How much do you make?

rn500 · Jul 18, 2001

Thank you, Dplear, for voicing some of what I was feeling! I get a little tired of hearing how anyone who is in nursing "for the money" shouldn't be doing it or isn't an effective nurse. I am happy for all those who are nurses because it's a calling, or such a wonderful profession - I was one of them once. But for a lot of reasons I won't go into here, I couldn't afford to do anything else even if I wanted to (and I do), at least for the time being. I don't expect crocodile tears for me, that's just life. And frankly, I think the attitude that "no one does nursing for the money" has hurt us in the long run. We are still treating the nursing profession as just a lofty calling rather than the business it has been forced to become. Before everyone throws their keyboards at me, let me say that even on my worst days at work I am well aware that I hold in my hands the capability to impact someone's life in a permanent way, and I don't take that lightly. I still marvel at some of the things I am witness to, and some days I feel downright blessed to be in this profession. But I still have to pay the bills, so I still have to take crap from doctors, and I still have to work short handed, and I still have to go home with sore feet. And while my pay increases barely keep up with inflation, my medical co-pays skyrocket.

Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.

tiger · Jul 18, 2001

i agree with dplear and rn500. if you don't want money for your work then freakin volunteer. we do a hard job and deserve compensation. if i could easily go into something else making the same money i am now after 11 years at the same place i would leave in a heartbeat. j

Shona · Jul 18, 2001

Originally posted by plumrn
Calling all nurses! Just a quick poll.Please tell us your:
1.Position held.(RN,LVN/LPN)
2.Years as a nurse.
3.Area of work.(M/S,ER,LTC,etc.)
4.Current hourly wage.
This should be interesting. Thanks.

RN

24 yrs

Part time Orthopedics

$30.24/hr + 13% in lieu of benefits + shift differential

made $46,000 last year, worked approximately 1,100 hrs

mommylpn · Jul 18, 2001

LPN - 5 years

west-central PA

med-surg/trauma/peds.

$12.28/hr, plus $.60 shift diff for 3-11 &11-7 (no extra for weekends)

lita1857 · Jul 18, 2001

I work to earn money.I expect to be compensated for my work.They pay me for my skills/experience/knowledge base/education/talents.If a nurse will not negotiate for themself, how can they be the best advocate for the patient???Think about it.

DebiL&DRN · Jul 18, 2001

Currently I am a travel RN doing short term travel for one month at each assignment with option to renew usually for $30-40/hr. Housing & airfare always included and car rental usually covered by company as well. I also do prn at local community hosp. near Lexington, KY where I make $24/hr. As a staff nurse there a year ago I was making $19/hr. Awful! No the cost of living isn't that low to justify this salary.

I have 11 years experience as a nurse & all 11 years in L&D. I have a BSN & am an IBCLC though can't find a decent paying job for a lactation consultant(IBCLC) here in Lexington.

lynnern · Jul 18, 2001

West Coast, Florida

$22.80hr with more for differentials

ER - Fast Track

Same hospital 12 years with 6 in ED

Most other ED RNs make $18.00 hr

I was fortunate that I took time off to upgrade to Case Manager then returned to ED with only a 3% loss in wage!

PammieRN · Jul 19, 2001

Just got a job as Clinical Nurse Manager....starting out at 20.70hr, will get a raise after 3 mo probationary period is over...

janeb · Jul 19, 2001

At a glance, it's tougher to compare annual wages with hourly wages. How much is allowed for shift differentials, weekends, etc?

As a staff nurse in a clinic setting (no weekends,holidays or shifts), I make 32.33/hr after 22 yrs of experience for annual wages of 67k; if I worked on the floor, I could report annual wages of about 75k allowing for differentials (which may lead people to believe my hourly wages were about 36./hr--a little difference!!

TLSpectra · Jul 19, 2001

1. RN/BSN

2. 3 yrs

3. Home Health/ per visit

4. Fort Worth, TX

5. $75,000.00 easy. Could be much more if I chose to do more than 40 visits/week.

I get medical insurance and a week's vacation as long as I average 32 visits/week. I get to make my own hours, and best of all, get to spend quality time with my patients! I don't miss the hospital one bit.

I put in about 38 hours/week, and can choose to work as little or as much as I prefer! I can't imagine doing anything else!

HeartNurse · Jul 19, 2001

1. RN

2. 7 years

3. CV - stepdown

4. 21$

rosy · Jul 19, 2001

position: RN, night supervisor (okay i am the only person in the office at night)

Years 20+ (paid my dues, done my time...)

area : Telephone triage/telehealth

hourly wage: 19/hr + 2 something/hr shift dif

I have worked in a bunch of areas, I don't want to go back to any of them, and frankly your wouldn't want me back in most of them. I was not very good at bedside nursing. Although I was a great hospice nurse, and good at triage.

You were right this is an interesting thread.