I was at the dentist yesterday getting my teeth cleaned. My dentist was asking me about school and stuff, telling me that his wife was also an RN, and had been such since the 70's. Anyway, he asked me, "How much do new grads start out making out of school?" I told him that that typical offer in this area was $19 to start. He snorted and said, "You went to the wrong school."
I was puzzled until he told me that fresh-out of school dental hygenists start out at $35 on up. The dental hygenist that was sitting on the other side of my chair is nodding in agreement. Then, my dentist proceeds to vent on how poorly nurses are paid considering all the responsibilities they carry. Life or death choices we make, and someone who cleans teeth makes more. I swear, that man went on a tangent that lasted a good 10 minutes...furious at how unfair nurses were treated.
I know that nurses don't do the work for the money, but mostly that they love the work. However, it is pretty deflating when society puts a greater price tag on a white smile, than healing the sick.
