$25-$30 bucks an hour is peanuts!!

naddy · Jul 7, 2003

Hello Everyone,

I read some of your responses and I have to say that I'm not very happy at all at the starting salaries that nurses get for all the work we do. I just got an offer at $21.40 (wow, that's low). Does anyone know how or what to do to get at least $30/hr? I'm interested in becoming a pharmaceutical sales rep, but I only have an AA? Does anyone know the pre-requisites for this job position and the starting salary?

Naddy

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 9, 2003

I don't think I was mislead prior to going into the profession about what the pay was. We choose to work in this field, and while we certainly have the right to advocate for improved wages, I'd much rather expend my energy promoting better hospital and long-term care working conditions.

Increasing pay for the tasks required of most nurses now is just a way of trying to make a rotten situation a little more palatable. It doesn't get at the root cause of the problem.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2003

Originally posted by naddy
I read some of your responses and I have to say that I'm not very happy at all at the starting salaries that nurses get for all the work we do. I just got an offer at $21.40 (wow, that's low). Does anyone know how or what to do to get at least $30/hr? I'm interested in becoming a pharmaceutical sales rep, but I only have an AA? Does anyone know the pre-requisites for this job position and the starting salary?

Did you not check out the going payrates in your area, prior to getting into school for this? Why is this coming as a surprise?

There is an way to get that kind of pay - it is called experience and willing to work hard for it. Very few people are going start out at that kind of pay with an AA - in any field. Heck even interns and residents work their rears off for lousy pay for several years.

Most sales (med equipment / pharm) reps need experience to do the job well ( and note I said, most and well). And if you leave sales, and decide to be a "nurse", well no nursing experience for several years after earning your degree usually works against you.

I continue to be amazed by this and many of the other new grads coming out of school that want this pay rate and that schedule, and the other position and no weekends, and no holidays, and straight day shifts, and convenient staff meetings, and appreciative patients, and adequate equipment/staffing, and no floating and personable MDs. It would be lovely for all of us, but then there would be no shortage.

Reality - there is a nursing shortage for reasons. See the above for said reasons. Many can be fixed but some cannot. Much like life.

PhePhe, RN · Jul 9, 2003

If we don't demand decent wages and benefits, it devalues the work we do. A lot of nurses thnk it is wrong to focus in on wages, and that we should just be happy caring for patients. I think there is nothing wrong for standing up for what is deserved, like many professional and non-professional workers have done, and subsequently they make more than we do.

As long as there are nurses who would rather be martyrs and accept low pay and benefits in exchange for caring for patients, management has no incentive to increase our compensation.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 9, 2003

Originally posted by PhePhe
If we don't demand decent wages and benefits, it devalues the work we do. A lot of nurses thnk it is wrong to focus in on wages, and that we should just be happy caring for patients. I think there is nothing wrong for standing up for what is deserved, like many professional and non-professional workers have done, and subsequently they make more than we do.
As long as there are nurses who would rather be martyrs and accept low pay and benefits in exchange for caring for patients, management has no incentive to increase our compensation.

I am not into martyrdom. However, I also don't expect to be paid $30+/hour without proving that I have something to offer my employer. I guess my question is the definition of "low pay." Carolina makes excellent points, especially re: folks with little experience asking for the moon in terms of pay and perks. If a nurse have little or no experience/skills to bargain with, shouldn't that nurse acquire those skills and experience first and then go after what he/she wants? Some folks seem to think they can walk out the door of the nursing school with their diploma and license and walk right into a higher-paying agency or travel job or management role.

Getting our license is just the first step. Then we have to prove our worth.

fergus51 · Jul 9, 2003

21$ in Chicago probably isn't that great. I personally think we need more new grads who are confident enough to bargain for the best package they can get. Obviously a lot will just have to put in a year or 2 before getting the real goodies, but I don't see anything wrong with trying for the best deal possible.

Tilleycs · Jul 9, 2003

EXCELLENT points, NR and caroladybelle, and I agree with every one of them. You're right, VERY few people make $30/hr with just an AA degree - heck, there are lots of people with FOUR-year degrees (and even advanced degrees) who aren't making that much - especially if you're just walking in after graduating.

And you're right, NR, you don't get paid based on what you WANT (whether a salary, a schedule, or material things you wish you had), you get paid based on what YOU bring to the table. We all want to be paid more, but what do you bring to the table? If you want a raise, what additional skills, experience, or education do you have now? If you want that kind of money, you have to prove that you're worth it, especially with the economy the way it is.

MOST people in ANY field have had to "shovel s**t" when starting out. It's just part of life, and makes you a LOT more appreciative when you advance later on. And if you think $21.40/hr is low to start out...

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2003

As a matter of interest, as a travelor, I do make over $35.00 hour currently, plus housing and other benies that are standard.

But I also log 125 hours education per two years, have chemo and onc certification, negotiate my contracts, and get a new state license (ahh, the paperwork) for each new state. I have 10 years experience.

And I started at much much less......much much less...

Tilleycs · Jul 10, 2003

Excellent illustration of your point, caroladybelle. You make good money, but you've also put in your time and bring a LOT to the table. You also give up a lot (in terms of being at home and having, as you said in an earlier post, a seminormal schedule and life) for the money you earn.

It's o.k. to TRY to get the best deal possible, fergus, but if you don't bring much to the table, you don' t have much to bargain with. Put yourself in the employer's shoes - someone marches in with nothing besides a two-year degree and is demanding $30/hr. What would YOUR response be? You don't get paid based on your potential.

debRNo1 · Jul 10, 2003

Originally posted by oramar
Don't want to upset you guys but my hubby is a plumber and makes $36.

Wont upset anybody further but my hubby is a ROOFER and I wont tell you what he brought home last week :kiss

With my experience pay and certifications I am making $35/hr in the hospital as a staff nurse with (good) full benefits.

HOWEVER we live in NY where the cost of living is

OUT OF CONTROL. :eek:

deb

Tilleycs · Jul 10, 2003

Good point, Deb. If some people make more money than people in other regions, you have to take the cost of living into account.

And that's not even taking into account spending habits. If you make $100K a year, but have a $200K lifestyle...well, we've all heard of people like that. Better to be smart with what you DO make than bemoaning what you don't...

mailnurse · Jul 11, 2003

Originally posted by PhePhe
Someone said nurses get good pay-$25-30 an hour???? In the pharmaceutical world, where they employ lots of nurses I would say for a senior person $40-55 and up is more the norm.
Why so pharmacists and Physical Therapists command $75K right out of school--they used to make LESS than nurses.

So what's your point?

Maybe ridicule poor saps making $20-25/hr?