Is Nursing a Calling? Or a Career?

 ‘Willing to Serve’

Just today, on the radio, I heard a politician talking about how nurses are ‘willing’ to work for less money and in harsher conditions because, quote, “Nursing is a calling and they are willing to serve.”

I have struggled with this characterization of the profession for as long as I’ve been a nurse and have asked:

Ø  Why does nursing have to be characterized as a calling?

Ø  Why can’t nursing simply—and importantly—just be about a career choice?

Ø  Why is it that society keeps labeling our profession as something ‘holy?’

And this is the heart of my struggle: If nursing is a ‘calling’ and not a ‘career,’ then nurses are ‘above the need’ to be paid market rate for our expertise.

Who needs to be paid market wages when you are ‘called’ to work…

Turns out, there is a long history to labeling nursing as a calling, which historically refers to a person’s desire to fulfill God’s will in life. However, recent studies has shown that registered nurses have a lower calling that other health care professionals.

The thinking has long held that those who are ‘called’ to serve—much like the priesthood—are not in the profession for the money or status but rather, for self-sacrifice. But much has changed over the centuries from the origins of the profession to the modern-day registered nurse.

Modern nursing ain’t like it used to be…

Nursing care has become highly technical over the last 20-30 years, requiring nurses to be ‘knowledge workers,’ and subject matter experts on technical medical devices, complex medications, intravenous medication titration management, pathophysiology and complex care coordination. At the same time, patients have become more medically complex, older, and larger. Couple this with the fact that the number of nurses have decreased and it is no wonder that dissatisfaction among nursing increased 50% over the last several years.

Try running a hospital for a day without nurses…

Professional nursing (AKA: registered nurses) hold a valued and highly trusted role in the American healthcare system. Nurses make up the largest segment of the healthcare professionals with over three million in the profession. Nurses work in hospitals, clinics. Nurses work in people homes, at peoples' work and in our children's schools. Nurses work on ambulances, ships, and planes. Nurses work on all continents and in all conditions. Nurses are the glue to all-things healthcare. Nurses are the most trusted profession in America—and this has been true for over 20 years according to the Gallup poll.

Nurses are the most trusted professionals, but do we truly value them?

Yet despite the clear and obvious necessity of nursing within our society, there remains biases and discrimination—in pay equity and in working conditions. And one way these inequalities have remained in place, and even sanctioned by society, is by claiming that nursing is a calling and therefore above the need for recognition and pay parity.

Since COVID-19, the total supply of nurses has decreased by more than 100,000 (according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing). But nurses are not just leaving the profession because of the pandemic, nurses are leaving because of insufficient staffing, increased stress and low respect from other healthcare professionals.

Anyone in any profession call be ‘called’ to their work

A person can be ‘called’ to any profession—could be cooking, caretaking, construction or priesthood. Being called or moved towards a career should be considered a gift of self-knowledge: It is a gift to know what you want to do with your life. And having the gift of self-knowledge is not restricted to, nor is the domain of nurses…nurses are workers, they are professionals, they go to work to do the best they can.

Nurses are important because we are professionals

Nursing is a meaningful career, and one that brings respect and self-worth for doing such important work. And it does not have to be a calling to do good work and have respect for the job. That’s called professionalism. And every professional should be paid their worth and recognized for a job well done.

About the author: Julie Kliger is recognized by LinkedIn as a "Top Voice" in Health Care in 2015 & 2106, & 2107. She is a Healthcare ‘Strategic Realist’ who is passionate about improving health care and improving lives. She specializes in future-oriented healthcare redesign, optimizing existing operations, implementing new care models and strategic change management. She is an advisor, clinician, health system board member, speaker and author.