Becoming a nurse for the money...

Nursing Students General Students

Published

...just wondering who's becoming a nurse for the eventual excellent pay???

I am. :D

We are given on in school a list of average RN salaries by state. I think the original poster is mistaken unless he plans on being a CRNA or CRNI he is not going to make $100,000 even in California.

The median RN salary if $50,000 for almost every state, and $80,000 for California, but that includes all nurses including new grads and those who have there Masters and Doctorates

I am specifically talking about the city of San Franciso, and yes, I would have my masters. A "CNL" Clinical Nurse Leader. But even then, masters or not. The 100,000 salary very common for San Francisco.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't understand. I know at my school you have to have a passion for nursing, not just the money. There's no way to pass nursing school unless you have an interest in it. I am saying this as a 20 yr. old male, who spends 10+ hours/day 7 days a week in the library studying. I guess a lot of schools are easy enough just to get through??????

Maybe it's just you. I dont have the passion but i have the brains. I can guarantee you i wont be 10 hours in the library.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Everyone should be well compensated for what they do- nurses are no exception. There's no disagreement about that. And yes- we do critisize lawyers (quite a lot actually) as well as docs and others for getting into their professions "just for the money."

I don't think scientists go into research "just for the money." Research is not something that can be done by someone without a great interest in it. My husband is a research scientist with a PhD, and he works in a research laboratory facility.

Believe me- the middle class income he earns certainly does not justify his eleven years of college and 70-80 hr work weeks. Most researchers do not make great money. They do it for the love of science.

I believe that if you do not have a genuine interest and natural aptitude for nursing, you can be a technically competent nurse, but not a really good one. But maybe those who are getting into nursing strictly for the "big money" really don't care if they are good nurses.

If all the work is being done. all the patients being taken care off, then why would a nurse doing it for the money not be a "good" nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What money??

50-70K isn't A LOT of money to me. But I guess some people might think thats A LOT of money.

What 50-70k?

100,000 isnt filthy rich, but its a comfortable life. The city of San Francisco starts about 100,000.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I think he's going to be in for a wakeup call once he graduates, unless he plans to become an NP or a nurse manager. Though the average NP or nurse manager doesn't even make that kind of money right out of school.

I didn't go into nursing because of some higher "calling" either, though I did know I wanted to go into healthcare/a social service/"helping" profession. I decided on nursing because it was a good medium between medicine and social work and public health, three fields in particular I had interest in, in addition to the flexibility in scheduling and the relative employability compared to other fields. I think the money is OKAY, but nothing impressive. It could be better, IMO.

I already have a degree, so in much shorter amount of time (than it will take me to become an NP, which is my plan) I could get my Juris Doctorate and be a rich *******. But that's not really up my alley.

Just because someone has a JD does not mean the money will roll in. Besides, not all nursing positions are in the "helping" sector.

ie private clinics, cosmetic surgeons etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
all nurses know that sometimes it is a real struggle to get pts what they need. sometimes you have to go around docs, or use manipulation to get docs to give you what you need for your pt.

you have to stick your neck out, and it can a real struggle to keep a pt from slipping through the cracks and get their needs addressed in a variety of situations. sometimes, you have to make time that you don't have to look into a situation more deeply to uncover the real situation behind what is going on- be it social, financial, or other factors influenicing what you see going on w/ a pt, and it can be like pulling teeth to get pt problems addressed.

will a nurse who is "just in it for the money" do these things?

having been a nurse for over 30 years, i can tell you with some authority that nurses needed to be intelligent 20 years ago. i venture to say that they needed to be intelligent even in florence's day. "passion" and a "calling" may be a good reason to start looking into the career, but that and $2.95 will get you a cup of coffee these days. you also need to be able to master the academics, persevere when the going gets rough and have enough common sense not to make stupid/preventable mistakes.

in the end, i'd rather have (and be) a smart nurse than a nurse with a calling.

i hope i get to work with nurses like you. with real sense!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I became a nurse for the financial security and because I enjoyed learning about anatomy in high school. I thought it would be an ideal career path for me and so I did my 3 year bachelor of nursing degree.

I 100% disagree that nurses should have this 'calling' and I dont' have a problem if someone has entered the profession because they want a job that pays reasonably well. In fact, most of the nurses I've worked with who want to hold patients hands, be the 'angel of mercy' (i'm sure you get the picture) tend not to cope very well when they realise how limited health resources are, and that nurses are generally first in the firing line from patients, relatives and doctors.I personally think that anyone who criticises ppl for going into nursing for money reasons needs to get a life.

Anyway marco I wish you all the best. Nursing is NOT an easy career, it can be quite stressful, nurses tend not to support one another and a lot of the time your concentrating on covering your own butt. But IMHO if you go into this with your eyes wide open then you'll be better prepared for what lies ahead.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
what 50-70k?

100,000 isnt filthy rich, but its a comfortable life. the city of san francisco starts about 100,000.

you fail to understand that 100k for san francisco is equivalent to 40k. california's cost of living is extremely high compared to other places in the u.s. san franciso is one of the highest cities to live in ca. i know of people who pay $2000-3000/month in rent for just a 2-bedroom apartment in ca. also, you will realize bringing in 100k is not worth being in a career you hate!!! (that is if you will even bring in 100k starting out, which i doubt you will.) i don't think you have a realistic view of what nurses actually do. you might want to consider working as a cna or volunteering at a hospital to see if you actually want to do nursing. i assume you are a male, and a lot of guys think they don't have to do bedside care or "dirty work". they think they are going to cruise right in to management. if you come on a nursing floor with that type of attitude, those vicious women are going to eat you alive on that nursing floor! they will make sure to make your job a living hell to run you off. you will be working with a lot of females, and they will show you how vicious they can be. nursing is nothing to play with. you will either like it or hate it. there is no in between. so i suggest you to do some soul searching and find a career you can make big bucks and actually be passionate about it. :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

my little anecdotal input to this discussion is this: one day about a year ago i was helping 3 of my colleagues perform a spinal dressing change on a 550 pound woman. I had to hold up her hips.........aka the business end of her body.

this 550 pound woman farted in my face:lol2: as i was trying not to laugh in the room(thankfully she couldnt see my face) i thought to myself: self, why are you doing this with your life? The answer was most definitely not for the 21 bucks an hour i get paid!!

I've been at it for 3 years now. I guess i keep doing it because i like it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

21 bucks an hour?? You are getting the shaft! Jobs in TN start at min. 25

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Marc86---

There's a big difference between a nurse who has the brains and NO passion for the profession. The difference is that someone who does not have a passion will more than likely not go above and beyond, and out of their way for the patient. I'm sure a patient would rather have a well educated,determined nurse , who wants to be there helping them instead of a nurse who is soley there based on money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
21 bucks an hour?? You are getting the shaft! Jobs in TN start at min. 25

You missed the point of his story. No amount of money an hour is worth you getting a fart in the face. That is why it is important that a person chooses a career in nursing based on other motivating factors besides money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment