Can Nursing be Lucrative?

MQ Edna · Nov 2, 2000

Thank you all for the feedback. I think it is time we collectively look at how we sell ourselves short and work for these rediculous wages (17.00 an hr. or so). Hospital work is so difficult. Yes I love nursing.. but we are not paid as much as the janitor at the hospital in many situations!

I would like to know more about the corporate job possibilites... so if you could provide me with job titles etc.. I would know how to research this. Please accept my gratitude for this (in advance).

I am also interested in pursuing gaining understanding of Legal Nurse Consult and what that would entail educationly (job oppourtunities, income expectations) etc...

:-) :-) :-)

maeve · Nov 2, 2000

I live in the northeast & it is said that we make more money here than in many places.

With many certifications & 25 years of excellent experience & a wonderful reputation in my field (no boasting, just what I know to be true) I maxed out at $25.00/hour.(No overtime - 60 hours a week, maximum stress)

However, I made $75,000 last year as an independent contractor hiring myself out to do the same job I did for much less. My first 2 years were lean but next year I am adding employees (nurses.) Put away something for start up costs & sell yourself. There is an incredible shortage you know & I have no problem taking advantage of this, since we live in a capitalist society. I do not believe that making money is somehow wrong for nurses.

I believe this is hype to keep our salaries low.

MQ Edna · Nov 2, 2000

What are the details on being your own contractor? Do you have to have a separate license of some kind? I know we are all to have our own insurance (is the regular insurance enough)? How do you market yourself? Do you know if this is all fields of nursing, like home health? I have heard of independent contracting, but what are the risks?

Thank you for your informative reply. I am happy for you that you have found a "lucrative nitch". What area of nursing do you work in? We should all work towards not working for these embarassing wages.

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Charles S. Smith, RN, MS · Nov 2, 2000

Originally posted by Bonnie2000:
I truly thought I could make really ggod money in nursing... I still have not figured out how.. I am now looking at graduate programs.. any ideas on a lucrative field???

Bonnie...yes, nursing can be financially lucrative. Unfortunately, most RNs won't do what it takes to make nursing more financially viable for themselves and their families. No RN will ever make strong financial strides while employed by someone else. I suggest you investigate what I (and 23 colleagues) have done and become independent. There are mulitple opportunities for RNs to prosper financially and have truly rewarding careers. You have to be willing to accept the risks with the rewards, however. Our collective experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

mkoonrn · Nov 23, 2000

I really did think the original question was kind of funny, but the answers were even funnier. If you choose to live in W.VA. the wages are very, very, very low. I have been a nurse for 9 years, almost 4 in the OR. Rn's start at $13.00 here. We do more approx. 30 to 75 surgeries a day, 2 to 3 shifts of call a week, mandatory overtime every week. You have to love your job to work here--we are underpaid and way overworked, but still the job satisfaction makes it almost worth it. Lucrative--only to the soul.

------------------

Dplear · Nov 24, 2000

Originally posted by Bonnie2000:
Do you have to have a separate license of some kind? I know we are all to have our own insurance (is the regular insurance enough)?

Bonnie,

I speak from experience......DO NOT carry your own insurance. let the hospital cover you under thier policy. If you carry your own insurance they can exclude you from a malparctice coverage if they get sued, and then the lawyers can go after you personally. If you do not carry insurance, then the hospital has to cover you under their policy and the suing lawyers can not go after you personally for any damages. I found this out from Hospital lawyers when I was called in to testify in a malpractice suit against a doctor. he advised all the nurses called in to drop their personal malpractice policy IMMEDIATELY

Jenny P · Nov 27, 2000

I disagree with Dplear on this. He received advice from the hospital lawyer- who has the hospital's interest at heart; not yours. I have a co-worker who was ripped apart by the hospital's lawyer in a lawsuit against a specific part of the hospital program. My co-worker likened it to rape-- she thought the hospital lawyer would be on her side and he wasn't- he was strickly there for the hospital. If the nurse doesn't have their own lawyer, it makes the hospital lawyer's job simpler and the trial shorter. You have your own interest at heart; carry your own malpractice insurance and consult your own lawyer.

newstarter · Dec 10, 2000

I am wondering about all the replies

It seems most of you are complaining when earning $45000 per year.

I don't know if you realize

This is a huge salary

Even if you remove taxes, there is still a lot left

Maybe i am stupid, but for me this sounds very lucrative

Maybe you can explain me in details why you think it is not lucrative : for example by giving details about how much money you are used to spend each month (taxes, housing, food, leisures and so on...) and how much you earn

Thanks for your light

Renaud

A new starter

hollykate · Dec 11, 2000

Renaud,

You say yourself you are a "new starter" Are you married with children? 45 K doesn't go far in that situation. For a single person, it is enough cash, I don't make 45K, and I am happy with what I make, but I am also not responsible for a child, and the bills (piano lessons, baseball uniforms, orthodontics, emergency stitches). It especially is not a lot of money when you consider the years of experience that some of these people have. Sad to say, I found out due to some hospital changes, I now make more than my nursing instructor- who has the same position (staff RN ICU)at a different hospital, and she certainly has a few more years of experience on me! Thats where the real irritation comes in. The pay when you first start out is good, but the raises seem to be pretty teeny. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken??

MartyL · Feb 15, 2001

newstarter, bless your heart. I for one am glad you think you get paid enough, maybe even lucratively for what you do. I happen to disagree with you and bills have nothing to do with how much I get paid for the job that I do: Nurses are "accountable to the public for their actions" or they can be found criminially negligent--a FELONY. Nurses have to know as much pharmacology as the pharmacist--who does not get charged in a medication error! He CAN make mistakes. Nurses have to know if the doctor has written appropriate orders, nurses have to wait on the patient (not that I mind, but I had no idea I still needed to have some waitress skills for nursing); Nurses have to educate the patient; provide care nursing care, technical care; they must be patient advocates--gee? does that not sound like we deserve to be compensated for our skills? I have many many times been the person directly responsible for "saving" the patient's life because I was at the bedside because I called the doctor because I insisted that orders needed to be given to me because I was there with the skill and knowlege to help the doctor make appropriate changes to the plan of care. And do you know who gets the credit? HE does and HE WAS NOT EVEN THERE! He also gets a much bigger salary and I agree that he should--he went to school many more years than I. But proportionately--our salaries do not come close! That what this is all about. Good luck to you.

eagleriver · Apr 17, 2001

I may consider coming to your place to work as a janitor!

BJA · Apr 17, 2001

I too must disagree with Dplear. Hospital lawyers will always work for the best interests of the hospital, not the nurse. The hospital malpractice insurance will cover you even if you have your own insurance. That is part of their obligation as your employer. The best thing about having your own insurance is that you will have a lawyer looking after your best interest, not those of the hospital.

Encouraging people to drop their malpractice/liability insurance coverage is irresponsible. Are you going to support these nurses when they lose their licenses after following your advice?