i am graduating in may after waiting years to become a nurse. i have always, since the tender age of about 9, wanted to be a nurse.
i simply cannot express how much it :angryfire burns my hide :angryfire that everyone and their mother wants to be a nurse now. what's with the sudden enthusiasm and interest in nursing??? particularly in ca, in seems that everyone is telling me that they are doing pre-req's for nursing. ***?? my friend (also graduating with me in may) pointed out that it seems more and more men are coming into nursing. now, maybe she and i will get raked over the coals for this one, but before the $$ spike for nursing pay, men would be laughed at (a la ben stiller in meet the parents) for being a nurse.
i just find it so frustrating that everyone wants to be a nurse now, especially since nursing has become quite the lucrative career. what happened to wanting to be a nurse because you (*gasp*) care about people and like (*gasp #2*) helping others???????
this is all boiling over with me because i see quite a few of my classmates that clearly are in this for the money. i, personally, would rather die than be their patients - that's how greedy, selfish, money-hungry some of my lovely classmates are.
sorry - i just have to vent.
**please note: i absolutely do not mean that men should not be in nursing - i think it's great. i am generally frustrated at seemingly everyone (both men and women) being interested in nursing, now that it pays so well (esp. in ca). please do not accuse me of being sexist**.
I think that for the most part, if someone isn't cut out for nursing they won't last. Of course there is always the exception but I think many people would agree that nursing isn't the kind of thing that you can be happy doing if it is ONLY for the money. Cut others some slack, most people don't know what they want to do when they grow up by the time that they are nine. Just because you were lucky enough to have this kind of foresight, it doesn't mean that you are entitled to something that others aren't. I know its hard to get into nursing school, but once you accomplish your goals it will be that much more satisfying.
Money is not really a "satisfier" in any field. The lack of it, perceived or real, is often a dissatisfier.
Nursing is a second career for me, and I make less now than I did before. That doesn't in any way make me a better or more dedicated nurse. Or a worse one, for that matter.
There are many days in nursing or any other field where you get through largely based on pride in your professional ability to do the job well, and earn the respect of your peers.
nothing wrong with people wanting job security. even with some nurses getting laid off here and there, you still can count on nursing as one of those careers that that is mostly recession proof.
I understand where the OP is coming from. If fustrates me also that people become nurses just for a paycheck. I know of some nursing students who act so stuck up in clinicals, thinking" Once I'm a nurse, I want have to clean up poop". They are constantly asking me to do the "dirty work" for their patients.
Nobody likes to clean up poop or deal c- vomit and other bodily fluids, however I give my patients the best quality of care. I don't call anyone else to do AM care.
I truly, truly, love taking care of others. I've been compassionate all my life, and people are constantly telling me how sweet I am. I just think I have a nurses heart.
I can hit the lottery today or tomorrow and win a Million dollars, and you know what ? I would still finish my schooling to become a NURSE, and also work as a NURSE.
I don't care what people say, if you are in it just for the money there is no way you can give compassionate care. If you aren't happy being a nurse, going to work will be a dread every time. Kudos to the OP for hitting this right on the nail.
I have to be honest. I'm getting frustrated with all the posts ABOUT nurses being frustrated about "people going into nursing for a paycheck."
1. How do you know why some one is REALLY going into nursing.
2. Wouldnt you be supportive of more nursing interest as it most likely raises the standards of nursing? If you care SOOOO much for the pts, I would think that more competitive nursing would be a GOOD thing.
3. Why do you feel like, just because you wanted to become a nurse at 9, then youre MORE deserving than me who wanted to become a nurse at 24?
I dont mean to sound rude because I have so so so much respect for all nurses... however, get off your high horse. How about some mutual respect, reguardless of the reasons for peoples decision to enter nursing. I cant take it... if there's one more post about why some one is BETTER than some one else because theyve wanted to be a nurse before they were born I'm going to scream. I swear... no other profession does this. Could you see a lawyers forum where actual lawyers vent because theyve ALWAYS wanted to be a lawyer to get justice, and how DARE some one go to law school for the money? Good grief!!! Be supportive!!! PLEASE!
I don't believe in God. So I don't believe any higher power "called" me to nursing. I used to want to be a software programmer because I love math and felt I would enjoy it. Then suddenly I no longer wanted to be one, because I could not find a job anywhere over a long two year period of time. Then I had two children, was amazed at how comfortable and calm I was in regards to their births, and then on looking at the website for the local community college, I saw a huge banner advertising nursing school. I tossed it around for a few weeks, talked to family and friends, thought about how when I was younger I'd always wanted to be in the peace corp or volunteer at some remote location or another where people were in need or wanted to be a social worker, before life and the need to take care of myself and my son became my only priority.
Is it a calling for me? No
Do I like the fact that I will have an easier time getting a job in a tough economy? YES
Do I like that I can make people's day better? YES
Do I like that I will make a decent paycheck? YES
*btw, anyone who thinks that $60k a year is NOT a great paycheck amuses the heck out of me. Any idea what the median salary is in your area? The median income in my county is $25,000!!! I think you'd be surprised to see how nice it really is in comparison. My husband makes about that much, so between us we could have a $120k a year household. Not shabby IMO at all.
People go into nursing for a variety of reasons. I chose it for a LOT of reasons and none of them had to do with a supernatural being telling me where to go. That is a totally different issue from someone being unprofessional. Unprofessional behavior is not acceptable in ANY profession and you do not have to be in it for any particular reason to be professional.
I went into nursing due to flexible hours/decent pay check for the hours I work and am able to use my mind and my hands---plus I am a social person and the thought of working behind a desk drives me CRAZY.
Nursing was a win/win choice for me and my family.
For those nurses that say "I dont do it for the money" my standard response is "oh so your a volunteer?"
I was certainly not "called" to be a nurse...I worked hard for years to get through school, I had 2 kids was pregnant with our third and wanted a job that I could work a few days a week and be able to provide for my family. Now as a nurse I can work one extra day a week and my husband can be a stay at home dad to all 4 kiddo's.... These things do not make me a bad or uncaring nurse. I am actually a darn good, if not great nurse, and I did it for the job security and the paycheck....
My mother graduated in 1959. She wanted to be a doctor, but her father informed her that "Men are doctors, Women are nurses!" She didn't have much of a choice back then.
My sister became a nurse in 1984. That was funny for me because I remembered in JHS when I had a nosebleed at the kitchen table and the blood fell onto my food, my sis got sick! LOL
My brother became a nurse a few years ago (age 40). In his youth, he was on full ride at USC and had a 3.95 GPA in a triple major. He had the intellect to become a doctor, but refused to do it because he believed (wrongly) that my mother pre-ordained this for him. He dropped out of school after 2 years. Decades later he went back. Why? His friends were dying of AIDS and it was breaking his heart. He now wanted to make a difference. Also, nursing is a very gay-friendly career! The money? A definite bonus! (He made over $100K last year!)
Me? Like a previous poster....I have been in IT for 16 years. I am tired of this field and tired of the repeated layoffs. I wanted a new career and one that would mostly replace my current income of $75K+. I also wanted the training to be short. An ASN would not take long, would not be expensive (CC), and nursing would replace the majority of my pay....all of it if I worked enough OT. I have raised 5 children and have seen many things that would "gross out" so many people I know and it didn't bother me. My kids and I love watching discovery Health channel especially: Trama in the ER, Amazing stories of the ER, Moment of Impact, all those baby shows....etc. None of that grossed me out and I thought that I could have fit in those ER's. (We will see, I guess!)
Also, understand this.....I was a 16 yo HS senior. I had to choose what I was going to be when I grew up at 16. I told my Dad that I wanted to study Art and was forbidden to do so! I then suggested Math and his statement was, "What are you going to do with Math? Teach?! Teachers don't make money!" So I asked HIM what I should be. He said: "Good at science and math....you should be an Engineer." My degree is in Electrical Engineering.
Not all of us knew what we wanted at 9. I didn't even know at 16. Many of us were raised in an era where we were compelled to follow our parents wishes.
I became a nurse shortly after my seperation from husband I was broke living pay check to paycheck with the state of TN corrections. One year of LPN school proved I am stronger than I thought. Now, I am trying to find a contracting agency for LPNs in Iraq. If anyone has some suggestions please pass along.
I was never one of those children that "always wanted to be _____" when I grew up. I don't know why, I just didn't. I wasn't lazy. I have been working since I was 14 years old, started off babysitting, and got my first job at 16 and worked full time until I had my first child.
I knew I wanted to be happy with what I was doing. I knew I wanted to help people. Many jobs didn't appeal to me.
Deciding to do nursing was a very slow process, but I wasn't about to choose any career that didn't pay where I couldn't make a living and survive, especially if I had to pay for the tuition to get there.
So that is how I ended up in nursing school. Doing advanced practice, not stopping at an RN, has always been my goal and is my entire reason for being in nursing school.
i, personally, would rather die than be their patients - that's how greedy, selfish, money-hungry some of my lovely classmates are.
rngolfer53
681 Posts
Money is not really a "satisfier" in any field. The lack of it, perceived or real, is often a dissatisfier.
Nursing is a second career for me, and I make less now than I did before. That doesn't in any way make me a better or more dedicated nurse. Or a worse one, for that matter.
There are many days in nursing or any other field where you get through largely based on pride in your professional ability to do the job well, and earn the respect of your peers.