[MICU RN]

Reading all these post makes me realize that I was not the only one who thought that nursing school was very hard. However, now being a nurse for 4 1/2 years, it sad to realize that the only people that seem to have a glue how tough it is are our fellow nurses. The public including other health care professions don't seem to realize just what we go through. As a matter of fact, I think most think it is easy and anyone could do it. I think many people still think that all one really has to do is care and be willing to do alot of dirty work ( clean poop, clean wounds ect.) to be a nurse. Maybe if other professions realized how tough nursing school is they would also realize that our pay is really below par and in some cases insulting. For example, in some southern states new BSN nurses come out making 15-16.00 dollars a hour. I mean that is a joke, I can't tell how many times I have heard my fellow new nurses make comments like " I made more money a hour waiting tables while I was in college than I do now as a RN" that is sad. Nursing is very hard job and will still get very little respect as a profession. We need to let the public know how hard it is to become a nurse and why everyone is not able to become a nurse. Nursing is very paradoxical, it is very hard to become one, but yet we are treated as if anyone with a high school degree can become one. Does anyone else feel like this or is it just me?

[renerian]

I made more money in other jobs as well. I know I had patients who were angry at the health care system and the home health benefit under medicare, tell me only flunkies from the hospital go to home health. Not so but that is another thread LOL. I know you can make more money elsewhere. I know the nurses down south make less than where I live. I know I am almost done with my MS degree and will make no more money getting it. Not much an incentive to persue additional education.

renerian

[oramar]

The nurses that are getting respect are the ones that are taking it by force. They are organizing, making demands and if they must they are striking. Some people say they belong to unions that don't do much. Well you can change that by taking control again. Bad unions have been kicked out and replaced in some cases.

[MK2002]

Be glad that you have a job. Right now there are plenty of unemployed Americans earning $0 per hour as the government continues to under report the number of unemployed workers. You are doing better than them. There are also numerous displaced workers earning far less than they were a couple years ago. For these individuals and many others there will not be a change any time soon.

Do you think that you are overworked? Read a few economic news stories when you get a chance. There are thousands of Americans doing the same job that 3 or 4 employees did a few years ago. Considering that many of them are working for less pay, the situation becomes familiar. They will not be heard from on this website. You have to visit a neutral site where you can read dozens of stories from others suffering the same way that you are.

An important point that people pay little attention to any more is the income differential between the haves and the have nots. The gap keeps widening. But after the recent several years of good economic times no one seemed to care. Now that all their dreams have fallen apart those individuals have come back to reality wondering how in the world they are going to make it through the present, let alone retire in comfort some day.

The wage paradox you described exists in other careers. You just have to hold several jobs in enough occupations to experience the same feeling. In modern times the average employee is expendable. Do you find that in nursing? No. You will not find any posts from nurses who worry their job is being eliminated through productivity gains. The price you pay for job security is lessened income. Imagine having a career where you wake up every day wondering if today will be your last day at work. Could you live with that stress for increased income?

The median family income of about $44,000 does not buy much these days. And it doesn't help the situation when people throw away good money on large vehicles with the rationalization they need one. Expectations of the good life lead to a feeling of the unfulfilled life. Some will be content with what they have. Others will seek a second income to supplement their primary income. How many of you can remember when mortgages were paid in 20 years and car loans were paid in 3 years?

[MICU RN]

The attitude of just be grateful you have a job is exactly why nursing is compensated so little. Give me a break, compare what you do to other college educated healthcare providers and medical sales people. Based on the responsiblilty we have, we are under paid , period. Of course there are many other people who are under paid, but many don't get put through the rigors of a nursing program and have a college degree. As for me, I am pursuing to become a CRNA, mainly because of the autonomy and compensation, I am tired of working my butt off and just getting by. And by the way, I believe that this country offers as much or more financial opportunity than any other country in the world. It may not be perfect, but just ask the thousands of immigrants who come here ever year about lack of opportunity to make a living wage in other parts of the world.

[tonicareer]

15 dollars an hour waiting tables? No way. I agree that nurses should be paid more, but I don't know where anyone gets 15 an hour to wait tables.

[MK2002]

I was thinking the same thing. I might know of a few hundred thousand fast food workers that would be willing to upgrade if the waiter/waitress jobs pay $15/hr.

Then too read the originating post with the comments about the south. Northerners don't understand how a brand new house could possibly cost $90,000 down here. They figure that anyone earning under $100,000 is being underpaid

[911fltrn]

Cocktail waitresses in Las Vegas make 60,000 to 100,000+. Be happy you have a job. (give me a break) Any R.N. that is competant and willing to work will never be without a job. And by the way just a few more years and salaries are going through the roof. Ceo's will start losing their bonuses because they dont have any nurse's left! Hope everyone is having a great day!

[MK2002]

And you just know how many women are dying to become a Las Vegas cocktail waitress. Give me a break!!!

[Pretzlgl]

Just wondering, MK, if you are actually a practicing RN? If you are I must say you have a great attitude regarding being overworked. Or you must work at a great facility. Nurses are NOT paid enough for what we do. Just being grateful to have a job does not cut it. We are underpaid, period.