Nurses work hard, place themselves in perilous situations, and juggle multiple challenges during an average shift. Why are other nurses adamant that the pay does matter? I believe that historical factors and gender roles are major contributors to the ways in which we view the issue of compensation.
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The other day I was involved in a cyber 'chat' with a user on another popular social networking site who happens to be a nurse in a different state than the one in which I reside. Even though this person has never met me in person or worked with me one single day in our lives, she typed, "You're probably one of those lazy nurses who wants top dollar for minimal work."
Instead of stumbling into the knee-jerk reaction of taking immediate offense, I remained cognizant that people can become antagonistic when cloaked by the anonymity of the vast world wide web. I also set aside a brief moment to perform some self reflection. Am I lazy? Do I do minimal work? Well, my bosses at my workplace don't seem to think so, as evidenced by the excellent employee performance review I recently received.
Do I want top dollar for the work that I perform? Well, I'd most certainly be lying through my teeth if I said no.
Educated Professions Dominated Women
Take a long, hard look at the educated professions that are dominated by women. Nursing, social work, school teaching, library science, and psychology are the college majors and professions that are overwhelmingly occupied by females. With the lone exception of nursing, these careers offer some of the lowest starting salaries in the US. It is not a coincidence that the lowest-paying professions in the entire country are taken up by women, whereas the highest-paying professions are filled with men. Something historical is in play.
Many female nurses make statements such as, "The money doesn't matter to me," or "I would do this job for free." They have the tendency to hem, haw and gently beat around the bush when it comes to discussing salaries, raises, and issues that revolve around compensation, even when they're living from paycheck to paycheck. Many women are reluctant to negotiate.
Men Place Greater Significance On Compensation
Meanwhile, countless men who take up nursing are not afraid to openly discuss pay rates and salaries. When receiving what they perceive to be a job offer with a lowball starting salary, it is not uncommon for male nurses to attempt to negotiate for a higher pay rate, become amused at the interviewer, or even walk away from the offer altogether. I know that my following comment might drum up some controversy, but I feel that men place a greater significance on compensation than their female counterparts.
Think about it. Even in entry-level jobs such as serving and waiting tables, male waiters generally opt for the places where more money can be made through bigger tips and gratuities such as steakhouses, casual dining eateries, fine dining establishments, and restaurants on the grounds of country clubs. Although female servers do work at more upscale places, it is also normal to see a virtually all-female staff at low-cost family dining restaurants such as the Waffle House, Denny's, IHOP, and cafes where less tips are generated due to the substantially lower meal prices.
I'm a nurse who works hard and deals with various challenges during the course of a routine shift. Therefore, I feel no shame in my game for wanting a competitive pay rate for all the services that I render. Anyone who says that "The money doesn't matter" is selling herself short.
