A Job and a Paycheck vs. Professional Nursing Practice

How do you characterize professional nursing practice? Do you think the majority of nurses practice in accordance with the standards of professional nursing practice? Do you think the majority of nurses think in terms of a job, paycheck, and only in terms of unit or facility-based issues?

I admit its hard to see the forest from the trees from ground level when you are in the trenches. I can remember having a job and paycheck mentality at various stages of my career as a nurse and as an attorney. The paycheck mentality for me stemmed from my unhappiness with the work environment.

Where are you in your career?