As if nursing isn't hard enough, this comment appeared in a local newpaper by "none"

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Wow, I know teachers work hard and put in long hours but this guy thinks teachers deserve a much higher salary than a ASN nurse. What do you think 2-year degree/all nurses? Please let me know your thoughts. I was outraged, not that teachers dont deserve the $50 per hour, but that he thinks it should be so much more than a nurse. Here's his post as it appears in the newspaper:

None said...

As long as we in the USA supports the mentality of sgt's comment and not Teufel's comments inferences, we will have second rate schools. A true blue, quality teacher should be very well paid. They are in a profession (male or female as a teacher) as in 'a woman's work is never done syndrome'/they work at home, summers, all the time preparing for their students, enquiring, mentally and physically/actually; teaching is only the significant/weekday part of their work. Persons with an AS degree in nursing as a travel nurse can make as much as $35.00 an hour. 'Comparatively', Teachers, perhaps, should make at least 50 dollars an hour, and would still be under paid, given what CEO's, for example, make, if one were to compare them to the salaries and bonuses of Wall Street executives and so many other so called business professions and THEY have never learned basic 'lessons'! You know exactly what I mean sgt. So stop bellyaching and go pay your taxes with glee. Don Beattie in Winthrop, Me.

September 4, 2010 at 9:01 AM

Specializes in SRNA.

I think he's just pointing out that there are professions, prepared at an associate's degree level, that are compensated better than teachers who need at least a 4 year degree, and are typically encouraged to obtain their Master's. Nursing happened to be the example he cited.

I think you're reading into it too much and being overly sensitive. The point that was trying to be made was that teachers should be compensated more. Not necessarily that they should be compensated more than nurses.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Well, it appears to be a Letter to the Editor, not an OpEd piece or written by a columnist. And poorly written at that. I wouldn't get all that worked up about it....I've seen alot worse by folks who have no clue about either the teaching profession or the nursing profession.

Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I think the basic point is that teachers need to be paid more and I agree. It is one of the fundamental rights of living in this country... to get an education. And just as education is a right, so should health care be.

I do think teachers should be paid well. I agree with the other posters, I think you are reading too much into it. I have a ADN, but education is becoming more important in what ever field you are in.

I do think teachers should be held accountable in some way. If I make too many mistakes, call in sick too often or cause any kind of problem I'm going to be fired.

I do think the person was just picking salaries though and nursing was the one he picked.

Thanks everyone. As I said, I agree that teachers are worth $50 an hour. I read it as if a nurse makes $35 then a teacher ought to make $50. Personally, I think both professions are worth $50 an hour. :)

I can see both sides here--and I'm certainly one of those people who will read something once and get all bent out of shape and then read it again and go well...wait a minute, maybe it wasn't worth all of that and sheepishly walk away--LOL! I certainly think that between nursing and teaching (because I'm a nurse and my best friend of 20 years is a teacher) are probably 2 of the most thankless jobs out there...and while I'm certainly not in nursing for the money--I do appreciate the fact that when I graduated college, I walked into my bosses office (because I was already working in a hospital) and I said, here's my degree and my RN license...and she said, sign here...this is your new pay rate, and it was almost $30 an hour. I know it's not that simple now, new grads would practically beg, borrow & steal to be able to get a job that easily--but the point is that for some, it has been that easy, and history has repeated itself, and there should come a time again where it will be that easy. Teaching on the other hand, not so much--I still know of people that graduated from college 4 years ago that are working as substitutes day to day, not knowing if they are going to work tomorrow. And even the teachers that are in good schools, aren't making the money that I am making. Teaching also doesn't offer near the flexibility that nursing does.

I think we've all gone into our said profession for different reasons, and we all know that life and work isn't perfect. It is what you make of it...I've often times wondered if there isn't something else out there that would make me happier...but it always comes back to nursing for me...I don't think that this writer meant to be offensive, I think he was trying to compare apples to apples--two very thankless professions--one that is paid a little bit better than the other--both very underpaid =)

Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

I work with a 5th grade teacher who is an RN and has a Masters in Education; I am quoting him when he states nursing is "the hardest job" he ever worked. Teaching does not pay what it should, but then again neither does nursing. We are in charge of people's lives, coordinate all of their care, are responsible for the ordering doctors medications, must follow ridiculous policies, and work under-staffed at every junction. It's amazing anyone survives their hospital stay with the barriers placed in our ways by administration and business people who continue to make money while we work in dangerous environments.

If anyone is going to write to the editor about education, they should educate themselves on what nurses ACTUALLY DO and ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR before they spout garbage.....

M

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

" Persons with an AS degree in nursing as a travel nurse can make as much as $35.00 an hour."

*** $35 and hour? Ha! I wouldn't put my pants on as a staff nurse for only $35 and hour. I wouldn't do travel nursing for less than $40 and then only if it was in a place I wanted to go to. For any place else $45 minimum.

Don't know where that writer is located but he is ignorant of what nurses get paid here in my part the upper mid west where new ADN grads start out at >$30/hour.

GOOD teachers should be well paid, but there is too little accountability in teaching. Also they have much better pensions and survivor's pensions than any nurse will ever see. In fact they have better benefits across the board. Then they work day shift hours, have weekends, holidays and summers off. Comparing their salaries to nursing is apples to oranges.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
GOOD teachers should be well paid, but there is too little accountability in teaching. Also they have much better pensions and survivor's pensions than any nurse will ever see. In fact they have better benefits across the board. Then they work day shift hours, have weekends, holidays and summers off. Comparing their salaries to nursing is apples to oranges.

*** Good point. Teachers have excellent retirement plans. Nurses, except those who work for the government, usually don't. Private hospitals here is Wisconsin usually don't have any type of retirement system except an employee funded 401K. I have also never see teachers at work at 0300 on Christmas.

Specializes in PACU, OR.

Most people in essential services are underpaid. The letter also referred to the salaries earned by CEOs, but it's a pity he didn't take a swipe at politician's salaries while he was at it.

As long as there are individuals taking too big a slice of the pie, there will always be "insufficient funds" to pay teachers, nurses, policemen, paramedics, firefighters etc etc what they are worth.

I'm glad the letter also pointed out that people should stop complaining about the taxes they pay, which are supposed to cover the cost of those essential services like health care, education and policing. Unfortunately, there are too many overpaid and under-competent people involved in the distribution of those funds, which means too many hot little hands pawing at the pot and its contents.

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