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 None.

After working at a university and now going into nursing, I agree that both should be paid $50/hr. Nursing and educators both have to deal with a public that is less than pleasant at times. Kids with an attitude or families that are a bunch of crazies. However I know that a lot of people are getting into the education game only because of the hours, 8-3 M-F 9 months a year, with holiday breaks. And those people are turning out to be very poor educators that don't deserve $50/hr. I've also met some nurses that don't deserve the $50/hr either. You take the good with the bad!

However I know that a lot of people are getting into the education game only because of the hours, 8-3 M-F 9 months a year, with holiday breaks. And those people are turning out to be very poor educators that don't deserve $50/hr. I've also met some nurses that don't deserve the $50/hr either. You take the good with the bad!

so very, very true.

leslie

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

Teachers are NOT underpaid! Public school teachers make very good money, plus generous pensions and free (or nearly-free) health insurance for life.

I get very suspicious when school districts ask for money. When I was in high school, a nearby school system was constantly asking for money, but never wanted to ask questions about where the money was going. Turns out the superintendent was embezzling.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I'll need an address, please, and the location of five reasonably priced empty apartments. ;) After two years I'm not making anything close to $30. What's cost of living like?

*** Like everything it depends. Not COL is not too bad in Madison, especially because if you are willing to drive 30 or 40 min you can live pretty inexpensively in a small town. More expensive in Minneapolis but nothing like California or HI. I see 1 bedroom apartments for rent in Minneapolis for $600- $1000 month.

As for address, got to this web site. Has the web site of nearly every hospital in the USA listed by state.

http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Minnesota.htm

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Please understand that I am not trying to turn this into a BSN vs ADN debate, but I do believe that entry level educational requirements play a part in this type of comment.

For virtually every teaching position, the minimum educational requirement is a Bachelor's Degree. In many school districts, the para-professional staff members are required to have an Associate's Degree.

When school administrators and the general public see that a nurse can have an ADN, they equate their pay scale with that of the para-professionals, not with the Bachelor's Degree holders.

This, of course, fails to take into account the level of independent practice, accountability and professional licensure of the RN.

But whenever a bean counter has an excuse to pay someone less than they should, they will take it.

*** You make a great point. Your argument also shoots holes in the therory that if all nurses had BSNs they would get paid more. Teachers all have at least a BS or BA and most likely have masters and they make less, in my area much less.

*** Like everything it depends. Not COL is not too bad in Madison, especially because if you are willing to drive 30 or 40 min you can live pretty inexpensively in a small town. More expensive in Minneapolis but nothing like California or HI. I see 1 bedroom apartments for rent in Minneapolis for $600- $1000 month.

As for address, got to this web site. Has the web site of nearly every hospital in the USA listed by state.

http://www.theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Minnesota.htm

If only I could get my husband to move... I think I was secretly born to live in Minnesota. I love hockey and the snow. Maybe he'd go for that much money. ;)

Specializes in ER.

why is it "comparatively" ? nurses to teachers...??? Teachers SHOULD be paid more, but nurses have LIFE AND DEATH situations. Just as pilots and those under fire get combat pay, nurses should have CRITICAL SITUATION pay.

I know where Winthrop, Maine is... not saying much coming from there... maybe there are some really under scoring schools there...

I wonder why nobody brought this point up. But a nursing degree is consider a much harder degree to obtain than an elementary education degree. True It might take longer to achieve, but there are other factors to consider.

For all of the supporters of "teachers should be paid more" I disagree. The school system is broken. We spend more than most other developed nations on education and get poorer results. Pouring more money at a miserable situation is not going to encourage teachers to stay or enter the profession. An earlier post made a point about her job being the Devil but she was being paid $50/hr, yes my dear you are selling your soul to the Devil. I choose to work in a great environment where adequate staffing is a priority. I make less but I never dread going in for report. There is intrinsic value to work and that varies from person to person. Seeing a child grow and learn skills they will carry their whole life has value. Who doesn't remember their favorite teacher?

Fixing the system is not pouring more money at it. Move the money that is there from places that don't produce to ones that do and Darwinism will prevail. Unfortunately that stand would take more guts and faith than the teachers union or parents will bear.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I kind of hate giving this much attention to a poorly written Letter to the Editor opinion. No doubt the author has no idea that his spontaneous ramblings have garnered this much discussion. I hope he stays in the dark.

TENCAT, my friend, If only it was so easy.

Your logic escapes the masses. We are now in a world of "those that are not held accountable for their actions". A union can't help this, it's a larger society issue which trancends those stupid masses that keep making it "others" fault.

Your logic is clear... it's the villagers with the pitchforks that keep bringing us down. Sorry to rain on your incredible parade. But the logical people knew enough not to show up for it.

Yes, I KNOW that no one is responsible for anything and everyone loves to point fingers.....that is the main problem in our society for SURE. I know a union wouldn't be the golden answer, but wouldn't it be fun? :devil:

Nursing is the devil that I know, complete with walking out of report to two patients: an ETOH'r going through full blown DT's, yelling "F*(k You" at the top of their lungs and spitting AND incontinent of stool and urine, and a vented patient who's blood pressure is 69/22 and is on 14 different drips with four of them going dry all at the same time.

Sigh.....

Actually, that sounds like a typical Jr. High classroom ;)

Throwing more money at education will not fix it. Getting kids to take responsibility for their own learning (yes, they DO have to do more than show up occasionally to school), and parents to take responsibility for parenting their kids and making them face consequences for bad behavior and poor decisions is how the system will get fixed. Education needs to be a privilege, not a right.

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