Are you in Nursing for the Caring or the Cash?? Be Honest

Nurses General Nursing

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hello i am currently in nursing school and the weirdest thing is how future nurses talk about how they are going to be getting paid!! it's as if caring is not involved in their frame of mind, this type of mentality is not going to help the nursing shortage it's only going to aide it because as we know we do not get paid for our actual services, but this younger generation feel since it is a shortage this is the field to go and make some quick money, so i'm curious and please be honest what are you in it for, caring or cash?

Where are you in CA. Please, I am not necessairly asking you to reveal the city, if you think that migh compromise your confidentiality on this board. Just what part of CA.

I'm up in the Sacramento area, and salaries-depend on what hospital you are employed with. Kaiser hospital system is one of the higher paying employers in the area. Mercy, Sutter, and UC Davis pay less.

If you want to get a general idea of salaries, contact any of the HR departments for these hospitals. You should be able to figure out what the average salary is based on your speciality and experience.

Hope this helps.

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I got a job to pay the bills, and to give me a reasonable lifestyle. Having a job I love, and get so much from as well as cash is a bonus. Nobody goes into nursing to make millions, do they?

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Ever since I was 8 I dreamed of a job that would allow me to take care of others. My father is a paramedic, my mother is an RN, and my grandmother was an LPN so naturally my family thought I would be the first doctor. Needless to say I chose nursing to help people. I feel it's a good career choice because you are always guarenteed a job and the money is good (depending on where you live) Sure I could go on to med school but I want to have the one on one interraction with people. I currently work in customer service at an airline where I've worked 7 years and making 13.90 and hour. Sure I get to help people but 13.90 an hour isnt paying the bills. I also know of one airline that's been laying off like crazy. I havent heard of anyplace laying off nurses.

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Specializes in LTC.

"I like big bucks and I cannot lie"

LOL. Sorry, couldn't resist. I find the original lyrics, umm, a bit vulgar.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It's difficult to be "loyal" to an employer, who will lay you off the minute profits deteriorate.

My current employer will doc my pay for being 1 minute late from a break, but refuses to acknowledge that I have started my shift early on numerous occasions without asking for additional pay. I have also stayed past my shift without additional pay, due to being understaffed. I have also come in on my days off and worked on weekends, when asked to. My reward for being a consciencious worker-zero- and not even a written acknowledgement in my yearly evaluations.

Loyalty is a 2 way street.

you got that right.

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I Am In It For The People, I Care What Happens, And I Am A Giving Person, (my Husband Tells Me Sometimes I Am Too Giving) I Do Not Think You Can Ever Be Too Giving. It's Rewarding To Help People. We Need More Caring People In This World. It's Not The Money That Counts It's What Is In Your Heart...

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

What's wrong with saying you went into nursing for both the caring and the cash? I love my job. I get to go home at night and feel like maybe I really helped one of my patients, either by educating them or just being there for them when they needed me. That is great. But what has motivated me to return to school to get my ASN is the fact that my fiance works in an automotive factory, and has no college education, and it is all he knows. Automotive industry is cutthroat, and it is very difficult to find a job doing what he is doing. I like to know that if he gets laid off tomorrow, I could support us and pay the bills. We wouldn't be rich, but at least we would have food on the table and a roof over our heads. And if the only job he could find was in another state, I could pick right up and move there, knowing it wouldn't be too difficult for me to find a job. This benefit is priceless to me. So...am I in it for the caring or the cash?? I'd say both!

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I would *NEVER* work this hard and practically kill myself some days just for the $$$$ from nursing.

Those who are in it just for the money won't last very long, in my opinion.

Just my 0.02

John

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I love the path of nursing and being able to provide patient care. I have worked in many areas in the medical field over the last 5-6 years and this is the only job I would consider after doing all of the other stuff. I didn't only decide to go back to school to help people, I'm doing it to help myself and my family as well and I wouldn't choose a career that wouldn't compensate me for all the hard work such as school and patient loads. Nursing is such a broad spectrum, there are so many options available, so it wasn't a hard choice for me. Nursing is a noble profession which I will take very, very seriously but I also want a career that pays too. I don't think it's a bad thing to want to be a nurse and expect to be paid well. With all those risks! I do howerver think it's bad to only go into for he money. Money doesn't make a nurse, compassion and education does.

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That's crazy, wow! I guess I am naive. I had never heard of cashiers being unionized. Well, guess that proves I am not in it only for the money...suprises me, even! If it was between $14/hr LPN, or $20/hr cashier....I would still be an LPN.

Where I live in KY cashiers at Kroger get atleast 10-12 an hour and they're in a union. Most people my age don't choose to be a cashier though becuse they feel it's beneath them. (I'm 28) Heck, if I knew they paid cashiers that much I would have worked at Kroger's a long time ago. LOL :rotfl:

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Specializes in ICU-Stepdown.

I copy that!

Heck, I was raised (and lived it) to believe that NO job was beneath me. Over the years I've done many different jobs, over quite a few different fields. As long as it pays the bills, and allows me to reach my goal, I'm ready for work.

Hell, I grew up on a farm, and spent my summers bailing hay and other related chores. Cutting yards to afford parts for my motorcycle or paying insurance -whatever. They don't just hand out good jobs and professional licenses, it takes work -lots of it. Ive always said I'd do ANYTHING to get to where I was going, and I have, and I've gotten my RN -I'm proud of that accomplishment, but that too, is just a step. I'll quit climbing when I die (or maybe that will just be a step, too?)

Cashiers certainly didn't make THAT kind of scratch when I was in highschool.

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If'n I was in it for the cash...I wouldn't be in Nursing.

There is NOTHING WRONG in expecting that you should be paid for what you are worth, what you do, what you put up with, what schooling you went through, what clinical experience you have. Are we professionals or not? Being a Professional Nurse does NOT mean that we should be walked over !! It means the same thing as it does to a CEO, an attorney, a teacher, a physician...ad nauseum. They demand to be paid what they are worth...why don't Nurses do the same? C'mon nurses.....why don't we think that we are worth what we are? New forum???

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