A Nurse's Lifestyle

Nurses General Nursing

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Okay, so I'm new on these boards and I'm not going to pretend like I know all about nursing because I really don't. However, I am learning.

I have learned from reading around, that nurses don't get paid very much. Or at least, not as much as they should. So, my question is: as a nurse what kind of lifestyle can you afford? What kind of home do you live in? What kind of car do you drive? Do you get to go on vacations? Stuff like that. Do you feel as though you have all the things that you need?

Since I am still a student, I cant say for sure. But from what I have looked into the pay is decent.

But also alot has to do with managment skill.

When I worked for ATT I made in the upper $30K range. I live totally debt free. I do not own or use credit cards. Nor will I date or be involved with a man who is in debt or has a bad credit rating due to their own fault (medical expenses do not count).

On the other hand my sister makes in the $50K range, and is always in debt. She buys clothes all the time (I buy 5 outfits a year and one pair of new shoes a year). She tans and buys a new car every other year (mine has 300,000+ miles on it). She wears all name brands. I shop at Walmart.

Everything is relative.

Wow! Had to respond. When I was a peon working for experience as a PCA(pt care assoc. =read CNA nurse assistant) a nurse a worked with bought a $30,000 truck and got into a disagreement with upper management. She quit on the spot. I got HIVES!!!! How could she quit with financial obligations. Yikes. Then I heard she was working the next day at the hosp across town. As a person with a 4 yr degree already not making much, I thought this sounded good. The flexiblity and xtra hours (I knew cath lab staff making $10,000 a yr in overtime alone) is cool. However, after deciding to go back, finish, I know it is right for me(professionally, personally, compassionate, caring and people had urged me for yrs-wish i had started younger). For all the aggavation and having to quite all sembelance of a regular life and job, I am SHOCKED!!! :uhoh21: at how little people start out in my area. No credit for BSN vs ADN unless moving into management. I will be fulfilled other ways but it seems to me nursing is quantity based. The whole idea to working is work shorter for more. In nursing it seems work longer, more hours, many places, or overtime for more. I couldn't believe the starting is $16.00/hr for BSNs in my area. I could make more at Wal-Mart. Anyway, I am compensated in more than money, but I hope I hold-up long enough to do as well as I initially thought I would. (Should've looked at salaries before I went back)

Specializes in CTSICU, SICU, MICU, CCU, Trauma.

No offense to the relatives of electricians........I just tend to use technical fields as examples when people tell me that nurses make too much! My Dad was an exterminator (bugs) and new yuppie neighbors were shocked that they were going to live across the street from the guy who did their termite inspection!

The bottom line is that anyone who takes their job seriously keeps up on education whether it be technical, professional, etc.

Life Style;

Time to brag! Since you asked her ya go; My wife and I are both ICU RNs and we maked around$160,000. together per year. I live in Florida on a lake, just put in a pool (paid for). Wife had a convertable 2002 Sebring. I have a '98 F150 and a boat. We travel outside the country one to two times a year. We take a 10 day vacation every other month....we have no kids :chuckle

Its the choices you make in life which will deside how you live...nothing just happens, unless you are not paying attention.

Specializes in MS Home Health.

Hubby and I are both nurses so we understand it is not a time limited job, lots of overtime or free time for me since I am salaried, and he understands it is a lifetime process and a holly encompassing job.

renerian

Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

DH and I make pretty much the same...he makes a tad more than me per hour, but I also only work 32 per week. I started out at $10/hr 18 years ago and make $17 more now. We vacation to Orlando twice a year, we have nice cars, a Harley, a nice house with a built in pool. We aren't struggling. Of course, we live with in our means too. :)

My dad, who was a mechanic for Chrysler made way more money than me before he retired :chuckle

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

I do quite well for myself

Nice house

nice cars

nice stock portfolio

2 vacations a year

play golf 52 weeks a year

always update my computer yearly

good health

nice health club to work at

just got some new golf clubs

I have no complaints at all

I make about 24/hr.. and I've only been working as an RN for about 5 months. I think this is a pretty decent hourly wage, and the PTO adds up fast too. I also like the fact that I work 3 days a week. The scheduling is so incredibly flexible. We were able to build a house and furnish it with brand new furniture.. and I'm only 23! We both drive modest cars, and we both have harley's. I like that I am able to not penny pinch and cry to my parents for some money!

Specializes in Emergency Room.
Wow! Had to respond. When I was a peon working for experience as a PCA(pt care assoc. =read CNA nurse assistant) a nurse a worked with bought a $30,000 truck and got into a disagreement with upper management. She quit on the spot. I got HIVES!!!! How could she quit with financial obligations. Yikes. Then I heard she was working the next day at the hosp across town. As a person with a 4 yr degree already not making much, I thought this sounded good. The flexiblity and xtra hours (I knew cath lab staff making $10,000 a yr in overtime alone) is cool. However, after deciding to go back, finish, I know it is right for me(professionally, personally, compassionate, caring and people had urged me for yrs-wish i had started younger). For all the aggavation and having to quite all sembelance of a regular life and job, I am SHOCKED!!! :uhoh21: at how little people start out in my area. No credit for BSN vs ADN unless moving into management. I will be fulfilled other ways but it seems to me nursing is quantity based. The whole idea to working is work shorter for more. In nursing it seems work longer, more hours, many places, or overtime for more. I couldn't believe the starting is $16.00/hr for BSNs in my area. I could make more at Wal-Mart. Anyway, I am compensated in more than money, but I hope I hold-up long enough to do as well as I initially thought I would. (Should've looked at salaries before I went back)

i don't think you will make more at walmart, but i am also shocked that nurses are still getting paid $16/hr in 2004. what part of the country do you live? i don't know any new grads that started with less than $22/hr. where i work you get more money for a bsn staff nurse, but generally speaking all new grads will make the same thing regardless of their degree. the only difference is that you will have more options to apply for positions that ask for the degree (public health, various office positions, case management etc..). i'll stop there because lord knows i don't want to start another bsn argument. anyway, i assume that the cost of living in your area is pretty low, so that could be the reason.

Life Style;

Time to brag! Since you asked her ya go; My wife and I are both ICU RNs and we maked around$160,000. together per year. I live in Florida on a lake, just put in a pool (paid for). Wife had a convertable 2002 Sebring. I have a '98 F150 and a boat. We travel outside the country one to two times a year. We take a 10 day vacation every other month....we have no kids :chuckle

Its the choices you make in life which will deside how you live...nothing just happens, unless you are not paying attention.

Well la di da! :rotfl: no I'm just kidding! kudos to you guys for working hard for what you earn and taking the time to play! :)

......i am also shocked that nurses are still getting paid $16/hr in 2004. what part of the country do you live?

My best friend is an RN in Kansas. She's been an RN for more than 20 years. She makes $16./hr agency, no bennies, doing home care peds, and up to $25./hr agency for hospital.

I guess I fall into that category. In NJ, agency pays about $48 to $55 per hour. So if you do the math, we're grossing anywhere from $600 to $687 per shift. Do one extra shift per week and you'll get time and a half which will bring your income for the month to well over $10,000. But remember, this is agency......no work........no pay. So unless you're flexible you could end up with nothing. You have to be willing to change hospitals if one cancels you. You need to remember that if you're sick or taking a vacation.........no pay for you! (Well, we do get one week per year paid)

I am a very experienced critical care nurse. But I'm no snob about it. I work med-surg, telemetry, critical care.........wherever the work is. That's the name of the game with agency if you really want to make some dollars.

Oh, and I do believe that nursing is not about the dollars. However, ask your average dedicated physician if they don't care about the dollars and I'm sure you know the answer! HAH! And on an hourly basis, there are plenty of electricians, plumbers, etc. who make more than nurses........and they won't hold your hand if you're a patient in need of emotional support!

I am a student, so please forgive me for my ignorance... How many hours does an agency normally require a person to work a week, or is it essentially what the nurse wants to pick up? Are the shifts usually 12 hours shifts? If you don't mind me asking, why did you decide to go into agency work? Do you find it more tolerable than working for one hospitable?

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