Do you feel that Nurses are underpaid and overworked?

emhkirkpatrick · Apr 15, 2000

Boy do we sound like a bunch of BOB's--That's bitter old bitches.

Unfortunatley the profession suffers from a lack of cohesiveness among it's members.

And I am just as guilty as everyone else of compalining and not doing anything about it. What is the solution? I'm not sure there is one. I do make good money compared to a lot of other people but am I paid for what I 'm worth? No.

Hospital costs whether for profit or non are driven by government regualtions and insurance compaies......And that means both the unsafe situations we are asked to work and the money they pay us....are here to stay.

On this bulletin board is a petition that can be signed and will be sent to George Bush and Al Gore to call attention to our plight ......will it help.....I doubt it. (Look for the petition under Unsafe in the bulletin board list)

Our solution may be to report thes situations to the head of the hospital board in writing to our state and federal legislators.

Did I help this discussion find answers and solutions? No !

But it felt good to vent.

mfpres · Apr 15, 2000

We are not overpaid. We are overworked. I would go back to the hospital tomorrow if I could have 1/2 the pay for 1/2 the patient load I had. Being a postop surgical floor nurse and going from 8-10 patients to 15 patients was unbearable. No amount of money could have made me stay. However, I miss my patients terribly. Money is not the issue, its definitely workload.

mcrow · Apr 16, 2000

Being overworked may not be the issue as much as working unsafely understaffed as most nurses do. The pay is not a big issue either other than when you compare other jobs in the hospitals where I've worked. A position requiring a license is often paid less than one which requires no formal training or continueing ed. It's a matter of respect. Working for myself at my home based business gives me the most satisfaction. At least I know the work I am doing is appreciated and there's a lot less stress.

YADA-YADA · Apr 16, 2000

Well I definately think nurses are underpaid. It does not warm my heart that after 20 years of service I can look forward to 65,000 a year. (posted by BC512RN) Personally I think that stinks. No offense to BC512Rn intended. I just think we are worth more.

Its not just hospital either, an RN in Occ health with 20 years of experince makes 60,000.

JenMarie · Apr 20, 2000

Hello

I have been working in a sugical ward in Auckland, New Zealand for about 18 months and am about to leave in 5 days time. The main reason I am leaving is beacause I feel so under-valued. I asked my charge nurse for an appraisal several times and I never had one in the whole time I was there. She hardly ever spoke to me. I asked her for a written reference and she didn't even know what my full name was (meaning people mostly called me by a shortened version of my name). In the refence she wasn't even specific in what was good about me that made me a good nurse. What blows me away is that a lot of people think she is wonderful, but how can you be wonderful if you don't even acknowledge you staff? I think it is really hard to feel valued especially if your immediate boss does not value you or take the time to give you feedback. I'm just glad I'm leaving and going to another hospital.

CANRN, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2000

I believe that nurses are given a fair wage, we are just expected to perform at levels that are far from human, not to mention unsafe for our patients and ourselves. The liability is just too high. Everytime we punch that time clock we put our entire futures on the line. It's not fair! What amazes me is how managers seem to have forgotten what it is like in the trenches. When they are told of the patient loads and the acquity of the patients we now are getting they *GASP* act surprised! Give me a break, nothing is done to change it! Infact, in the last three years I have seen it only get worse!

Frankly, I am so tired and disenchanted with my career I can get nauseated thinking of having to go to work anymore! I NEVER used to feel that way!

When the going gets tough, the tough look for other alternatives. I found mine!

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Take Control!!!!

www.rexall.com/CANRN