Are We "Glorifying" Nurses?

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

Name ANY other associate's degree program where one can get a job, right out of the gate, making $40-60K/year. COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, nursing pays very well for a 2-year-degree. In fact, I would say that it pays better than any other 2-year-degree career out there. That was my point.

And you may think what I said was crass, but I think it's crass when other professionals do not know how to keep professional boundaries, and think that's a bragging point about how awesome and caring they are.

nynursey_ · Jul 13, 2015

Name ANY other associate's degree program where one can get a job, right out of the gate, making $40-60K/year. COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, nursing pays very well for a 2-year-degree. In fact, I would say that it pays better than any other 2-year-degree career out there. That was my point.
And you may think what I said was crass, but I think it's crass when other professionals do not know how to keep professional boundaries, and think that's a bragging point about how awesome and caring they are.

Being paid well is subjective. You really can't define that. It's different for every person, region, situation, etc.

It isn't a "bragging right" but it's certainly not a flaw. It exhausts me that I tend to feel what my patients are feeling but there isn't anything wrong with it. Nor does it make me a better nurse. It just is what it is.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

Name ANY other associate's degree program where one can get a job, right out of the gate, making $40-60K/year. COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING, nursing pays very well for a 2-year-degree. In fact, I would say that it pays better than any other 2-year-degree career out there. That was my point.
And you may think what I said was crass, but I think it's crass when other professionals do not know how to keep professional boundaries, and think that's a bragging point about how awesome and caring they are.

I usually agree with you klone, but I don't on this. My cousin is a physical therapist assistant. She has a 2 year degree and makes excellent money. She is above the $60k mark right now. I go to a community college which essentially the 2 year degree school. My ex-husband is another example. He has an associate's degree in HVAC. When he worked for a local company, he far exceeded $60k. When it is extremely hot or cold he worked tons of overtime. His base pay I'm thinking was around $50k, then you add up overtime and bonuses he made good money. And then his side work was another full time job itself. Now he owns his own HVAC business and makes probably close to $200k a year. Those are just two examples. There are tons more.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

It isn't a "bragging right" but it's certainly not a flaw. It exhausts me that I tend to feel what my patients are feeling but there isn't anything wrong with it. Nor does it make me a better nurse. It just is what it is.

But that was the point of the article. For many, it *is* a bragging right. She was specifically addressing that point from a previous article, and the tone, which was braggy and "we're so awesome and caring because we go home and cry about our patients."

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

I usually agree with you klone, but I don't on this. My cousin is a physical therapist assistant. She has a 2 year degree and makes excellent money. She is above the $60k mark right now. I go to a community college which essentially the 2 year degree school. My ex-husband is another example. He has an associate's degree in HVAC. When he worked for a local company, he far exceeded $60k. When it is extremely hot or cold he worked tons of overtime. His base pay I'm thinking was around $50k, then you add up overtime and bonuses he made good money. And then his side work was another full time job itself. Now he owns his own HVAC business and makes probably close to $200k a year. Those are just two examples. There are tons more.

You may think there are "tons more" but my point was that the reality is that MOST associate degrees do NOT earn that much right out of the gate. It's a FACT. And any RN can work "tons of overtime" and take home and extra $10-20K a year as well.

nynursey_ · Jul 13, 2015

You may think there are "tons more" but my point was that the reality is that MOST associate degrees do NOT earn that much right out of the gate. It's a FACT. And any RN can work "tons of overtime" and take home and extra $10-20K a year as well.

What most earn is location dependent 9/10.

nynursey_ · Jul 13, 2015

You may think there are "tons more" but my point was that the reality is that MOST associate degrees do NOT earn that much right out of the gate. It's a FACT. And any RN can work "tons of overtime" and take home and extra $10-20K a year as well.

Also, the ability to work "tons of overtime" depends on your hospital policy and staffing needs. I have friends who work for regional hospitals that are small and do not have a large staffing crisis. They often have call offs as opposed to opportunities for overtime.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

You may think there are "tons more" but my point was that the reality is that MOST associate degrees do NOT earn that much right out of the gate. It's a FACT. And any RN can work "tons of overtime" and take home and extra $10-20K a year as well.

But that's not what you said. You said name any associate's programs that can make that much money. I gave you two. If you need more than that I can list them for you. I also know that nurses make overtime pay as well. I was just saying that what my ex's base was and he worked a lot of overtime to bring home more money. Their job is very dependent on weather. That was my only point. But if you need me to list all of the degrees that you can make that money from I will. You are saying it's a FACT that associate's degrees don't make the same amount as a nurse off the bat when it's not a fact because I listed two off the top of my head.

Libby1987 · Jul 13, 2015

PTA's make good money because the PT organizations were smart enough to keep themselves in demand.

Our new 2 yr grads start out at 87K/year. M-F Days.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

PTA's make good money because the PT organizations were smart enough to keep themselves in demand.
Our new 2 yr grads start out at 87K/year. M-F Days.

My sister is a physical therapist. She makes awesome money but she also went to school for 8 years to earn her doctorate. She says the PTA is the way to go because they don't have the stress of a PT, but make great money. Plus, the student loan payment she has each month is crazy. I am able to pay out of pocket for my community college because it is so much cheaper. When the day comes I want to get my BSN, I will probably have to do student loans for it because even the state schools are 3 times what my community college is.

klone, MSN, RN · Jul 13, 2015

What most earn is location dependent 9/10.

Of course, but even in a low cost of living area, an RN is still going to make more than most other associate's degree careers in that same area. Cost of living does not just affect nursing salaries.

nynursey_ · Jul 13, 2015

Of course, but even in a low cost of living area, an RN is still going to make more than most other associate's degree careers in that same area. Cost of living does not just affect nursing salaries.

I didn't say cost of living impacts salary. Location impacts salary.