Why do we continue to do it?

RNDreamer · Apr 17, 2011

I do it for the money and definitely for the variety of specialities. No, I'm not rich, but I am more comfortable finacially than I have EVER been before. I love watching my savings account grow with every paycheck I receive.

I tolerate the BS (Customer Service, PG, etc) for the experience I'm getting that employers are looking for. Hopefully, it will pay off in the end when I get my dream job.

ShellyRn1117 · Apr 17, 2011

I am a nurse, a good one, a grateful one. I do it because I am so blessed to be able to touch another persons life and to help them or their family in a time of need. I am honored to be a nurse. I do it bc it is what I was created to do. I continue through adversities, through abusive situations, and despite any negative circumstance. Its not money or recognition or glory but I live and love to help people! I am so grateful every single time I can offer help, pass a med, do cpr or whatever. I will never stop. I am in a difficult situation, and if anyone had a reason to give up I would be among them but I will not. I will serve my patients till the day God has other plans for me. I won't stop! And if you wonder why I said I have reason to give up pls read my thread entitled please help im in trouble

Blessings

Shelly

ShellyRn1117 · Apr 17, 2011

I started because it was good money for 2 yr degree, I loved helping people and making a difference. When I got burnt out, I changed into another area. I was good at it and loved it. Then I found it was not so much loving it as it was a job. I made a difference but many patients expect so much more, we turned into customer service reps, not professionals. Hospitals now are practically call centers with nurses being pushed to the limit and beyond every day. I mean what else could I do.. Then I stopped in 2010, I stopped for combined total of 5 months and was "nurse" for my parents. I had to fight the system, the nurses ( not all) the doctors, all to get anywhere near the level of quality of care I expected.
For past 4 months have been searching for a job. Few interviews, offers that i was unwilling to accept.
Maybe it is because I have grown weary, maybe it is because I lost the 2 patients I tried hardest to save...but I am not sure I want to continue to do this anymore.
Yes if we stopped, there are others waiting, but to read the posts on this site every day, new grads are miserable for the most part and really wondering why they are doing this. Things are changing for nurses.
Being a nurse is what we all wanted to be. But continuing to work as a nurse has changed and I fear it is a downward trend causing more unhappiness........I just wonder what it will be 10 yrs from now:confused:

I am deeply sorry for your loss, keep the faith.

danh3190 · Apr 17, 2011

We do it because we that's where our talents are.

I also do it because of the money. There are not many other blue collar jobs that pay as much.

If we stopped doing it they'd end up either training and hiring replacements (there are lots of very good nurses who had 20-24 month nursing programs). Or else they would hire some sort of techs to do the job

mol42 · Apr 17, 2011

I appreciate everyone's honesty. Nice to know i'm not alone in this either. I too am in that scenario of loving the work hating the job but the great commute, preferred shifts, current pay status makes it more challenging to leave. I am currently in the scenario of trying to decide if staying is worth forking out all the money I'm paying in daycare because it seems that work has become more about fighting the beaurocracy to deliver better patient care. The whole rush, get em in get em out scenario is ruining it for me not to mention feeling like you constantly have to bow to administration and surgeons all day long....

Orange Tree · Apr 17, 2011

The chaos makes me feel alive! And sometimes dead.

Debilpn23 · Apr 17, 2011

Have worked in the medical field . Most of my working years.

Started as CNA then went to nursing. Don't really know anything else.

gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

Simple question.. why do we continue to do it? Certainly not the money? Absolutely not the FUN?
Why do we keep being nurses? Well better yet, why do we keep working as nurses? What would they do if we stopped?

We do it because if not us then who? Each one of us as a drive to care for others, call it a calling if you want. But, for whatever our reasons, I believe there are very few of us who could turn away from someone who needs our skills.

What would they do if we stopped?? Just hire another group of Nurses, or train up thier CNA's to save the cost of a Nurse. Oh, wait.... thier already doing that!

BrookeeLou_RN · Apr 17, 2011

I am impressed with your answers and feelings. With the large number of posts on AN from nurses lacking satisfaction, I was not sure I would hear such positive answers. Of course nurses have never liked lack of respect, unfair wages, dangerous staffing, nasty patients/co-workers/families..it just was beginning to me to seem to be so increased and I could hear a sense of enough is enough.

But it does seem that why we all think these issues are wrong, most are not willing to stop being a nurse!

That is good:redpinkhe

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

I'm only staying for another year or two, then I'm out. I have the chance to learn case management and a few other things, so I'm going to train in that, then apply for a job in that area.

I am only doing nursing now for the money (the almighty dollar, SIGH), get my debts paid, then I'm gone baby!

It's 5.37am over here and I LOATHE getting up early. A job with decent hours and enough sleep would be a blessing for me. No more earlies! Only one more to go - yah!

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

I USED to do it because the occasional miracles, or just moments of connection were enough to get me past all the other frustrations.
Now, I do it because I like to eat and stay out of debt. I still use my brain and my body, but my heart and goodwill are pretty much divorced from this career.

That is exactly how I feel about nursing. I pretty much feel dead when I am on the floor - just don't see the point anymore in nursing whiny, whingy people who don't take our advice and who keep coming back for more care.

It just seems such a waste of my precious time. Life it too short to be unhappy, or to be in the wrong job.

rkitty198, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2011

My reasons change from patient to patient.