A good answer to those who ask our salary

Published

You're a nurse?? That's cool...I wanted to do that when I was a kid. What do you make?"..."WHAT DO I MAKE?? I make holding your hand seem like the most important thing in the world when you're scared. I can make your child breathe when they stop. I can help your father survive a heart attack. I make myself get out of bed at 5am to make sure your mother has the medicine she needs to live. I work al...l day and night to save the lives of strangers. I make my family wait for dinner until I know your family member is taken care of. I make myself skip lunch so that I can make sure that everything I did for your husband today is charted. I make myself work weekends and holidays because people don't just get sick Monday thru Friday from 9-5. Today, I might save your life. I make a difference... What do you make?"

I MAKE my bladder quintuple in size as I fluff your pillow and bring your fifth snack with no bathroom break for 10 hours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED/ICU/TELEMETRY/LTC.

If someone is obtuse enough to ask, I always say "$250,000 a year, you?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

them: "How much do you make?"

you: "Can you keep a secret?"

them: "Yes!"

you: "So can I"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"How much do you make" gets the same answer from me as "what did you think of the test" did in Nursing school: "It's good, I think it's fair."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This was going around Facebook recently among my nurse friends. I honestly didn't like it that much. It's a little melodramatic and superior. But Facebook memes generally are, so....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I might get flamed on this one... but I can't stand the syrupy sweet, over the top, gooey attitude some people take towards nursing.

I'm not a fairy god mother whipping miracles out of my neither regions, jeeze.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Some thing are best mentioned again.;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.
This was making its way around the public hospital nurses in Victoria Australia as we are in the middle of negotiations with the government about our bargaining agreement

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

"My Mother taught me it was rude to ask someone how much money they make."

This is true, and I have said it more than once. I hate it when I see threads asking how much people here make. Really?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

Why do I feel the need to defend myself with the posting of this?

For the record. I'm just as jaded as the rest of you with the nursing profession. lol.

*I* don't read this as sugary and sweet. IMO, it drives home all the thing we do in our shift that is often overlooked by family and management.

Would I use this on people that ask my salary? It all depends. Some yes and others maybe not.

As for those that keep reminding me that someone beat me to it with the posting here on AN and or FB. Good for you all that you saw it somewhere else first. I can't follow up every post here on AN and I'm not friends with everyone on FB. ;)

I just wanted to post something different that might give somebody food for thought when they think they are only 'just a nurse.'

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From some of these replies, I can tell which nurses are close to burning out and may need some time off to refresh! :icon_roll

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just say "Not enough."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion