[chibear55]

I know of many, many factory workers who make more than we do!

[JRD2002]

I make enough to support myself comfortably doing a job that I love. So...I feel I am adequately compensated. That being said it is just me. I am not trying to support a family on my wages.

[BayouLPN]

As a LPN in a LTC facility, I felt that I made good wages...$17.52/hr. But, I decided that I was not growing as a nurse, losing skills that I had not done since school, not to mention the personal dilemma (not sleeping, too close to my residents) Took a job at a hospital, took a huge pay cut. AND AFTER TONITE....THERE IS NO WAY THEY PAY ME ENOUGH...but that is another thread altogether.

[traumahawk99]

i'm an rn, and i do work nights, 60ish hours a week, make around 100k (after taxes). no benefits.

i feel like there's plenty of $$ in this business.

[SoundofMusic]

I feel as a new grad I'm probably underpaid by about 10 grand per year. However, who I feel is really underpaid are the experienced nurses. Nurses, especially those in ICU's w/ 15, 20 years experience probably can't even hit the $100K mark unless they're travelers. This is SO wrong for all the knowledge some of them have. Many are more whip smart than the docs, it seems. Not sure what managers even make, but it's the experienced bedside nurses who seem to really be getting the shaft.

The hospitals owe these people SO much more

[Polly Dipcya]

NO! I'm an LPN (RN student) and work on the med/surg floor. I do everything the RN's do except they do have to initial my care plans and inital my assessment on new admits. They make $7 an hour more than me....Good for them they earn every penny of it.....Thank God next year at this time Ill be an RN. However even the RN wage doesn't truly compensate the nurses.

[Polly Dipcya]

NO! I'm an LPN (RN student) and work on the med/surg floor. I do everything the RN's do except they do have to initial my care plans and initial my assessment on new admits. They make $7 an hour more than me....Good for them they earn every penny of it.....Thank God next year at this time Ill be an RN. However even the RN wage doesn't truly compensate the nurses for all we do.

[EarthChild1130]

I feel that in my current job I am well compensated...that being said, I have held jobs where I was certainly NOT well compensated, and some of my friends are VASTLY underpaid.

[Babs0512]

In most cases, nurses are most definitely NOT paid at a rate anywhere near where they should be.

BIG HOWEVER HERE: Considering the economy today, and not knowing what the future holds, a nurse will ALWAYS be needed in the job market. Whether or not there is a recession, or depression, a nurse will always be able to find work that pays a living wage. Not necessarily true for the machinist, beautician, gardener, waitress, etc...

As a profession, there is always security in knowing you will be needed.

[djc1981]

It's all so relative. I just get irritated by so many people complaining about it! If you hate it -- please leave. Wal-Mart and Target will always be willing to hire you -- and you will have rude people all day for 8/hr..but no poop! Go to school partttime and get your MSN. NPs have normal hours, better pay and bypass most bedside drama. Sorry, but complaining is just a huge pet peeve of mine. The ave. household income is 40K or less in the US. Most nurses make significantly more than that. Some people I suppose will never be happy. If you hate your situation, just change it instead of making everyone around you miserable. The local University will always be taking applications for those precious liberal arts degrees -- then you can be managers at Wal-Mart and Target and bring home 30K..jackpot! This brings to mind a famous Dolly Parton quote "Honey, get off the cross...someone needs the wood."