Wrong reasons for going into nursing.

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I think I may be picking up a popular theme on this site. For every "whoopee, I got a job", there is a post about somebody being dissapointed about their experiences working. The first year after licensure postings are beginning to get scary.

How has your passion for nursing helped (or harmed) your sink or float fight in the nursing biz?

Whenever I feel insecure, I remind myself that I was born for this, and to cut the fear factor, now. I knew that I wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl, and cant imagine myself complaining of long shifts or dealing with puke.

Is there a difference on quality of care, (and viewpoints), on nurses who are nurses because of a personal passion? When you read some of these posts, do you get the feeling that some of them would not survive two minutes on your floor, because the right reasons for going into nursing is not there?

Frank honesty is welcomed.

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It's unfortunate that people who are ignorant/ naive of nursing see it as a way to make money.. I used to think this way prior to nursing school.

I once had that mindset but I foud people who do things like this never last.. I do have a personality of "finish what you start" and I've wanted to do this for a long time and am determiend to finish what I start and not be a quitter.

But I also developed a respect for nurses .. even more than I do for physicians because Nurses do have to put up with crap both from physicians and patients, and control their emotions regardless of circumstances.

I see it as for me now because I have an uncommon desire to succeed. It's the same desire to succeed and determination that made me contemplate trying out for the U.S Navy SEALs if it wasn't for RN (i'm physically built for agility and endurance. .I have that wirey frame from working out every day, doing hundreds of pushups and swimming 24 laps in one sitting and other things) .. But I figured that same drive to push cold be used in nursing as well and I wouldn't have the thought of spilled blood on my conscience. Besides, What would be left after the SEALs... Blackwater?

but alon with discipline and determiantion to succeed, I do have that outgoing personality where I can talk to a lot of people and give people good feelings around me and I've gotten a lot of compliments on my bedside manner and great jokes and my smile.. So that's why I really want to become an RN.

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People are motivated by different things, so "right" and "wrong" reasons are pretty individual.

I hear the first year in nursing is supposed to be really tough, and people tend to come here to vent. If it's making you feel anxious about your future, take a break from the site! I have to do that sometimes when the "I can't find a job" new grad posts get overwhelming to me. Being exposed to only the venting can skew your perspective on things, because people don't vent about how wonderful their situation is.

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Specializes in PACU, OR.

I'm an "old" nurse, and the training I did was hands-on, in the hospital. If you wanted to qualify as a registered nurse, you had to get into the real "down and dirty" of nursing, even before you put your foot into college. By the end of six months, which consisted (normally) of 3 months hospital, 3 months college, you had a pretty good idea of whether this was something you could see yourself doing for the next thirty or forty years.

I find it sad that people are investing huge sums of money to learn a profession that they're not cut out for. But I get a real kick out of reading the success stories! :)

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This again……. Everyone’s reason is different. You may change your mind too when you find out for profit hospitals are all about that “profit” overworked staff, customizing care to get the most from Medicare/insurance, and of course customer service.

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Specializes in Nursing Eduator.

As said before, there are MANY different reasons for nursing. I originally decided to go into nursing right out of high school in 1993 because my dad told me a nurse always has job security and financial security....however, my heart wasn't in it and I later dropped from the program. However, after YEARS of being in careers that did not feel personally or spiritually fulfilling I went back to school in 2006 into an ADN program, I cannot say honestly that money was not somewhat of the motivator back then, but after going to nursing school and working as a nurse I felt like I had found my niche, so to speak, and found the passion in my newly chosen career. It does matter where you work, because there is a HIGH burnout rate among nurses and even more so among new grads. If you can find what you LOVE about nursing or any career for that matter, you will be happy and at the very least, content with your choice in career. It is always 99% attitude and 1% situational (for the most part) As a new grad I worked in a hospital and felt like I could change the world...Later found out that it wasn't that EASY...I was definitely a little over ambitious and there were many times I was given a lesson in "Humility". But it is the overall experience of nursing and the rewards even though you may not be able to change the world over night, you can certainly have an impact...one person/patient at a time! With any job/career it comes with stress, and yes some problems...It is your choice to decided whether or not it is worth it and if the benefits out way the problems/stress. I have found that they by far have.....

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I'm so tired of reading posts by people who think they are so high and mighty for going into nursing for the "right reasons". It's a job. People chose different jobs for many reasons. Would you ever put down a person who decided on a career in mail delivery for going into it for the "wrong reasons"? No. Get over yourself.

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"Is there a difference on quality of care, (and viewpoints), on nurses who are nurses because of a personal passion? When you read some of these posts, do you get the feeling that some of them would not survive two minutes on your floor, because the right reasons for going into nursing is not there?"

I am a new grad and have complained on this site before. I know for me, I would love to work on a med/surge floor in a hospital but can't get a job there. I worked as a nursing assistant on one and loved it. Right now I am in ltc and dislike it because I am not using my nursing skills as much as I would like. Instead I am worrying more about giving out a 40 patient med pass on time, as long as nothing esle occurs. i feel unsafe and it's not the nursing care i would live to give. Many of the new grads complaining on here feel that they are unable to give good quality and safe nursing care. it's not that they don't have the passion for it. for me, i don't feel safe and worked too hard to get my license.

Another point is that I went to school with some wonderful nurses but are unable to hack in real world nursing. Some people aren't quick learners, don't work well under pressure, and are just slower paced. I know a few nurses who aprovide awesome nursing care but are stressed because they can't keep up with the demands the jobs. i have seen them get warnings because they aren't fast enough or for clocking out late. it's unfortunate because these are the ones who will say that maybe nursing isn't for them.

I also think it all comes to do being comfortable and having confidence. Once those are achieved, many new nurses will love their jobs. I thinnk that new nurses have to give med/surge at least a year before they give up on it. it's a huge learning curve if one has never worked in a hospital.

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I gotta say I agree with the above posters regarding going into nursing for the "right" reasons. What is "right" to you may be "wrong" to someone else. I don't see how having or NOT having a life long passion for nursing is indicitive of a person's capabilities in the field.

If someone is good at their job who cares what their motives are.

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To the OP,

How many years have you been in nursing? Are you a nurse? Or a student?

Nursing has it's pro's and con's always. Doesn't matter what your intentions are or where your heart is at. I entered nursing 20 years ago, things have changed through the years, it is sad to see what health care in the US has come to. It's all about the money for the majority of facilities. I get kinda tired about hearing from management about "Quality of care" or surveys, really??

Short staffing plays a huge role in "quality of care."

I would say 90% of all nurses have had at least one shift, in which they really are just surviving. Seen it, been there, done that. There are limitations on care a nurse can provide, specially when overloaded with too many patients! It gets frustrating, people vent, it doesn't mean that they care less.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I can only think of two "wrong" reasons for going into nursing:

To bag a doctor

To have access to narcotics

Otherwise, I don't really care what your reasons are, and am not going to judge them on whether they're "worthy" or not.

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I can only think of two "wrong" reasons for going into nursing:

To bag a doctor

To have access to narcotics

Otherwise, I don't really care what your reasons are, and am not going to judge them on whether they're "worthy" or not.

What's wrong with wanting to bag a doctor? >:-}

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