Please be honest!

Do you do this job for the money or you really, really like to clean vomit, blood, diarrhea and smell the "morning breath" of a sick patient? Please be honest!
Money? What money?

I'm in psych nursing: the majority of my patients are self-care and medically stable, so there is very little cleaning up blood, vomit or diarrhea involved It does happens on occasion...just often enough to keep things exciting.However, during admissions I get exposed to plenty of alcohol breath.

nursing does not pay that well, except when compared to other associates degree educations/licenses. no one is getting rich in nursing, unless you win powerball.i enjoy caring for people, and all that it entails. people often need basic care given like a shower or undergarment change, care that you and i take for granted, but they depend on. blood, guts, vomit, poop, pee, etc, just do not phase me.

Do you really think that most nurses make lots of money?I would understand it if you asked surgeons if they do their job for the money. Yes, nurses do everything that you have mentioned above, but nursing is not all about that. Nursing is about being there for patients spiritually, emotionally and physically. I know that blood, vomit, diarrhea is not entertaining but it is all about comforting the patient, and not about the nurse. Yes, you will find nurses that are happy to make at least $20 an hour. Those people probably compare nursing salary to other jobs that they have had in the past. That's totaly fine, not everybody starts off with their dream job.

I'm in it for the prestige.

With the same couple years of education I could could make the same money if not more doing something that is less physically demanding, gross and smelly, without the same type of occupational hazards. I truly enjoying caring for other people (there are some tasks that are less pleasant than others), though not everyone seems to appreciate my work, when you get a patient that is really greatful it is all worth it.

I do it because I find it a "hobby" to gives baths to drunk homeless people brought in by the cops because they were passed out in the park. That, and the very, very little money I get paid for doing it.The hours are great, though.

Quote from systolyI'm in it for the prestige.

I do it for the cute clothes and the built-in excuse to avoid family gatherings on holidays/weekends!

Do you do this job for the money or you really, really like to clean vomit, blood, diarrhea and smell the “morning breath” of a sick patient? Please be honest!

I do it for the salary. I think I'm paid adequately, but the lack of respect, or downright disrespect we get from admininstration kills any job satisfaction I get. And it's just get worse with mandatory 12 hour shifts, focus on "customer service", and requirement of unnecessary yet timeconsuming chores like hourly rounding logs. As soon as my daughter graduates from college I am retiring. I might work at a bookstore, who knows.

At first, it was for the money. I was a single mom, living paycheck to paycheck, working long hours and my children spent a lot of time in child care. I wanted a job that was better money with better hours. Searching the papers, the only thing I found was nursing or CNA. So I became a CNA and worked the weekends while the kids were with their dad. I was thrilled..fulltime hours in 3 days and didnt have to pay for child care. Plus the extra time I got to spend with my kids. After I remarried, I went back to school for my LPN. I wanted a career that I know will be there no matter how bad the economy was and I wanted a career that will support my children..with or without their father. Now, after 10yrs as a CNA and just barely an LPN, I discovered that I love what I do. Bring on the 12hr or 16hr shifts. I have held the hand of 113yr grandma as she "went home". I held the leg of a 18yr as she gave birth to her new baby girl. I have reassured a son's concerns about his mom's increasing confusion. I have done CPR with good and not so good out comes. I have cleaned up every kind of body fluid. I have been punched, kicked, cussed at.....I have worked nights, holidays, weekends....stayed late and went in early for inservices or staff meetings....all at entry level pay. I treat all 26 of my patients like they are my family...I have cared for my dad when he was ill right up till his death...I cared for my grandparents as well. I love what I do and the money I make is peace in mind to me, so that I know that if something every happened to my husband, God forbid, that I will still be able to support all five of my kids and still be a functioning mother as well. Some people have a passion for this kind of work...some people dont. My motto is that if you wake up to go work and you absolutly HATE going..that you rather eat nails than go to work..then you need to find a new job. How would you feel if you were the patient and you had the nurse that hated his or her job? Do you think they would be your advocate? Give you the best possilble care? I would think not...I am thankful for the passion GOD gave me for this kind of work...:redpinkhe