A Nurse's Lifestyle

Nurses General Nursing

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Okay, so I'm new on these boards and I'm not going to pretend like I know all about nursing because I really don't. However, I am learning.

I have learned from reading around, that nurses don't get paid very much. Or at least, not as much as they should. So, my question is: as a nurse what kind of lifestyle can you afford? What kind of home do you live in? What kind of car do you drive? Do you get to go on vacations? Stuff like that. Do you feel as though you have all the things that you need?

Just wanted to say that, if the only reason a person becomes a nurse is for the money, then they should consider another career like, being an attorney or something. Don't misunderstand, I was prelaw before I changed to nurseing, so I guess I helped invent the concept of always wanting more. I just feel that you grow as a person, and you realize the most important thing about your career is that your are passionate about it , and that you help people along the way. I want to always be know as the nurse who went the extra mile, not the nurse who worked double shifts to pay the rent.

nursedi

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I make about 24/hr.. and I've only been working as an RN for about 5 months. I think this is a pretty decent hourly wage, and the PTO adds up fast too. I also like the fact that I work 3 days a week. The scheduling is so incredibly flexible. We were able to build a house and furnish it with brand new furniture.. and I'm only 23! We both drive modest cars, and we both have harley's. I like that I am able to not penny pinch and cry to my parents for some money!

I like my Harley

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Specializes in Nursing Education.
Just wanted to say that, if the only reason a person becomes a nurse is for the money, then they should consider another career like, being an attorney or something. Don't misunderstand, I was prelaw before I changed to nurseing, so I guess I helped invent the concept of always wanting more. I just feel that you grow as a person, and you realize the most important thing about your career is that your are passionate about it , and that you help people along the way. I want to always be know as the nurse who went the extra mile, not the nurse who worked double shifts to pay the rent.

nursedi

Over the years I have heard many nurses say "if you are in this for the money, then you have chosen the wrong profession." While I do agree that nursing has traditionally been a lower paying profession, I have always disagreed with the mind-set that nurses should not be paid more or for their worth. I have been a nurse for a long time and I do not think it is wrong for nurses to ask for and desire to be paid more. I have a family and deserve to make a livable wage.

There are many people in this profession because it is a secure future. Nurses will always be employable. Is it wrong for people to join the ranks of nursing because they will have a secure future? Does that mean they care less than you or the next nurse? I don't think so. For me, I joined nursing because I knew it was a secure future for me. I knew I would not make a lot of money, but I expect to be paid a fair wage for the work that I do. I am also a very compassionate person. But my compassion to care for people does not out weigh my need to pay my bills and provide my kids with a decent quality of life or have the ability to send them to a decent college.

It is interesting how nurses have always been placed in a position that if they want to earn more money than they are questioned about their commitment to the patient. I have never heard anyone say that about a physician or about other health care professionals. They receive a great wage for their contriubution to the care of the patient. No one questions their compassion. So, why, in this day and age, would we question the commitment of nurses that want to make a good wage?

I am no longer a part of the school of thought that says nurses should have more compassion and less pay. My pay should equal my compassion. Trust me .... I will never be paid to the level of compassion that I have, but I refuse to step back and not ask for more money just because I am a nurse. Let's move on as a profession and demand what we are worth. We are educated professionals and should be paid a wage that is comserate with our education and experience.

Ok - I am off my soap box about this now.

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But, you will be known as the nurse who could not spell nursing...I don't know...it might just be that I don't see where it is an absolute choice between going the extra mile and paying the rent. I have always aimed for both. What do you care how many shifts I work and how I spend the money? What does that have to do with the quality of care that I give my patients? And the lawyers that I know work hard for their clients, do pro bono work, lobby for just causes, and pay the rent.

Just wanted to say that, if the only reason a person becomes a nurse is for the money, then they should consider another career like, being an attorney or something. Don't misunderstand, I was prelaw before I changed to nurseing, so I guess I helped invent the concept of always wanting more. I just feel that you grow as a person, and you realize the most important thing about your career is that your are passionate about it , and that you help people along the way. I want to always be know as the nurse who went the extra mile, not the nurse who worked double shifts to pay the rent.

nursedi

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
Over the years I have heard many nurses say "if you are in this for the money, then you have chosen the wrong profession." While I do agree that nursing has traditionally been a lower paying profession, I have always disagreed with the mind-set that nurses should not be paid more or for their worth. I have been a nurse for a long time and I do not think it is wrong for nurses to ask for and desire to be paid more. I have a family and deserve to make a livable wage.

There are many people in this profession because it is a secure future. Nurses will always be employable. Is it wrong for people to join the ranks of nursing because they will have a secure future? Does that mean they care less than you or the next nurse? I don't think so. For me, I joined nursing because I knew it was a secure future for me. I knew I would not make a lot of money, but I expect to be paid a fair wage for the work that I do. I am also a very compassionate person. But my compassion to care for people does not out weigh my need to pay my bills and provide my kids with a decent quality of life or have the ability to send them to a decent college.

It is interesting how nurses have always been placed in a position that if they want to earn more money than they are questioned about their commitment to the patient. I have never heard anyone say that about a physician or about other health care professionals. They receive a great wage for their contriubution to the care of the patient. No one questions their compassion. So, why, in this day and age, would we question the commitment of nurses that want to make a good wage?

I am no longer a part of the school of thought that says nurses should have more compassion and less pay. My pay should equal my compassion. Trust me .... I will never be paid to the level of compassion that I have, but I refuse to step back and not ask for more money just because I am a nurse. Let's move on as a profession and demand what we are worth. We are educated professionals and should be paid a wage that is comserate with our education and experience.

Ok - I am off my soap box about this now.

i totally agree. mosts nurse that i know admit that if they could not make a decent wage as a nurse, they would not do it. and i don't blame them because nursing is hard work and its nice to see a decent paycheck for your hard work. it seems that you are looked at in a negative light if you say "i am tired of being a cna or medical assistant and working like a dog for 9/hr. i will increase my knowledge and be a RN so that i could make more". i say this because that was me 5 years ago when i decided that being a medical assistant was not going to EVER pay my rent or allow me to buy nice things. now that i am a nurse i am not rich of course, but i am not struggling the least bit. i feel more fulfilled now that i make more money to provide for myself and my family. the good thing is i look forward to caring for patients everyday so i know i picked the career just right for me. i worked two jobs for years and now i don't have to, so nursing was worth it. so nurses, be proud to say that you aim for higher wages because there is'nt anything wrong with wanting financial security. that is the reason we work right? as long as you are competent and safe when caring for your patients you aren't doing the nursing profession any harm.

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The median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse - RN - Oncology in Gary, IN 46410, is $53,409. This basic market pricing report was prepared using our Certified Compensation Professionals' analysis of survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at employers of all sizes, industries and geographies.

Um somehow... after reading all this, this info seems wrong :confused:

Salary.com told me this!

25%ile- $47,776

50%ile- $53,409

75%ile- $58,824

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Lauren wrote

So, my question is: as a nurse what kind of lifestyle can you afford? What kind of home do you live in?

Honey, let me tell you something. No matter what you do for work, the lifestyle you have, the home you live in and the car you drive will depend alot more on the decisions you make everyday with your money, than it will on how much money you make.

Look around you...you can't swing a dead cat without hitting some undiciplined dolt with a regular fat paycheck and in debt up to his/her ears.

When choosing a vocation, do what you love to do, be the best that you possibly can....and the $$$ will fall like manna from heaven. And remember...every week, pay yourself FIRST! (save, save save) and incurr no debt unless for house, car or education.

Amen

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The median expected salary for a typical Staff Nurse - RN - Oncology in Gary, IN 46410, is $53,409. This basic market pricing report was prepared using our Certified Compensation Professionals' analysis of survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at employers of all sizes, industries and geographies.

Um somehow... after reading all this, this info seems wrong :confused:

Salary.com told me this!

25%ile- $47,776

50%ile- $53,409

75%ile- $58,824

Nah, if it's hard to get get ppl to move to that area, the wages might just be that....I know the cost of living in West Texas is somewhat low, but nurses get paid pretty well here, because no one wants to move here. I don't know what Gary is like, but it might be the same situation there.

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Over the years I have heard many nurses say "if you are in this for the money, then you have chosen the wrong profession." While I do agree that nursing has traditionally been a lower paying profession, I have always disagreed with the mind-set that nurses should not be paid more or for their worth. I have been a nurse for a long time and I do not think it is wrong for nurses to ask for and desire to be paid more. I have a family and deserve to make a livable wage.

There are many people in this profession because it is a secure future. Nurses will always be employable. Is it wrong for people to join the ranks of nursing because they will have a secure future? Does that mean they care less than you or the next nurse? I don't think so. For me, I joined nursing because I knew it was a secure future for me. I knew I would not make a lot of money, but I expect to be paid a fair wage for the work that I do. I am also a very compassionate person. But my compassion to care for people does not out weigh my need to pay my bills and provide my kids with a decent quality of life or have the ability to send them to a decent college.

It is interesting how nurses have always been placed in a position that if they want to earn more money than they are questioned about their commitment to the patient. I have never heard anyone say that about a physician or about other health care professionals. They receive a great wage for their contriubution to the care of the patient. No one questions their compassion. So, why, in this day and age, would we question the commitment of nurses that want to make a good wage?

I am no longer a part of the school of thought that says nurses should have more compassion and less pay. My pay should equal my compassion. Trust me .... I will never be paid to the level of compassion that I have, but I refuse to step back and not ask for more money just because I am a nurse. Let's move on as a profession and demand what we are worth. We are educated professionals and should be paid a wage that is comserate with our education and experience.

Ok - I am off my soap box about this now.

You said exactly what I was thinking...but 50 times better than I could have expressed it. Amen, and Amen.

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Lauren,

I would suggest that you read the wonderful book The Millionaire Next Door. What it will tell you is that most millionairs do not live like people think they do. Most do NOT own credit cards. Most do NOT buy expensive cars. Most live in modest homes and drive very modest cars and save, save save!

I think it is a great book with some wondeful tips no matter what someone income level is.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

Well I don't have alot of "free" cash, but we do have 3 vehicles, a nice 1700 sq ft 3 bedroom 2 bath home with large garage and nice yard, and our bills are paid. So to me I'm pretty fortunate. :)

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Specializes in Surgical.

I make 52k a year, been a nurse for about one year...is it enough? that is pretty subjective.

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