Becoming a nurse for the money...

nursenow · Jul 23, 2009

I live and work about an hour north of San Fran and my rent is 18% of my pay.

My son lives in the mid west and his taxes, food, clothes, cars(used and new) eating out, movies, the eye glasses he just bought, everything except rent and real estate is the same as my area. His gas is about 60 cents cheaper. His sales taxes on everything he buys is higher. I investigated it because I am working on my BSN and am thinking of moving closer to him while I do it.

I researched nursing pay there and they start out at less than half of what they make here but the cost of living is for sure not less than half of what we pay here. My pay (as a lowly LVN) is more than double what they make there. Almost double what their RNs make.

Regardless, people dont seem to think nurses make good money in norcal but they do. Even if it was ALOT more expensive to live here they still can make 100k plus a year. That was the comment I was addressing in my answer to that post. It is realistic to expect to make that amount of pay.

As an RN even if you are working three 12s in Sanfran I personaly think it very acceptable to commute 2.5 hours a day for three days then sit at home for four days but everyone has to decide for themselves. I know two RNs that do that and they love it. They both make 56/hr

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jul 24, 2009

i would be glad when people realize this. there are so many careers that pay good besides nursing. teachers and nurses make the same amount of money when you do the math. teachers only work 9 months out of the year and nurses work year round 12 hrs a day. people do all the talking about how much nurses make, in actuality they don't make as much as teachers do. also, in the hospitals there is a hiearchy thing. if people are going into nursing for money and recognition they will be sadly mistaken when they realize that there is no external rewards. in the hospital hiearchy setting, nurses are viewed on the level of janitors. this might upset some, but it is the truth. doctors, residents, and administration look down their noses on nurses. they do not respect nurses. yet, who is doing all the hard work and busting their tails? the nurses. who gets all the external rewards and recognition? the doctors. also, nursing is not such a stable career as it was back in the day. i know of rn's who have been laid off. there are also hiring freezes along with some hospitals shutting down. so is nursing the #1 recession proof job? i don't think so! there are many nursing students having problems finding nursing jobs.

i'm very sad for you that you perceive nurses as not being respected by our colleagues, patients and the general public. in my experience, you get the respect -- from your colleagues anyway -- that you earn. i have a great working relationship with physicians and administration. (for all that they sometimes do incredibly, laughably stupid things.) now the general public is another issue for another thread. i haven't found it to be at all true that in the hospital hierarchy, nurses are viewed "on the level of janitors." i'm very sorry for you that that has been your experience. (but why aren't we respecting the janitors, who keep our environment clean and tidy?)

nursing is a stable career with plenty of flexibility in shift, schedule, assignments, specialty, employers. there's plenty of room for lateral moves as well as moves up and down the career ladder. i make enough money to have a comfortable lifestyle. true, we're in an economic downturn now and everyone is tightening their belts, but these things are cyclical and the economy (and thus the job prospects in nursing as well as other fields) will brighten sooner or later. new grads may have to take jobs that aren't their first choice if they want to be employed, but when the economy turns around, they'll be experienced nurses and in line for the job of their choice.

vanillavirtue · Jul 25, 2009

i'm very sad for you that you perceive nurses as not being respected by our colleagues, patients and the general public. in my experience, you get the respect -- from your colleagues anyway -- that you earn. i have a great working relationship with physicians and administration. (for all that they sometimes do incredibly, laughably stupid things.) now the general public is another issue for another thread. i haven't found it to be at all true that in the hospital hierarchy, nurses are viewed "on the level of janitors." i'm very sorry for you that that has been your experience. (but why aren't we respecting the janitors, who keep our environment clean and tidy?)
nursing is a stable career with plenty of flexibility in shift, schedule, assignments, specialty, employers. there's plenty of room for lateral moves as well as moves up and down the career ladder. i make enough money to have a comfortable lifestyle. true, we're in an economic downturn now and everyone is tightening their belts, but these things are cyclical and the economy (and thus the job prospects in nursing as well as other fields) will brighten sooner or later. new grads may have to take jobs that aren't their first choice if they want to be employed, but when the economy turns around, they'll be experienced nurses and in line for the job of their choice.

it is more of a hierarchy, at a hospital, than it is in other working environments. whether people choose to believe it or not, doctor's/residents/administration do "look down" on nurses. i have heard about snide comments doctors/residents have made about nurses. most doctor's wouldn't even consider dating or marrying a nurse. they view themselves as being "too good" to even consider doing such a thing. anyway, this is all beside the point. nurses do a lot of hard work to help people. whether a person goes in with the intent of making money or not, nursing is a hard profession both mentally and physically. people must come in with the attitude of not expecting any appreciation in any form or fashion. if they come in with an attitude of wanting a pat on the back, they will be highly disappointed.

Kaligirl02, ADN, BSN, MSN, LVN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 30, 2009

Registered Nurses

2009 Wages

GeographyMedian HourlyMedian AnnuallyCalifornia$39.68$82,535Butte County$38.37$79,821East Bay Area$47.74$99,291Eastern Sierra Region$38.13$79,311Fresno County$37.97$78,987Imperial County$33.51$69,709Inland Empire Area$37.00$76,948Kern County$37.22$77,424Kings County$41.30$85,892Los Angeles County$38.82$80,756Madera County$35.81$74,495Monterey County$42.43$88,260Mother Lode Region$40.62$84,503Napa County$43.13$89,715North Coast Region$31.49$65,508North Valley Region$32.92$68,465Northern Mountains Region$37.87$78,779Orange County$37.28$77,539Sacramento Metro Area$41.92$87,183San Benito and Santa Clara Counties$53.47$111,199San Diego County$38.06$79,147San Francisco Bay Area$47.88$99,596San Joaquin County$36.66$76,249San Luis Obispo County$37.68$78,374Santa Barbara County$39.13$81,383Santa Cruz County$41.32$85,937Shasta County$37.37$77,742Solano County$43.37$90,193Sonoma County$41.28$85,848Stanislaus County$45.04$93,672Sutter and Yuba Counties$30.89$64,248Tulare County$31.22$64,927Ventura County$35.70$74,251 Source: Employment Development Department

Labor Market Information Division

https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/

I don't believe going into nursing for the money is good. I do believe that no one works for free. If you can get a job that pays you well and not care for the profession...... just don't show it. I don't think the op will become a nurse and treat pts badly.. lets face it if he does he wont be working there for long. I just think the way he is writing things are coming off really harsh. As you can see by what I posted in CA you can actually make 100,000.00 a yr being an R.N.,but op.... just try to be a little nicer in the way you post things....I hope you make all the money that your bank account can hold.

ssing45 · Jul 30, 2009

...just wondering who's becoming a nurse for the eventual excellent pay???
I am.

No, wrong. Our patients need heart not heartless.

ssing45 · Jul 30, 2009

I already have a BA in Communications, and a minor in creative writing. I have great people skills and am academically competent. I live in California's Bay Area which is one of the top paying regions for RNs. Yes, i know i will have a few years that aren't so glamorous. But after the first years, i'm sure everything will be alright. I know nurses that are making low 100,000 a year after working only ONE years in a long term care facility, then moving on to a hospital. So yes, the first few years might be a bit "dirty" but after that, getting into a area of interest will become enjoyable. Also, i would love to be a doctor or a lawyer, but that takes time. I'm all about the instant gratification, and right now about 3 years in nursing school are as instant as they get for sooner than later 100,000+ salary range.

LOL, Hospital nursing not dirty? Let me tell you about poop, and vomit, and urine on your face.

Rescue Ninja, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2009

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I am responsible to my family to provide for them. I emjoy medicine, though EMS would be my preference, it does not pay enough. Therefore I will do what is "second favorite" (ED Nursing) so that I can double my salary and feed my family. I work for money not for pleasure (I vacation for pleasure), I only tried to pick a field that I could find fulfillment in at least some of the time. None of this, "calling" business is for me, I am "called" to provide for my family and this was the best way to do it and still manage to dabble in Emergency Medicine.

MotivatedOne · Jul 30, 2009

It is more of a hierarchy, at a hospital, than it is in other working environments. Whether people choose to believe it or not, doctor's/residents/administration do "look down" on nurses. I have heard about snide comments doctors/residents have made about nurses. Most doctor's wouldn't even consider dating or marrying a nurse. They view themselves as being "too good" to even consider doing such a thing. Anyway, this is all beside the point. Nurses do a lot of hard work to help people. Whether a person goes in with the intent of making money or not, nursing is a hard profession both mentally and physically. People must come in with the attitude of not expecting any appreciation in any form or fashion. If they come in with an attitude of wanting a pat on the back, they will be highly disappointed.

Regardless of what you do, you will always have someone to look down on you...Sad but true. Did you know that Nurses look down on NA's?

I guess it really depends on where you work. The majority of residents on my unit are on a first name basis with the nurses. They are very down to earth!

As far as doctor's not wanting to date or marry a nurse it's called a "preference" I'm sure we all have them.

vanillavirtue · Jul 30, 2009

Regardless of what you do, you will always have someone to look down on you...Sad but true. Did you know that Nurses look down on NA's?
I guess it really depends on where you work. The majority of residents on my unit are on a first name basis with the nurses. They are very down to earth!
As far as doctor's not wanting to date or marry a nurse it's called a "preference" I'm sure we all have them.

Yeah, I agree it is wrong that people judge people by how much they make or what they do for a living.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 30, 2009

The money is good IMO. I think most ppl are aware they won't get filthy rich doing nursing but they will always have a job with secuirty and health benefits. I don't see why nurses should be paid more, just what exactly do you want the salary to be for what you do?

Since you are a nursing assistant and your profile says pre-nursing I am guessing you are not a nurse yet and can not possible know what is is really like to be a nurse. So your comment does not hold with me. Come back when you become an RN and tell me if your opinion has changed.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jul 30, 2009

I know alot of RNs in Califonia making 100k plus a year. Northern calif does pay more but many of the RNs I know are doing it in southern calif also. (noc shift, overtime..) I know LVNs in Norcal making 80 k with overtime. An RN making 55/hr or LVN making 32-35/hr doesnt take long to gross that kind of money.
I have never met an NP that doesn't make over 100k. From what I read at this site I think calif pays lot more than other states?

I have never heard of an LVN making that much. Most make under $20 in my area of NorCal. My friend is starting out at 58/hr in S.F. but the cost of living is astronomical. In my area I get 29.40/hr which includes NOC diff and the cost of housing is one of the most affordable in the state in comparison to the average income. The average home in my town was $358,000 in March of 2008. For a 30 yr loan at 7% a mortgage payment would be $2,381.78 a month. This does not include home owners insurance. Working full time I can make $4,233.60 before taxes (about $3,000 after taxes) and not including deductions for heath insurance. Then there are other bills other than a mortgage that have to be figured into the cost of living; gas is expensive than most areas in the state ($3.15/gal) and this is a rural area where nothing is close, our food is more expensive than most areas too. And simply living in the state of California you are taxed more than most states.

ErinJane · Jul 31, 2009

I am blown away at people saying that nursing doesn't pay that well. I understand that it's not alot for the amount of work but I have family members in their 30s who live on 12.00 an hour (and have kids). As long as I am making more than that I am happy. But then again, I am very easily pleased.