Which came first, the $ or the ♥ ?

Nurses General Nursing

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At some point in your life you decided to become a nurse. So, for you, which came first?

A love of nursing (with the wage secondary)

.....or ....

Did the pay catch your eye and then you 'grew into' the idea of it all?

Specializes in Critical Care.

The

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Specializes in LTC.

For me it was the love. When I was a new grad I would ask for only 20 dollars an hour. Finally an employer told me that was a little too low and I should ask for more money. LOL

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Specializes in Psych.
I want a more active job.

Double ditto to this. I never want to perch on my ample rear at work again! I want a job that will enhance my current level of conditioning.

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the HEART for sure. loved it since i was 16 volunteering. started in the NICU holding babies!

and then fast forward couple years later... i found out about the $$$$. holy moley its GREAT!

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.

All about the Benjamins

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

I don't understand what would possibly make you think that I could "heart", love a stranger... that's obnoxious... I don't love my patients, to do so would negate my ability to think critically and seperate from their needs vrs. their wants.

A poor nurse whom loves their patient, gives the CHF'er all they wish to drink because it makes them happy.

I don't love them, I am a professional and a dang good one at that, so I know, no matter how close we are, ya ain't getting the water!!!!!! Same with a hemo patient, I can become close to you but nope!!!!! Professional accountability....

So no, have never ever loved a patient... I clock in... I'm NOT A VOLUNTEER, so take that as you wish, I work hard, dang hard for my pay... and my lack of love, or caring.. does not make me less of a caring in practice, sweet, loving, kind and gentle expert practitioner...

A wonderful peer, loved her patients too much, and it killed them. that's not what I"m there for... If I want to love them, I"d be family. Think hard, very hard about this!:cool: I have the strength to say no, thats my job.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

When I went to school we didn't make good money!

Minimum wage was around $2.00/hr....my first job with a BSN......$4.25/hr shift diff 25 cents for evenings......50 cents for nights!

For the Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!! definately for the love!

I love being a nurse, I love caring for people. I love the excitment,I loved always learning. I love getting to know who people are and why they are the way they are. I care for them as if they were my own family and I refused them things,at times, just like my family. I too am the ultimate professional and I don't volunteer either. Have I loved a patient and the bond we developed during our contact with each other? Yes....have I grown attached to their family and cried when their loved one died? Yes....

did I let it paralyze me...no. But everybody is different. Just as long as the family feel that the person caring for their loved one....cares!

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Specializes in acute care.

Interest in the field caused me to want to be a nurse as a teen.

As an adult, the money my nurse friends started out with after graduation is what made me become serious about pursuing it.

As a student, my interest increased through clinical experiences.

I'm a New Grad about to start my first job, so I don't feel any Love or Passion right now.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTAC, Critical Care.

Started off for the money and job security. Then I discovered I actually liked it and I enjoy working with people (patients, not necessarily some of my co-workers :D)

However, sometimes when I am doing enemas to prep someone for a colonoscopy, or I am restarting the 4th IV on a demented elderly patient, I think..."You could've been a welder", good money, better hours... less BS at times.

Oh well, I wouldn't trade this now.

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The $$ helps but there is more to it than that. If engineers were offering 150k base starting salary, I wouldn't do it cause I could careless about it and it would bore me to death to have to go to work everyday.

Perfectly put! I think lawyers make good money, but that career doesn't interest me in the least! It came down to a few career choices for me. All were healthcare or social service jobs, because that is where my interest lie. It was about getting the best bang for my buck education wise AND to do something that interest me. I have other careers that I would love to do...(like be a Victoria Secret Model).....but I was born into this short, bootylishous body LOL

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Specializes in ED.

I love the fact that i love my job and get paid plenty...............:)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I was interested in the caring aspect of nursing long before I had any clue what nurses' made. I'm a nurturing person. In fact, I don't even know when I first learned what a nurses salary is.... ???

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