Nursing, more than just a job?

Nursing would be very difficult if it was just a job. It is essential to like and be interested in all types of people. It is also vital (and sometimes difficult) to be 'non-judgmental' in order to be able to give the best possible care to patients. I believe this applies to all types of nursing.

Im fortunate to be the second income so its my only job however; if I were single I would need a second job to just keep my head above water.

yes, when you take care of someone you get attached to them, you are doing something for them that they can't do themselves.... it more than a job it is more like a ministry

I spent a short time in hospital and was amazed how the nurses and other staff went out of their way to make it as pleasant as possible

Ideally it would be more than just a job for every nurse, but different people get in to nursing for different reasons. I think far fewer people get into nursing just for the paycheck. Most of the nurses I know felt almost as though nursing was a calling for them, or they somehow connected with the profession on a personal level because they wanted to care for other people.

You are more likely to never complete nursing school or leave the profession, or become one of those crabby, burnt out nurses if your heart isn't really in the job.

Yes. When you leave work, it does not mean that the things you have encountered that day are left inside the walls of the hospital. It is sometimes impossible to forget what you have seen. Sometimes you can't shake the sorrow, sometimes you can't get rid of the elation, and other times you are just angry. If you work in a setting like an ICU, you take care of the same three or four people for weeks at a time. You get attached to the patient and their families, and when something goes wrong you feel for them. But when something good happens you are so so happy.
So yes, nursing is more than just something you do for money. Or, at least, it should be. The best nurses are those who do the job because they want to, not because it is well paying and respected.

Its more than just a job- it's a reward everyday

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