What's wrong with seeking stability & security?

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Specializes in Geriatric, Psych.

I'm currently debating with myself on whether not to bridge to the RN or to pursue other interests. I've heard from so many nurses out there who seem to have a real problem with those of us nurses who will admit that a major factor in our choosing nursing was the salary options, flexibility, and (perceived in this economy) stability. They tell those considering nursing for the same reasons, that they'll never make good nurses, :nono: or that they'll just get burned out and leave the field, that the only reason to become a nurse is because you bleed to help other people. :rolleyes: But they're plenty who have always dreamed of nursing and will burn out either way. As there are those who just don't understand what nursing work actually is and burn out, those who are afraid of "yucky" work, those who only want to do administrative work, etc.

My personal story is that I left business school to pursue nursing so that I could have the financial security since I wasn't interested in climbing the corporate ladder. And I've always had an interest in healthcare (almost pursued sports medicine) so it was a mostly smooth transition for me and I think I'm a darn good nurse. :cool: *pats self on back, hehehe, j/k*. But although I didn't "always want to be a nurse", I always wanted to help people in one way or another and have found aspects of nursing that I love (and of course, some I could do without :barf01:). If and when I leave the field, it will be to follow my dream of owning a business. And honestly, without my nursing salary & flexibility, it would probably be much harder to do so and maintain myself without taking out many loans, moving back home, etc. Nursing has and definitely would continue to make me a very independent young woman.

Anyway, my point is, what is so wrong with seeking the financial perks of nursing if you can do the job, because although we do deal with people on the most personal of levels, it IS work. Whether you see it as a job or as a career, we are not volunteering to do this work. We expect to receive monetary compensation (and sometimes get unexpected rewards :hug: from pts and families) at the end of the week, or two weeks, etc. How many of you would have entered into or continued in the field if it paid only $5-6 above the minimum wage?

So let's stop putting barriers and constraints on the field and those who may enter it for the financial benefits it can offer. Sure the money is definitely not everything, and at times doesn't seem to be enough. But does the prospect of decent earnings and autonomy determine who will become a caring, compassionate, active (and much needed) member of the nursing field and who will not? How much longer will we keep telling those whose initial or final decision to enter nursing stemmed from economic need that they are not needed here and destined to failure? :idea: Instead, maybe we should focus our energies on advocating for true depictions of nursing in the media, organizing a collective voice nationwide and truthfully advocating nurse education (the good & the bad) so that at least, future nurses (and those who choose another path) can make informed, healthy decisions.

And that's just my :twocents:. Thanks for reading!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

As you've discovered you don't make that much as an LPN and your career options are quite limited. So why didn't you just go for the RN in the beginning? Did you not research the average salary? As an RN you will make more money and will have more job options, so I would encourage you to continue on. I enjoy being a nurse, I know it was what I was made to do, but the reason I turned to it was to make a living. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with stability and security.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

go for it. That is why I pursued other degrees - to advance my salary and opportunities. Sometimes people project their own inadequacies because they are out of excuses as to why THEY are not striving for excellence.

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Specializes in ER, education, mgmt.

Go for it. Nursing is the only profession in which one's motives are questioned for entering in. I personally find it ridiculous. One of our best nurses is a young girl who has made it abundantly clear she wanted a career with financial rewards that was stable and would allow her to increase her income with OT. She gives great care and has a great work ethic. Who cares why they chose nursing? If they do good work and are a good employee let them be.

Good luck!

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Gee... I didn't know this was an issue. I've never had anyone ask me to justify my reasons for becoming a nurse. Oh... except on my essay for nursing school where I said it was an occupation in demand with growth opportunity, a respectable salary, and fit with my desire to be a productive citizen. I guess they seemed ok with that answer.

Funny, I did have a patient yesterday say "I bet you dreamed of being a nurse since you were just a little girl". I laughed and said "hardly, but I'm glad I became a nurse".

If you feel like nursing is a good fit for you, go for it and don't worry about what others think!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

OP -- btw please don't slam administration. After 20+ years I am entering administration. Not because I'm don't want to get my hands dirty, but because frankly I deserve it! I've got tons of experience and I have a lot to offer. I am also doing it for another challenge, better pay, and so I can pass on my knowledge to the staff (as a mentor).

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Specializes in Geriatric, Psych.

Jlcole45, thanks for your response! I was very much aware of the salary differences between RN & LPN when I considered nursing school. My aunt has been an RN for about six years and lives quite comfortably. However, I wasn't sure how deep my passions would lie in nursing so I decided that I could dedicate one year and a few thousand dollars to see if it was right for me. It definitely beats the thousands of dollars I took out in student loans to go to business school anyday! But my purpose in writing this wasn't to ask if I should continue in nursing or to complain about salary. I have no children or husband so LPN salary is actually quite nice (for me) compared to working in retail stores or at campus jobs, even if I am limited in practice :sniff:. But I would like to start putting more away for my business's future. Either way I wrote this moreso to vent and get conversation started on something I find very discouraging amongst nurses, and hopefully will be able to change one day.

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Specializes in Geriatric, Psych.
Go for it. Nursing is the only profession in which one's motives are questioned for entering in. I personally find it ridiculous. One of our best nurses is a young girl who has made it abundantly clear she wanted a career with financial rewards that was stable and would allow her to increase her income with OT. She gives great care and has a great work ethic. Who cares why they chose nursing? If they do good work and are a good employee let them be.

Good luck!

Thanks cookienay!!

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Specializes in Geriatric, Psych.

Jlcole45, I think you misunderstood when I said some only want to go for administrative work. I have no issue with that at all and am glad that there are nurses who want to do it. I've worked for a nurse administrator with no nursing experience ever, simply a nursing admin degree, so I would love to see more nurses who've worked in diff areas and know what it's like being on the floor, to be moving into that field. It makes all us staff nurses' lives so much easier!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Here's my take on it. There is nothing wrong with considering financial stability and security when choosing a career. However, we have a lot of people going to nursing school now who are totatlly unprepared to deal with the realities of the profession. They have done little research into the nursing profession, have little idea of what they are getting into, and are unlikely to stay very long in most nursing jobs. Such people are causing big problems for the profession and there is resentment building against them because they are consuming scarce educational and employment opportunities/resources, and making it more difficult for those people who truly want to be nurses in spite of knowing how difficult it can be.

It doesn't sound like you are one of those people, oneflyLPN, but you are picking up on some of that resentment that is not really directed at you.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So let's stop putting barriers and constraints on the field and those who may enter it for the financial benefits it can offer.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Nothing is wrong with seeking stability and security through a job in the nursing field.

Nursing is the only profession that scrutinizes the motivations of its members. Are you doing it for the money? Are you a nurse because you like people? Are you a nurse because you're a selfless angel of mercy?

Look carefully at some of the other educated professions in society. No one is really questioning the ulterior motives of the physician, attorney, college professor, engineer, speech pathologist, social worker, consultant, physical therapist, banker, businessman, or pharmacist. Other members of their professions aren't bothering them about selecting their respective career fields for the love of the job itself or other altruistic reasons. Their colleagues aren't snooping around and asking, "Is this a higher calling for you?"

This might sound quite frank, but another nurse's personal reasons for entering the profession are absolutely none of my business. We, as nurses and future nurses, should learn a lesson from the other professions and stop beating each other down. I surely do not work for free, and I fully expect to be paid for the services that I render. I've said this before, and I'll repeat it like a parrot.

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I understand what you're saying and agree.....but, only to a certain extent.

There are many people who go into nursing b/c of the stability and security, but IMO they need to have the underlying WANT to care for someone or they are going to be what I call an "assembly line nurse", meaning:

A nurse who treats each patient as if they were a part on an assembly line in a factory. Rushing through each patient to make money and get the job done; forgettting that they are a HUMAN being and not a machine part.

Now with that being said, I can say that a big reason I have chose nursing as a career is because of the stability and security. However, I had to ask myself if I would truely dedicate myself to giving each PERSON the care they deserve, if I would make sure to remember that they could be me in the future, or my family and care for them the way I would want to be cared for or the way I would care for someone I loved. I had to question weither or not I would want to deal with blood, waste, and sickness on a daily basis. I had to look deep within in myself and question my true intentions for becoming a nurse, b/c for me I don't want to just be a nurse; I want to be a GOOD NURSE.

SO IMO to anwser your question there's nothing wrong with becoming a nurse to seek stability and security, but I do think there has to be an underlying WANT to be a nurse in order to be the best nurse you can be and to give people the care they deserve...But, that's just my :twocents:

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