can't imagine doing this if I didn't love it!

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My relatives always told me to go to nursing school when I was younger and I always said I would never want to be a nurse regardless of the pay! Now that I'm a little bit older and have been knocked down a few times, I have a much greater ability to empathize, am less judgmental and am more caring. On top of that, I'm broke! Nursing, here I come!

As far as nurses taking care of me or my family members, I don't care what motivates them if the care is good. I'd rather have a great nurse who was in it for the money than a poor nurse with a heart of gold.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

I didn't waste my time in nursing school trying to 'listen to the little birdies' and figure out why my classmates were going to nursing school...I was too busy studying and worrying about MY future and my choices.

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I can always tell if people are just in it for the money when they say "Im going to be a nurse practitioner right after I graduate."

Thats a generalization but I think alot of people in my school at least think about NP for more money.

thank you for saying that was a generalization! I plan on going to grad school for my NP right after graduation but that's just because I want to be more experienced and prepared for my profession.

to respond to the original question, my program is pretty good at weeding out the students that just want an 'easy' career opportunity and good salary. mostly because our program happens to be very challenging so our admissions office doesn't think that people in it for the wrong reasons will be happy with the work load. i think everyone in my class is really passionate about their future profession (granted there's less than 100 of us, but still!)

I think those looking to nursing for the wrong reasons will most likely bail out pretty early. Personal opinion, sorry if i offended anyone!!

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Specializes in ER/OR.

From some of the research I've done, it's difficult for a newbie BSN to even get into an MSN program. The ad coms want experience from RNs to show they are committed and willing to do a good job. So all those senior BSN students licking their lips about starting NP asap may be sorely disappointed.

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Just curious if you are finding out if your fellow classmates chose nursing because there is a shortage and a good starting salary?

Or do you think most of them are in the nursing program becuase they want to HELP people?

What have little birds been telling you?

What, are you kidding? Maybe you should consider working for free!

As a woman pursuing a career in a female-dominated field, why shouldn't we be paid for our education, training and efforts? If my husband weren't "in it for the money", I'd think he was nuts. Why is it any different if a woman seeks a decent wage? Of course, I think it is very important to like the work you do, and specifically, to care about the people we serve. If not, no amount of money will be enough.

Ok, time to climb down off my soap box! :lol2:

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Specializes in OB.

My opinion is that in my nursing school, pretty much everyone is there because nursing is what they want to do. My school cost $40,000 a year which will probably be equivalent to our starting salary. Most of the students in our nursing program come from upper middle class or upper class families. Money wouldn't be a big motivation. I feel everyone just really wants to be a nurse. It's a lot of work and a lot of dedication, I don't think I wouldn't be in school just for the money after two semesters of Anatomy class and two semesters of inorganic and organic chemistry. There are so many other things you can do to make money. It something you have to want.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

This question seems to come up from time to time. I really dont see the problem of going into nursing because of the good pay and good career outlook. THere is NOTHING wrong with wanting to make a good living and be employed for the for seeable furture. Of course i dont think cold hearted people should be in nursing but that goes for any field of work. If you are not interested in the line of work you will do it poorly. Just my two cents

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I would say that none of the students or nurses I have met are in it solely for financial gain. Why would they be? There are far easier ways to make a lot more money. Just think of the relative ease of getting a real estate license and the opportunities there.

While you might have to clean up as a nurse (feces, vomit), you are not going to "clean up" (strike it rich). Heh heh.

While job stability and decent pay are important, there are plenty of other careers that offer that with no or little preparation (civil service comes immediately to mind). And there are loads of office jobs that pay as much after a few years and you can actually go to lunch.

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