[busylady61]

Hi everyone,

Here is my question: If you knew someone who was trying to decide whether to go to school to become a nurse or a teacher, and they asked for your opinion, what advice would you give them?

The reason I am asking this question: I am a teacher who is planning on leaving the field after three years (burnout, bureaucracy, 60-70 hour weeks during the school year all for the grand total salary of $36k). I know that no job is perfect, and certainly nursing has plenty of challenges. But my line of reasoning is that if I am going to work my buns off, be stressed out all the time, and not be supported properly by the powers that be, I need to be paid more money for it. Beginning LPNs in my city earn as much or more than beginning teachers who already have bachelor's and master's degrees!

I was recently on the teachers.net chatboards, and someone there had posted the question that she was trying to decide whether to go to nursing school, or whether to become a teacher. She asked for advice and opinions.

Overwhelmingly, the teachers said that if they had it to do over again, they would choose nursing rather than teaching.

So I am curious to know how nurses would respond to the same question.

Any and all feedback is welcome. Thanks!

[BSNtobe2009]

In a city like Orlando, just from years of reviewing salaries, it would surprise me if an LPN is making more than $36,000 a year to start. I used to live in a major city as well, and LPN's didn't even crack $30,000 for first year and new RN's didn't make that much above $36K as a new grad...you made it up in shift diffrentiation and overtime.

You also have to look at the entire picture. You don't pay into social security, because it's a state job, and you have your pension. Your healthcare benefits are paid for you vs out of pocket. A school year is 9 months of working, plus you have your Fall Break, Spring Break, Thanksgiving and Christmas, along with other holidays like Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day, etc.

You are currently making the equivilent to someone that makes $48,000 per year, if you worked year round at your same salary. When you calculate it over 9 months...that is $4,000 per month that you are ACTUALLY working.

If you are wanting to be an RN, I say go for it, but don't quit your job to work as an LPN along with a new grad, because I will guarantee you, it will be a massive pay cut because you'll be paying into SS and have you pay your own healthcare premiums at a group discount along with short and long-term disability, most likely. I believe that is already included in most teacher's salaries.

As a teacher, most states have the option of 20 year retirements at full benefits and I believe you also get supplemental healthcare in addition to medicare when you retire.....you don't get that with most hospitals anymore.

Too many people don't factor in the benefits when they are looking from job to job, and the yearly salary doesn't give you the full picture.

Have you thought about getting your LPN on a part-time basis and then doing home-health care during the summer months and occasionaly on the weekends? THAT would give you the best of both worlds.

Another suggestion I would have is to apply to a private school. I have a close friend who did that as a last-ditch effort before leaving teaching and she said it was a WORLD of difference, BUT, again, the reason the private schools pay more is because they cannot compete with the state as far as benefits.

I would check with your benefits department of the School Board before making any major decisions so you can compare apples to apples.

[busylady61]

Interesting. Thank you for your response.

It's true, I have thought about doing the LPN thing during summer vacations....

However, regarding the salary, I am paying into Social Security. That's the little FICA deduction on our paychecks, right? I thought FICA meant Social Security/Medicare. I am having a deduction for that. I do get free medical insurance but I pay for my own long term disability. Upon retirement we get something like a $150 credit towards our monthly medical premium... which doesn't go far when the premiums are high. Overall, it is true that we have amazing benefits and perks.

Also, I know of one local LPN who just graduated from tech school and she is earning more than I am. She works nights though in home health, so that must be the schedule differentiation you are referring to. I actually wouldn't mind working nights because it would allow me to go to school in the daytime for my master's.

I guess my line of reasoning was that a senior nurse with a master's would make virtually double the income that a senior teacher does in my district.

As I move on in years, I thought it would be nice to have the option of working part time and still pulling in a salary that is equal to or more than the salary of a full time teacher. $36k is just not cutting it for me anymore... my house expenses/mortgage/maintenance/car and everything. I feel I'm never going to start to get ahead until I start earning at least $10k a year more than I am now.... even if it means giving up those summer vacations, lol.

[BSNtobe2009]

Originally Posted by busylady61

Interesting. Thank you for your response.

It's true, I have thought about doing the LPN thing during summer vacations....

However, regarding the salary, I am paying into Social Security. That's the little FICA deduction on our paychecks, right? I thought FICA meant Social Security/Medicare. I am having a deduction for that. I do get free medical insurance but I pay for my own long term disability. Upon retirement we get something like a $150 credit towards our monthly medical premium... which doesn't go far when the premiums are high. Overall, it is true that we have amazing benefits and perks.

Also, I know of one local LPN who just graduated from tech school and she is earning more than I am. She works nights though in home health, so that must be the schedule differentiation you are referring to. I actually wouldn't mind working nights because it would allow me to go to school in the daytime for my master's.

I guess my line of reasoning was that a senior nurse with a master's would make virtually double the income that a senior teacher does in my district.

As I move on in years, I thought it would be nice to have the option of working part time and still pulling in a salary that is equal to or more than the salary of a full time teacher. $36k is just not cutting it for me anymore... my house expenses/mortgage/maintenance/car and everything. I feel I'm never going to start to get ahead until I start earning at least $10k a year more than I am now.... even if it means giving up those summer vacations, lol.

Hmmmm...in alot of states teachers of public schools teachers don't pay into FICA, your state obviously does or you are very correct, it would not appear on your payroll.

That's good that they are paying your short-term disability for you..you are more likely to use that.

The only other concern I have is if the LPN is a W-2 or a 1099 employee of the home health that she is employed with, AND if she is receiving benefits. Shift diffrentiation is usually with hospitals, I can't remember if I have ever seen it on home healthcare paychecks or not.

1099 means she is on contract and she has to pay her own taxes, social security, etc.

W-2 can work 2 ways...you can either get a paycheck like any other employee with benefits, or the recent trend of hiring certain employees at a very high rate of pay, but they receive no health insurance or any other benefits at all..other than the fact taxes are taken out for them and FICA.

[busylady61]

I have heard discussions on some teacher forums --- that in some states, teachers only receive the pension upon retirement and not the Social Security benefits. I thought that was odd. Now I realize it's probably because they weren't paying the FICA all along, so that makes sense.

You've raised a lot of good points that I hadn't considered. Thank you. I think I am still going to go for the LPN (while continuing teaching) just to preserve my sanity and feel more empowered about my earning potential. Perhaps I could do LPN work part time and juggle it with teaching. But it will also be nice to have a plan B.... because when I look ahead the next 20, 25 years, I honestly don't see how I can keep up with the pace of the classroom. This year I have a great group of students, but in public education it is always a crap shoot. One year you have angels, the next year you could have ESE kids throwing desks across the room and/or sexually abusing other students .... the horror stories abound.... anyway, thank you again for your input. I appreciate it.

[BSNtobe2009]

You are very welcome..I wish you luck!

[FutureNurse35]

I am from Connecticut, in the town I live, the teachers get $40,000 a year with a Master's Degree. A new graduate nurse makes $62,000 in a lowest paying hospital for first shift. You have to weigh out benefits and other things before you decide. LPN starts with $24-27 per hour.

[busylady61]

Thanks futurenurse35.

$62,000 for a beginning grad nurse? Wow...

What is the first shift? Is that the daytime shift, traditional hours, 9-5 or something like that?

[FutureNurse35]

7-3pm,

[busylady61]

That sounds like a dream schedule. Thanks!