Not sure how I'm going to survive

[BabyLady]

I've been away from the board for quite awhile. I'm working night shift and it has been very difficult to get adjusted.

To everyone that is running up high student loans/credit cards/etc....here is something to consider.

I knew that I wasn't going to get rich nursing, but I didn't expect to barely be able to pay my bills and have NO money..yes, no money, for savings. At this rate, I'll be eating cat food in retirement.

These 12-hour shifts that nurses are on are designed to shaft you out of the other 4 hours per week that you could otherwise be working. When you have children that don't get to see you on the 3 days per week you are working, it's hard to stomach taking a 2nd job to see them even less but it's what I started doing today because I discovered that by the time I get my next paycheck, I'll have only $175 in order to pay for the groceries and gas to last for two weeks after bills are paid.

I don't enjoy going to work because I feel like I am there only to exist and there is no benefit to being there. I am too inexperienced to apply for much else and for the last couple of months I have had to literally plan my meals tryign to figure up how many cups of pasta, sugar, eggs, etc...I'll need so I don't buy one thing more.

I went yesterday to donate plasma for the first time in my life because I am worried I won't make it.

I need two new tires for my car and I have no idea of how I am going to pay for them.

I have a car I have had for 7 years and I pray every day when I get in to start it that it lasts because I don't know when I"ll be able to afford one. I couldn't even afford a $100 monthly payment right now.

I am so sad all of the time and I don't get any joy out of anything anymore and for the first time in a long time I have had to tell my children that they cannot have certain things and the next time they need clothes, Goodwill is probably all I'll be able to afford. I got called on low-census for the second time in two months...which reduces me down to only 2 days of vacation left...as I had to take time off for my own healthcare issues as well as one of my children. Who cares about a vacation...I couldn't even afford to take them to the Playland at McDonald's.

It's sad...it's a really sad situation..and I don't know how to get out of it.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

UPDATE:

I can't remember if I posted an update or not....so many offered kind words :)

I just wanted to let everyone know that a couple of weeks after I posted I was able to get a position at another hospital on a PRN basis.

I was able to get scheduled for 4 shifts per month (which is about an extra $1500 a month)...they told me that I would probably get called off on low-census a lot there, but that's ok...because I only need to work 1 shift per month to bridge the gap and to make things go from stressful to having money for things that I need.

I am going to try to build a savings account ASAP to help bridge when I get called off on low-census so money won't be a major strain.

I work in a city where the cost of living is average but the unemployment rate is sky-high, so therefore, they can afford to pay RN's near nothing. New Grads are struggling to get that first job.

I have cut back expenses as far as I can....I wished I could get a smaller place, but with two children, I have to have at minimum, a two-bedroom...which is what I have....the only reason that I keep cable is for the children...I personally, could live without it. I only keep the internet on because of school.

The groceries, I have also, cut way back on. I purchase no frozen or pre-packaged/individually wrapped foods. We drink tea that I make instead of soda. We eat a ton of egg salad sandwiches and tons of pasta. Many times I have veggie night which includes no meat. I have learned to work wonders with about the same 4 or 5 spices and lemons...the major staple in my house for cooking.

I make all desserts from scratch and the school lunch program is super-cheap...$1.00 a day for a hot meal.

Out-of-pocket medical expenses have really been a burden on me...and I have to pay these in order to maintain my credit, or else I'll be paying sky high interest if I ever need to finance anything.

I was BLESSED to have a huge tax refund this year that allowed me to pay off all of my credit cards except for one, and to pay off all of my medical bills that I was making payments on.

It was hard not doing something fun with that money...but the relief it gave was priceless....we had a little extra to purchase a few things the kids wanted and I was able to put the first money back in savings....only a few hundred, but for me, that cushion is priceless.

I figured it could be worse....I could have a high car payment or not be able to work at all.

[PopeJane3rd]

How much do you make on your nursing job? I thought you started out nursing with $55k a year at most places.

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

How much do you make on your nursing job? I thought you started out nursing with $55k a year at most places.

I'm in my fourth year and I won't make anywhere near that.

[Imafloat, BSN, RN]

Baby Lady,

I'm not sure where you live but if there is an Aldi near you, try shopping there. I love Aldi, their quality and prices are excellent.

I'm glad you are getting ahead.

Sometimes it's so hard to put one foot in front of the other and keep going, but we must. Thanks for updating us and letting us know that you have come out ahead.

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

$12.50 until we passed NCLEX...$17.50 after during the day shift.

Night shift carries a $3.00 shift diffrential.

So my pay for the night shift is $20.50.

Oh...and we don't work 40-hours a week either...only 36.

[SWS RN, ASN, RN]

How much do you make on your nursing job? I thought you started out nursing with $55k a year at most places.

Where ever did you get that idea? You obviously are not a nurse!

This is one of the things that "frosts" me about the general uninformed public and the misconceptions that are out there regarding the "great" salaries!

I have a Master's degree, 16+ years of varied nursing experience including being a DON, and I live in South Florida. (which is FAR from inexpensive).

I am currently working as a full time case manager and I make $50,000 a year! That is for a 40 hour week and no chance of overtime or call. Sorry, but in todays' economy-that is not considered BIG BUCKS, especially when you figure in the cost and time element of education and years of experience.

The job market here is dismal and I have several friends with great credentials who have been looking very seriously for a nursing job for months. A new RN grad I know has not been able to find job for 9 mo so far.

I was very Blessed to get this position as quickly as I did and I am grateful for it.

Oh yea, I live in what is considered an upper socioeconomic area of Fl. In fact it is nicknamed "the Gold Coast". So this is not some small rural area/

THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE ANYMORE!

Facilities are cutting staff and increasing rn/pt ratios (including the ICUs). Older RNs are not retiring b/c of the economy and too many new nurses are being turned out!

In addition, one facility I know has canned 8 of the experience RNs they had for years and replaced them with more "economical" newer nurses. (this is in a PICU I worked in for years-it takes a time for proficiency)

To the OP-I do feel for you, I have been in the same situation and things are not that great for me now-but be happy that you were able to get a position. Stop whining about the 12 hour shifts-that is pretty much the norm these days-and either pick up another shift or find a place such as LTC where they still use 8 hr shifts.

It still cracks me up that people believe we make BIG MONEY. You can live on it yeah, but you will never get rich. and you will earn every penny of that with blood, sweat and tears. It is a grueling profession that is still underappreciated and underpaid for the amount of responsibility we have.

just saying...

[SWS RN, ASN, RN]

bumping

[nursel56]

It's good to hear things are stabilizing for you Babylady, and also to recognize there are so many struggling new grads out there. Personally I think it's a simmering crisis for many people. Also, your hourly pay rate only cements my view that nurses in general are losing ground economically compared to past decades. I was out being a SAHM for a while. I am appalled at the backsliding of pay and benefits. All of which occured during the years when there really WAS a shortage.