Where is the Passion?

pinkrain94 · May 10, 2014

I have no idea what she means by RN's get low pay. As far as I'm concerned RN's make alot of money.

Ally082 · May 10, 2014

Having high professional standards and a good attitude shows you have great character as a healthcare professional. You will go far in your career and in life because you exude the true qualities a nurse and a good person should posses. The general public expect nurses to have great bedside manner and demonstrate patience in challenging situations. It's a part of the job, some can't handle it as well as others. It sounds like you will handle it with class and grace if you ask me.

Ally082 · May 10, 2014

Dedication comes with passion. I know exactly what I'm getting myself into. I know what nursing is, and it's not an "idealism" I need to ditch. If you hate your job for the low pay and what you have to deal with maybe majors should be re-decided. I work as an ER technician and I have seen a lot and I know what nurses go through but it's not a reason to be hateful.

I agree with you. Stay true to yourself no mater what!

Yes, there are negative people in every job as others posters have said but there is a big difference between a job that has some tough employees and a job that is a toxic environment. I have worked in many different industries and there are always one or two difficult, or even negative people and gossiping people but some were tolerable places and others were totally toxic.

You have to find a way to stay true to your good attitude and high professional standards because you are the type of person that will get noticed and move up quickly as long as great nursing skills come along with that great attitude. Maybe you will inspire others to be less cynical, critical and judgmental of their patients and peers. Follow through with your plan and your dream. Stay calm, cool and collected when dealing with peers who have a bad attitude, always take the higher road even if it is the harder road to follow. Come here to vent and stay as anonymous here as possible! I really respect people like you. You are good to your core and you don't want to change. You also don't want to be bullied or targeted for being "too nice", "too soft" etc. which you shouldn't have to endure. Maybe when you become a nurse, the ER won't be the place for you, maybe a seasoned nurse can recommend the type of unit where there is typically a different culture and a better vibe.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 10, 2014

I am passionate about traveling the world. Nursing is my job. It pays the bills. If I didn't get paid for it, I wouldn't do it. It's not necessary to be overly passionate about your job.

PNW0212 · May 10, 2014

The nurses you're talking about may have gotten their degree with no passion for it. Ignore them. Their behavior should not affect YOUR career.

allnurses Guide · May 10, 2014

By the title of your thread I'm wondering if you think or are concerned that gossip, hatred and negativity are either inevitable if you are a nurse for long enough or perhaps is contagious if you view yourself as the sole person on the team who has passion and idealism. I don't know about other people, but I would say that in my case my passion has deepened in some ways while still being very realistic about the state of nursing today. I find that your core values don't waver too much as time goes on. I once worked in a truly toxic environment as an experienced nurse. It didn't affect me except to create a desire to get the hell out of there as soon as I could after making sure my side of the street was swept up.

If there is not one single other person you've worked with who isn't as you describe, it's possible you've unfortunately come across a toxic culture very early on and all you can really hope is that they leave you alone to do the kind of job you aspire to. Trying to change others or talk about being more positive almost always backfires in such cases. It is something of a cliché to say that you learn most about a person by who they are rather than what they say, but I think it's really true. Just be true to yourself. You never know what causes the gears to spin in someone else's mind. Maybe you'll learn something about your coworkers that changes your opinion or clarifies the reason behind what appears to be a negative, bitter attitude on the surface.

If you get any "supernurse" or "nurse nancy" comments don't get defensive. You may get that even with the best motives. Just smile along with them and keep on truckin'. Wishing you all the best!

ladyk84 · May 12, 2014

I made it a goal to chose a career that I wouldn't start to despise later on. I thought about it for years, changed my mind, tried other paths but nursing truly is what I get excited about. I feel that I will spend 75% of my adult life working so I better enjoy it. Nursing is tough but it's the tough that challenges me and is rewarding. Sure I am passionate about other things, but I want to wake up every day and not hate going to work. I didn't want to pick something that just pays the bills. I love studying about the human body and medical procedures and etc. I don't know why but it's what keeps my interest. I want to care for people and when I hit mid life I don't want to wonder about my generativity. A little genuine comfort never hurt anybody, and no one should forget that their patients are people too. I don't want to fall into stagnation. I know a few nurses I genuinely look up too. They're hard workers, but their secret is they really do love their career and it shows. But in a field where you constantly are taking care of ill people, a positive attitude can go far. But as for the demands of nurses they defiantly are high, so I can understand if someone just sees it as a job it can be considered too much work for what you bargained for. So maybe I'm lucky and I found my "calling".

explorereb96, ADN, BSN · May 17, 2014

Ha! Don't let those that politic get in the way of your happiness on the job. This kind of thing happens in EVERY profession. Just ask those that work on Wall Street and in offices all across the US. My answer to anyone who likes to talk about people (me or whoever) is "what?, are we back in high school now? sheesh" I always just rolled on. Don't ever be sorry for being true to yourself. I found it's ok to be friendly with the cliquey people but not to get too involved. Keep it low key, like having a coffee with them or ordering lunch. The moment they start talking about people and trying to lure you in, find something that you need to do (which in nursing, it shouldn't be too hard). If they press for an opinion, tell them you don't have an opinion. They don't pay you for your opinions so you don't think about it. You'll be fine. Most of the time i find that some of us oldsters (lol funny I don't FEEL old) are just jealous of your youth and excitement. Sometimes we forget what it's like to be fresh (not new but fresh) at something.

MoniAnn · May 18, 2014

I never understood "eating our young" either.

I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of new nurses and always made sure to warn them.

My guess would be that as an older nurse you don't want to be shown up by a new nurse...that would be my guess...as a new nurse it took me several months to prove myself to the older ones.

If I suggested something it was shot down but some how showed up later, once I had proven myself my ideas were mine and "wonderful let's start that today..."

Best wishes to you! Keep your head high and stay positive as well as staying confident in yourself! Know that you made it through nursing school without us old nurses and you WILL make it on the floor with out us!

Good luck!