What exactly ARE the wrong reasons?

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I've seen a lot of people around here state that if you get into nursing for the wrong reasons, then you are going to hate it. Well, what exactly are the wrong reasons? What are the right ones?

"Nursing school tends to weed out the toads, but a few make it through.":roll

THAT is the funniest thing I've seen all day. That and the post about the "toads" going into management. Holy crap, lmao...

To the OP - people have given you a lot of good reasons TO go into nursing - here's my personal favorite reason NOT to, and I just heard this last week from a girl in school. (We graduate in DECEMBER) Like, all in one breath, she says

"I really don't think I'll do anything with this degree, hospitals smell awful and I don't think I could work in one, the money's not that great compared to my old job, and I don't ever want to have to work nights or weekends."

And when I TRIED to politely ask her why in the WORLD she had been taking up a seat in a (aren't they all?) very highly selective program, her answer was that she "could see herself working for a plastic surgeon, so I can get free boobs and lips and stuff." :uhoh3:

A few toads, a few insane people. What're ya gonna do?

Edit: I realize she wouldn't HAVE to work in a hospital/ltcf or on nights or weekends, but still... worst statement I've heard from another student about life after graduation.

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And when I TRIED to politely ask her why in the WORLD she had been taking up a seat in a (aren't they all?) very highly selective program, her answer was that she "could see herself working for a plastic surgeon, so I can get free boobs and lips and stuff." :uhoh3:

good friggin' Lord!!!!!!

very scary.

yowza.

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Specializes in OB.
BTW, tweety, I've seen some of the 'toads'! They go into management frequently. :)

yep, and sometimes they become instructors !

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
i agree there isn't a wrong reason.

oh, i think i have to disagree with you all on this one. :)

while i agree that one does not need to feel that nursing is a "calling" in order for it to be a good career choice, there are definatly "wrong" reasons to go into nursing.

i agree that (in the absence of any other reason), going in to nursing for the money/job security is a really bad reason to become a nurse. nursing is too stressful and demanding to be in it only for the money.

to get a free/reduced rate boob job? yup, really bad reason to become a nurse.

because you think you look cute in scrubs? this too, is a really bad reason to become a nurse. not to mention that this person is seriously delusional. though i admit to wearing scrubs around the house because they are comfy, no one looks good in them. :)

but i'm surprised that no one has mentioned my least favorite reason for becoming a nurse: to find a doctor to marry. i'd like to think no one has mentioned it because it isn't happening as much, but i graduated with a handful of girls that were in nursing school for that reason. somehow, i doubt they are happy today (even if they did find that doctor).

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Bad reason #34: To get good health insurance. After all, when you're a nurse, you work for the hospital, you know all the docs, so you get charged less, right????

Right??

(This was a convo I had with a clueless longlost HS buddy of mine awhile back.)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
after all, when you're a nurse, you work for the hospital, you know all the docs, so you get charged less, right????quote]

well, no.......

but at least you know what doctors you want to see, and which ones you want to run, run, run, as fast and far away as you can from!:lol2:

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"could see herself working for a plastic surgeon, so I can get free boobs and lips and stuff." :uhoh3:

:trout:

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I think that everyone has different reasons for choosing nursing and that they are primarily based on their situations in life. I agree that if your goal is job security, variety, a livable wage, and good helath benefits then go for it. I have worked with so many nurses who chose nusring as either a second career or a first career (later in life) for these very reasons. Most of them had gotten divorced and these were things that they valued, looked for, and needed from a job, as they were thrust into the role of 'bread winner'. But ya know what they were darn good nurses...most of them anyway :)

I have met people during school who seem totally dillusional when it comes to what nursing really is. They think they are going to be making mega bucks right off the bat, and that they will be getting to pick and choose jobs, and that they can basically write there own schedules, ect. In some instances they are correct, but not as a new grad. Conversely nursing is very hard work (I am only a CNA) and dealing with people in agony ect is very emotionally draining at the end of the day or the end of the week. Furthermore those people are not realizing that you could be a substandard burger flipper but you cannot be a substandard nurse (I know some will disagree). You must be profecient, knowledgeable, have good customer service skills, genuinely care about the well being of your fellow human beings, know that hospitals run 24-7 365d/yr, you will have to work w/e and holidays. There will be times you may have to take call, and so on. Forgive my rambles but I guess the wrong reason for going into nursing is if you are totally dillusional about the reality of nursing, I think those are the people that will not do well.

Did that make sense????? So tired :)

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All time worse reason for going into nursing....and I actually had a new grad tell me this years ago...are ya ready?....SO I CAN MARRY A DR. LOL...the old MRSMD degree:lol2: .....(not my invention....that's what the residents used to call it!)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Here are a few more WRONG reasons:

1. I want to be a nurse because working with the other nurses would be great -- because all nurses are such nice people. (... and would be nice to me ... and understand all my problems ... etc. etc.)

2. I want to be a nurse because I need eveyone to tell me how wonderful I am. I'm shy and insecure and need the "ego stroking" that being a nurse will give me.

3. I'm going to nursing school because I'm not a good enough student to succeed in a real college major -- or in most other career fields.

4. I'm going into nursing becuase my mother, father, etc. (fill in the blank) think it will be a good choice for me.

5. I'm majoring in nursing in school because it will be good preparation for being a wife and mother someday. I really don't plan to work much, if at all, after I graduate.

6. I never really wanted to be a nurse, but when my Dad was sick 2 years ago, I promised God I would be a nurse if he helped my Dad get better.

7. I want to be a nurse specializing in psychiatry because I am comfortable in that environment -- having spent so much time in such environments as a patient, myself.

Those are just a few off the top of my head.

llg

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Specializes in Stroke Seizure/LTC/SNF/LTAC.
If I was a banker or an accountant, I'd probably go postal.

Hey, Blee, I used to BE an accountant! Yes, I was very unhappy. So glad I took the risk to do what I love (nursing).

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

Hey, Blee, I used to BE an accountant! Yes, I was very unhappy. So glad I took the risk to do what I love (nursing).

I figured that if I had to hear people's complaints, at least I had the power to do something about them in a meaningful way. The grad student who threw her books in my direction because the network crashed and she didn't save her work (for like 4 chapters... dumbass...LOL - we had signs and popups galore asking users if they "saved their work"), didn't have a stinking clue.

I already have my self-esteem firmly in place, so if I can make someone else's day better while I am making a nice living and allowing my nocturnal nature to take over (I work night 12's - happily) - all the better.

Good for you, liebling, it must have been scary taking that risk. I had 8 years off raising children to decide what to do with my life once the chicks were out of the nest.

Blee

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