Why are you REALLY going into nursing? Honest answers please.

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Ok, I'm a bit frustrated with all of these posts telling us that we shouldn't go into nursing because we need a job and steady income. Sure, I do like to help people, but I need a steady job even more. So, I decided to post a poll to see if we can get some honest answers.

:p

Specializes in Cardiac.

To Topcat, ditto. You and I must share a mind as you summed up my exact feelings. :nurse:

I'm sorry, but this is what bugs me about the, "I wouldn't want you as my nurse" scenario, when you honestly say you're going into nursing because you need a steady job.

Working conditions for nurses may be lousy but, as they're also fond of pointing out, there's always been a nursing shortage of some kind. So, most nurses have probably been gainfully employed and, even if they're not always happy in their jobs, at least they had a paycheck if they wanted one.

A lot of us, by contrast, have worked in other professions and, consequently, have suffered through constant rounds of layoffs that can make life downright miserable. Lousy working conditions may be tough, but try living with NO paycheck. It's a lot tougher.

So it's easy for them to say, "Don't go into nursing for the money," when they've always had options and we haven't. It's not fair to say we're going to be lousy nurses because, just for once, some of us would like a steady career, and not have to look over our shoulders all the time, waiting for those pink slips.

The first order of business in life is survival. I fail to understand why that somehow makes me less caring or compassionate.

:angryfire

I feel ya Lizz. I think this will always be an ongoing debate in nursing. Bottom line...there are those who will never understand because they have/had certain luxuries, options, forgot where they came from, etc. And sorry to say, but those are the ones I wouldn't want as my a nurse, because they lack the ability to empathize.

I'm sorry, but this is what bugs me about the, "I wouldn't want you as my nurse" scenario, when you honestly say you're going into nursing because you need a steady job.

Working conditions for nurses may be lousy but, as they're also fond of pointing out, there's always been a nursing shortage of some kind. So, most nurses have probably been gainfully employed and, even if they're not always happy in their jobs, at least they had a paycheck if they wanted one.

A lot of us, by contrast, have worked in other professions and, consequently, have suffered through constant rounds of layoffs that can make life downright miserable. Lousy working conditions may be tough, but try living with NO paycheck. It's a lot tougher.

So it's easy for them to say, "Don't go into nursing for the money," when they've always had options and we haven't. It's not fair to say we're going to be lousy nurses because, just for once, some of us would like a steady career, and not have to look over our shoulders all the time, waiting for those pink slips.

The first order of business in life is survival. I fail to understand why that somehow makes me less caring or compassionate.

:angryfire

Nursing is physically and emotionally draining. You can have seven patients, 40 meds to give by 0900, doctors issuing new orders, family members calling and no CNA to help. On top of this, one of your patients rings the call light every 10 minutes because he is scared, lonely, confused, etc. Another patient's husband is irate because the doctor hasn't been in yet and he comes to the nursing station every 15 minutes demanding to know when the doctor will be coming.

Everyone, regardless of their motivation to become a nurse, would be stressed, frustrated and aggravated.

I think the question to ask yourself is how would I deal with the situation? Do I have the patience, emotional maturity, temperament and other personal resources to cope with the situation without letting my feelings impact patient care? I believe how you answer that question is the best indicator of what kind of nurse you will be, not motivation.

I am a grown person and I have to support myself.

Could I be a nurse for free? No.

Would I live in poverty to be a nurse? No.

Call me a realist, or just call me a single woman.

That said, I have always wanted to be a nurse. I was a candy striper in HS, etc. I care. I want to help. I would do it even if I won the lottery...maybe part time doing exactly what I wanted... but nursing none the less. I love helping people. Nursing is my life dream and luckily it will allow me a modest yet comfortable independent lifestyle.

Nursing is physically and emotionally draining. You can have seven patients, 40 meds to give by 0900, doctors issuing new orders, family members calling and no CNA to help. On top of this, one of your patients rings the call light every 10 minutes because he is scared, lonely, confused, etc. Another patient's husband is irate because the doctor hasn't been in yet and he comes to the nursing station every 15 minutes demanding to know when the doctor will be coming.

Everyone, regardless of their motivation to become a nurse, would be stressed, frustrated and aggravated.

I think you are only talking about floor nursing when you say "nursing" in the above post. Not everyone plans on pursuing whatever job the above details includes. There's more to nursing than med surg floors, back pains and frustration. Maybe someone wants a solid career in nursing but plans on working in a doctor's office or do legal nursing or a pharm rep?? Surely their care would be no less because they strive to enhance their lifestyle with a good solid paycheck. The hospital is not a convent and nurses are not called by god, it's a CAREER choice for most people.

I think you are only talking about floor nursing when you say "nursing" in the above post. Not everyone plans on pursuing whatever job the above details includes. There's more to nursing than med surg floors, back pains and frustration. Maybe someone wants a solid career in nursing but plans on working in a doctor's office or do legal nursing or a pharm rep?? Surely their care would be no less because they strive to enhance their lifestyle with a good solid paycheck. The hospital is not a convent and nurses are not called by god, it's a CAREER choice for most people.

True. 60 percent of nursing jobs are in hospitals, so the remaining 40 percent leaves a lot of room for other choices.

:smokin:

Specializes in Pediatrics.
And what makes you think I don't have enough "heart into it"? You have no right to judge me, especially when you don't know me.

This is what really annoys me. Just because I'm honest about needing a steady job, doesn't mean I don't care about people.

I don't go on and on about caring because, quite frankly, I sometimes think it's disingenuous. There is no way I would go through the hell that is school if there wasn't a steady job at the end of the road. I need to pay bills, just like anybody else.

But, at the same time, that doesn't mean I don't care about people. If anything, I'll be able to care for others more because I won't have to worry about taking care of myself.

:angryfire

I feel you are right. We all come from different walks of life, and some of the things we go through help us to be more compassionate and understanding. We have a greater appreciation for life and for our fellow man. In addition to this new-found wisdom and appreciation comes responsibility, a lot of which is financial. Children, cars, mortgages, student loans, medical bills, grocery bills, utility bills, bills, bills, bills. Just because we need to pay these bills, and KNOW that we will be able to pay the bills again the following month, does not mean we will be bad nurses. In fact, I think if a person has so much financial responsibility, it would be foolish to go into a profession "Just for the love of it" if it were not a secure or adequate paying profession. JMHO.

:uhoh3:

okay...let's just clear this up...I think that being a nurse and having your number one reason be for job stability and all that is perfectly realistic...I just was getting the impression from some of your earlier posts that that was the ONLY reason your going into it, which I don't think is ethical....sorry if you felt that I was judging you...I didn't mean to push any buttons...I was just trying to make the point that TRULY caring about people is a HUGE aspect of nursing care, not only to do the job right, but to earn the PRIVELEGE of being a nurse....thats all...I truly am sorry if I offended you, hope that clears up what I was trying to say:)

And what makes you think I don't have enough "heart into it"? You have no right to judge me, especially when you don't know me.

This is what really annoys me. Just because I'm honest about needing a steady job, doesn't mean I don't care about people.

I don't go on and on about caring because, quite frankly, I sometimes think it's disingenuous. There is no way I would go through the hell that is school if there wasn't a steady job at the end of the road. I need to pay bills, just like anybody else.

But, at the same time, that doesn't mean I don't care about people. If anything, I'll be able to care for others more because I won't have to worry about taking care of myself.

:angryfire

okay...let's just clear this up...I think that being a nurse and having your number one reason be for job stability and all that is perfectly realistic...I just was getting the impression from some of your earlier posts that that was the ONLY reason your going into it, which I don't think is ethical....sorry if you felt that I was judging you...I didn't mean to push any buttons...I was just trying to make the point that TRULY caring about people is a HUGE aspect of nursing care, not only to do the job right, but to earn the PRIVELEGE of being a nurse....thats all...I truly am sorry if I offended you, hope that clears up what I was trying to say:)

I appreciate your apology, and thank you. I'd just like to mention something else that, perhaps, you haven't considered.

Nurses love to say that it should be about caring, not money. And, in an ideal world, I would agree. But that's not how it really works.

Higher paying nursing positions are almost always filled more than lower paying positions, consistently, across the board. This has been widely reported in news articles where recruiters, hospital administrators, etc. have talked about the shortage. As one agency owner put it, "At a certain price point, there are nurses."

In my area, half the nurses commute 30 miles or more, not because they aren't needed here. They are, desperately. But, rather than helping out their local community, they fight the traffic and work elsewhere, mostly because they can make $5 or more an hour elsewhere. Despite the tremendous inconvenience of traffic and the extra costs of commuting (gas, etc.), not to mention time, they do it for the money.

If it's supposed to be about caring too, and not just the money, then there seems to be a lot of "unethical" nurses out there, if that's the standard. Afterall, actions do speak louder than words.

The fact is: what people say, and what people actually do are two different things. In reality, money comes first for a lot of nurses.

;)

unfortunately, I do agree...Call me unrealistic...but I just hope that people keep joining nursing for the fact that they want to "make a difference" and of course the ones that join for other reasons are also greatly needed...but just as long as everyone treats each patient as an individual and not as a 'case'...thats all...Good luck in all you do...:)

I appreciate your apology, and thank you. I'd just like to mention something else that, perhaps, you haven't considered.

Nurses love to say that it should be about caring, not money. And, in an ideal world, I would agree. But that's not how it really works.

Higher paying nursing positions are almost always filled more than lower paying positions, consistently, across the board. This has been widely reported in news articles where recruiters, hospital administrators, etc. have talked about the shortage. As one agency owner put it, "At a certain price point, there are nurses."

In my area, half the nurses commute 30 miles or more, not because they aren't needed here. They are, desperately. But, rather than helping out their local community, they fight the traffic and work elsewhere, mostly because they can make $5 or more an hour elsewhere. Despite the tremendous inconvenience of traffic and the extra costs of commuting (gas, etc.), not to mention time, they do it for the money.

If it's supposed to be about caring too, and not just the money, then there seems to be a lot of "unethical" nurses out there, if that's the standard. Afterall, actions do speak louder than words.

The fact is: what people say, and what people actually do are two different things. In reality, money comes first for a lot of nurses.

;)

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
The fact is: what people say, and what people actually do are two different things. In reality, money comes first for a lot of nurses.

;)

Absolutely money is important. You see it all the time. People will job hop to get that sign-on bonus. People will go prn to make that extra $10.00/hr. People here in St. Pete will drive across the bay to Tampa to get $3.00/hr more, nurses work for an Agency to make big bucks, nurses travel to get free travel, big bucks and housing paid for.

The jobs nurses take has a lot to do with the money.

To me it's two separate issues. I'm a nurse because I care about getting and helping sick people and I'm a compassionate understanding person. The reason I stay a nurse and stay at this particular job has a lot to do with the money. If someone offered me $5.00 an hour more, I would probably jump at it considering benefits, etc. That doesn't make me less of a compassionate nurse.

I agree with finally though. In the long run if a person is looking to be a nurse only to make a buck and couldn't care less about people or helping them, or was uncompassionate, they make lousy nurses and I don't want to work with them and don't want them as my nurse.

Lizz, there is nothing wrong with picking a career that is going to pay the bills. Most people do that. Most college kids are thinking of money and job availability when they are deciding what to major in. No need to apologize for that at all.

What I don't like seeing is burnout over the years that people loose that compassionate edge and stay in it only for the money. Nursing has beat it out of them and they have nothing left. They are going through the motions. Sometimes I feel like that myself. :)

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