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

geeps suzanna, maybe the post office would be a better job for you??? :rotfl: :chuckle

anyhoo, here's my reasons:

*great hours for family with children (3 days long hours = full time)

*making a difference in hurting peoples lives

*good pay (i didn't say executive pay)

*totally interesting, challenging brain-engaging job

so how's that? heather

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Whew...I have lots of reasons.

First and foremost...it has always, always, always been my dream to be a nurse. Ever since I was a little kid. It's the only dream that has stuck with me.

Second...when I had my children, I had the great pleasure of having fabulous CNM's with me that really inspired me, as did the OB nurses on the floor.

Third...I need a steady job and a good income because my husband has some medical issues that may never get better.

Fourth...I want to have a career and be something other than a SAHM. Not that being a SAHM isn't rewarding, it's just mostly a thankless job.

Fifth....I am fascinated in the way the body works and everything having to do with health.

Sixth...I care about people, want to help them and want to make a difference in people's lives.

There may be more...but that's it for now. I feel very blessed to be a part of the program that I am starting since I had to drop out previously due to pregnancy. I know that I am lucky to be in this year's class and I will do everything I can to not let anyone, including myself, down. This time, I am following through (especially since there is no chance of another pregnancy! LOL!).

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Not that being a SAHM isn't rewarding, it's just mostly a thankless job.

Amen, CNM2B! :chuckle

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*Even though I WOULD RATHER LET THEM ALL DIE THAN EVER NURSE THEM BECAUSE OOOOH THEY REALLY GET ON MY NERVES, OOOO I'm going to murder one of them(Sorry if I'm scaring you; I'm in a particularly bad mood at this very minute), all of my family and friends know me well and think that I would make a terrific nurse so I know I have the personality/attitude/inetgrity that make people trust and want to be cared for(its from their abuse of me over all these years; they've rolled me out to be as soft as a jellyfish)

Well, I guess that's honest, and scary. Whoah.

:uhoh21:

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Well, I guess that's honest, and scary. Whoah.

:uhoh21:

Sorry, I'm really not going to kill anyone. I thought people could blow off steam about thier work/family/life in flamboyant ways on this site. I'm really an actress a lot of the times. I'll be more tactful next time. Promise. :p

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Sorry, I'm really not going to kill anyone. I thought people could blow off steam about thier work/family/life in flamboyant ways on this site. I'm really an actress a lot of the times. I'll be more tactful next time. Promise. :p

Yeah, I know. You don't have to be tactful on my account. It just reminded me of things I worry about, like how do you deal with patient death, malpractice and things like that. I may be in this for the money, but I do take this stuff pretty seriously. I'm the type of person who's going to feel really guilty if a patient dies on my watch, even if I did everything I could and, especially, if I screw up. If I see a malpractice situation, and even if it's not my responsibility, how do you handle that? I worry about stuff like that a lot. This could be a very complicated job where there are many moral dilemmas, and it's a big concern for me.

:uhoh21:

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Specializes in Endocrinology.

Whew! I can't believe I read all these posts.

Anyway, at first I wanted to be a nurse to work in L&D. Somewhere during school, that left me. Just overwhelmed with all the info, I guess. By the time I finished school, me and some of my classmates joked about how we should go get jobs as secretaries. We'd get paid just as much with less responsibility :chuckle .

It's sad that the real reason someone starts something always seems to take a different turn in the end. I hope I can begin my career with a positive attitude and ignore all the bad eggs in the nursing field. I love direct patient care as of now and I hope to always love it.

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i want to become a nurse to help others. to introduce a mother to her child or to help someone's grandparent say goodbye in a comfortable manner. these are the things i look forward to doing. for those who are in it for the money i am sorry but you are in it for the wrong reason. nursing is about caring for others. the money is good and where ever you go in the usa you will have a job waiting for you. however, this is one job that requires a heart and a tender caring touch. without these, you can't live up to what a true nurse is. even if you know everything the books have to offer, you are still missing that special something that the patients can detect. so in short, i am in this field to make a difference in the lives of others.:)

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I probably am just repeating what everyone else on here has said but I want to become a nurse because when people are sick, they are in some of the most miserable, vulnerable, and frustrating times in their life and I want to be there to help them through this time. Granted, I know it will be hard, long hours, hard working conditions, not appreciated and respected, and many times I will have to do things I don't particularly enjoy, but I hope to have the ability to overlook that and put myself in the patient's position and know that I would be glad to have someone to comfort and truly care for me. So despite all of my friends and family trying to talk me out of it I am going to apply for nursing school a year from this fall (prereqs take soooo long).

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Definitely don't let them talk you out of it. My extended family,...(not my husband or kids) keep trying to tell me I can't do it too, and I say BAh HUm bug to them..lol Good luck to you.

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i want to become a nurse to help others. to introduce a mother to her child or to help someone's grandparent say goodbye in a comfortable manner. these are the things i look forward to doing. for those who are in it for the money i am sorry but you are in it for the wrong reason. nursing is about caring for others. the money is good and where ever you go in the usa you will have a job waiting for you. however, this is one job that requires a heart and a tender caring touch. without these, you can't live up to what a true nurse is. even if you know everything the books have to offer, you are still missing that special something that the patients can detect. so in short, i am in this field to make a difference in the lives of others.:)
a person wanting a steady paycheck does not disqualify them from being caring, loving human beings. you can't judge someone on those grounds. i am in it for the money first and foremost. why? because i have a child who depends on me and only me for all of his needs. that is the type of situation i am in(like so many others on this board)at this point in my life...no, i would not be a nurse if i didn't get paid for it. if i won the lottery, i sure would. it is in me to be a comforter and to care for people. it's all i have ever wanted to do. but money is everything to people who live in the poverty hole. and i don't think anyone should feel bullied into thinking they are wrong for wanting to support their families first and foremost. i would like to see the people here who claim to be in nursing just because they care continue on in nursing without the pay. if you want to make such a difference, a paycheck shouldn't be required, right? sorry, but i am just sick and tired of people trying to make it seem like it is so wrong to want a stable job that pays ok. and it's funny how the majority of people who are so good at telling people they are going into the wrong profession because of the "money", are the ones who have husbands to support them emotionally and financially. not all of us have that luxury. hmmm, isn't part of being a good nurse the ability to step outside of yourself and understand other people's situations beside your own? i guess not. sorry, this is a sensitive issue for me and some others on this board.
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Specializes in Emergency Room.
A person wanting a steady paycheck does not disqualify them from being caring, loving human beings. You can't judge someone on those grounds. I am in it for the money first and foremost. Why? Because I have a child who depends on me and only me for all of his needs. That is the type of situation I am in(like so many others on this board)At this point in my life...no, I would not be a nurse if I didn't get paid for it. If I won the lottery, I sure would. It is in me to be a comforter and to care for people. It's all I have ever wanted to do. BUT money IS everything to people who live in the poverty hole. And I don't think anyone should feel bullied into thinking they are wrong for wanting to support their families first and foremost. I would like to see the people here who claim to be in nursing just because they care continue on in nursing without the pay. If you want to make such a difference, a paycheck shouldn't be required, right? Sorry, but I am just sick and tired of people trying to make it seem like it is so wrong to want a stable job that pays ok. And it's funny how the majority of people who are so good at telling people they are going into the wrong profession because of the "money", are the ones who have husbands to support them emotionally and financially. Not all of us have that luxury. Hmmm, isn't part of being a good nurse the ability to step outside of yourself and understand other people's situations beside your own? I guess not. Sorry, this is a sensitive issue for me and some others on this board.

trulyblessed i can empathize with your situation and i agree with you totally. i think people need to understand something, historically "working" and making a living was the responsibilty of the man, so when women's lib in the 60's and 70's allowed us the same freedom, we have had to fight for equality ever since. men don't have to apologize for picking a career based on money. only women are made to feel like they are being selfish and neglectful of their families when they do the same thing. considering nursing is a female dominated career it is not surprising that some people still feel this way. the history of nursing revolves around that of a "Caring" profession instead of one with high status attached to it so people immediately look at you with a critical eye when you say "i want a good paycheck for me and my child". ideally nursing probably should be a job that can be done without being compensated, but unfortunately life hands you a different deck of cards.

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