Elementary school teachers earned about $13,600 more

[margaretmary]

from the hrsa report 7/2002 projected supply, demand, and shortages of registered nurses:2000-2020

http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/rnproject/default.htm

declines in relative earnings:

salaries are likely playing a role in the declining supply of rns. while actual earnings for rns increased steadily from 1983 through 2000, "real" earnings -- the amount available after adjusting for inflation -- have been relatively flat since 1991. thus, on average, rns have seen no increase in purchasing power over the last 9 years. (see chart 7) in contrast, the average salary for elementary school teachers has always been greater than that for rns and is growing at a faster pace. [2] .in 1983, the average elementary school teacher earned about $4,400 more than the average rn; by 2000 this had grown to the point where elementary school teachers earned about $13,600 more. [3]

it makes me pretty darn angry. can you believe it!

and teachers have better retirement benefits to boot! i'm amazed there are any nurses left:(

[shabookitty]

Once again...the key word is "state" salary and benefits. Not all states are alike!!!! How can you even compare? It's comparing apples to oranges! As for summers off...your salary is divided into 12mts...that is how you are paid for summers. Why are summers even relevant when you talk average salary? It is factored in with your yearly salary when teaching. And ok- not ALL school systems totally pay for health benefits! ha-that is a joke in GA. As for pension...I won't even go there. Realize...not all states have it so kosher. Much like Nursing...if it was a bed of roses you would not have a shortage. No one just leaves great pay, benefits, and wonderful environment...

[rncountry]

Personally no one could pay me enough to be a teacher. The first time I had some kid call me a nasty name I would likely go to jail. Simple decent manners can go a long way, and it is my belief that is all but absent in many, many schools. Why? Because the kids know they can get away with it. My children were always taught that if they got in trouble at school they got in trouble at home too. I think that too many parents don't do this, from some of the behavior I have seen.

I flat know I could never be a teacher because I simply could not tolerate this. Not from ill mannered and ill behaved children. I grew up with an insistance on good manners, bad manners were not tolerated. My dad was a southern man and it was yes ma'am and no ma'am. One did not use an adult's first name, but called them Mr. Mrs. or Miss. If they said it was ok I could call them aunt or uncle, but that was as familiar as it got. People often thought my dad was that way because he was in the military, but that truly had nothing to do with it. It was a southern upbringing his mother gave him. To this day I still do alot of yes ma'am and no sir.

I'd rather be in an alzheimer's unit than in a class full of elementary students. (shudder, shudder)

[imenid37]

i would not want to be a teacher, nor would many of them want to be nurses i suspect. i think, however, we both perform an essential service and thet comparatively we are paid (IN MY AREA) less and that, is very wrong. we certainly do not have many of the "family-friendly" bene's of teaching and have many of the same problems, disrespect and c/o's from our patients and their families.