Brigham nurses threaten to strike. Paid $106,000 on average, demand more.

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And people wonder why there is so little sympathy for RNs who are striking and complain they aren't paid enough. They are literally in the top 5% of the earners in the country.

They are striking for safety reasons! This isn't about the money. Smh.

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1. Most big cities are incredibly expensive to live in or near. Boston is no different. I have no idea what the "real" cost of living is there. I'd imagine much more than where I live (decidedly not a big city). There was just an article I read about how many people are being shut out of the housing market secondary to skyrocketing rent costs that don't allow folks to accumulate a savings adequate enough to be able to afford a house (too many new grads in all specialties flooded cities with stable job prospects during the recession and now there are more renters than affordable options). Boston was one of the cities cited in the article.

2. Maybe they haven't had a cost of living adjustment or similar in quite some time. Those adjustments became rare during the recession. I'm lucky to work somewhere that re-evaluates our compensation annually.

3. Often times unions list far more demands than are reasonable - just like management probably has an unreasonable list of demands. The negotiation process usually ends up somewhere in the middle - with both sides giving up something. My dad's job was unionized, and they did strike once. The strike pay wasn't much either - nobody really wanted it, and it didn't last long.

4. "Average" how. Mean, median or mode? If they took all the RN salaries, added them up and divided by number of positions - well that number may not be accurate. Some people probably earn less, others probably earn more.

5. As my grandmother always says (really good life advice) - there's three sides to every argument. Each person/group's side and the truths (as in: the union, management and reality). Not always are the three sides congruent if you ask the people on each side.

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As a professional that lives in Boston proper, you cannot just look at salary - currently a one bedroom apartment for rent is market price at around 1700 in the outskirts of Brighton, one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Boston. When you start talking about a 2,3 Bedroom, costs are well over $2000. And while buying may be slightly more cost effective, 1-2 bedroom condos go for over 300,000 in the area or more.

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Nope, I am *definitely not* a PA. You misread my post.

RockMay, you posted this on March 9th: https://allnurses.com/nurse-practitioners-np/question-from-a-1037617-page10.html#post8940131

"I am about to graduate from PA school. We had two entire semesters where we had to learn how to read and interpret X-rays, CTs, MRIs, Ultrasounds, PET scans, and combo PET/CTs. We were very thoroughly tested on these skills, with an emphasis on X-rays for diagnosing pneumonia, CHF, pneumothorax, aspirations, abdominal xrays for small and large bowel obstructions, KUBs, and musculoskeletel xrays. We were absolutely required to know how to tell the difference between a Salter-Harris Type 2 (most common) and Salter-Harris Type 5 (most devastating). To read that the NP curriculum does not include basic chest/abdominal/musculoskeletel xrays makes me extremely concerned. While there is a radiologist available to read Xrays that usually doesn't happen until the next day. If an NP had a patient with fever + cough and can't interpret an xray then the PT may be sent home without the right (or any) treatment. What's the benefit of ordering a CXR if you can't interpret it? That is medical negligence and a lawsuit waiting to happen. If you can't interpret a basic chest xray then you have no business treating any patient with any sort of cough as you can't tell the difference between pneumonia or a Kerley B line."

So I'm guessing you didn't graduate from PA school and that's why you're *definitely not* a PA?

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I am more nursing experience then most people here!

Just starting reading and it looks like I'm in for a ride :woot:

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As a professional that lives in Boston proper, you cannot just look at salary - currently a one bedroom apartment for rent is market price at around 1700 in the outskirts of Brighton, one of the more affordable neighborhoods in Boston. When you start talking about a 2,3 Bedroom, costs are well over $2000. And while buying may be slightly more cost effective, 1-2 bedroom condos go for over 300,000 in the area or more.

GOOD GOLLY. I live in a major city (suburb) and my 3 BR apartment is $1,200/mo.

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I used to say "I'm reasonably compensated for what I do" but now that my body is damaged because of that work and I've been made disposable, I question that 4 years of decent income was worth sacrificing my physical wellbeing. And I make nowhere near 6 figures.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
In this case it's about the greedy being greedier.

And you know this how?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Lets not feed the troll; he or she obviously doesn't think very highly of nurses.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Really? I thought I'd read that you were. My bad. Your posts are extremely negative and critical of nurses, just what kind of nursing experience do you have that makes you carp on your peers to the level that you do?

I am *NOT* a PA. I am more nursing experience then most people here!
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Specializes in School Nursing.
Really? I thought I'd read that you were. My bad. Your posts are extremely negative and critical of nurses, just what kind of nursing experience do you have that makes you carp on your peers to the level that you do?

His previous posts indicate he was training for PA and set to graduate. The post also show a very large chip on the shoulder and possible inferiority complex in regards to nurses. If he is not a PA, he was either lying in past posts, or failed to graduate on time.

Of course trolling nursing websites instead of studying for the PA might have something to do with said failure.

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His previous posts indicate he was training for PA and set to graduate. The post also show a very large chip on the shoulder and possible inferiority complex in regards to nurses. If he is not a PA, he was either lying in past posts, or failed to graduate on time.

Of course trolling nursing websites instead of studying for the PA might have something to do with said failure.

He?! I am not a PA, no chip, and I am concerned about RNs putting their bank accounts ahead of patients. Comment on the content, please.

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