Anonymous wrote:I am an RN now however I have worked in the service industry in the past as a waitress. In the US you get to choose your career. I get paid an hourly wage and must pay my bills, my daughter's college, vacations, and anything else that comes up. I budget my money to make it work. Some pay days are shorter than others because I haven't put in any overtime. At no point in my day between bathing a patient, cleaning up vomit or poop, or being a therapist for family situations do I expect to get a tip. I have to maintain certifications and buy supplies as well but I CHOSE this career. I do think that tipping is out of hand. I tip waitresses well (when deserved) because I know they don't make much an hour. As a masseuse you can work as little or as much as you wish just like a nurse.
I'm a RN as well. As I was reading this I thought the same thing. I clean up vomit, poop, blood, amniotic fluid etc. I miss meals, skip sleep break, miss holidays, work nights and i am on my feet for 12 hours. I choose this career, I love it, and I love taking care of people. Sometimes patients will drop by a thank you card or a box of chocolates but never in my ten years of hard work has it ever occurred to me that I should be getting a tip as a medical professional. Trust me, my hands, back, feet, everything is sore as well