Can nurses live a luxurious life?

[Aa1Bb2Cc3]

Hello,

I live in NY and I plan on being a RN and getting a bachelors degree. The majority of answers I've seen on this topic is "it's not about the money" etc. I would never take a job for the money bc I know I'd end up hating and regretting it. However, is it possible as a nurse to live a luxurious life where you can afford nice things? Thanks in advance for the answers.

[wannabeny]

The American Dream is the best sell in the history of the world, your freedom becomes your master. Good luck.

^^ this needs to be on some motivational poster in a career counselor's office. couldn't have said it better myself!^^

Once, my dinosaur car overheated in the middle of Manhattan and I ended up stranded for 9 hours waiting for a tow; missed my cousins wedding. Some lady dripping in Gucci and Versace walking by said she adored my outfit...(my $20 payless heels and $4 vintage thrift shop dress, mind you)..feeling bad for me she took me out to a bar and proceeded to open up to me about how she could barely afford to live and would probably be moving out of Manhattan and find a new career.

So...I suppose my idea of luxury is being happy in my career, and able to own a car that won't blow up on the way to another wedding. And travel. I want to travel and get lost is some nature somewhere else for awhile.

[T-ROD, LPN]

YES!! Well luxurious I am not sure, but a good decent one!!

I think it all depends what type of nursing you plan on pursuing. I worked 10 years at a state funded group home for disabled/medical fragile children. I got paid $6 more than the RN's at the local hospitals and I am a LPN.

Now I currently work as a school nurse, by choice LOL, and make literally change but I love every day I am here.

I loved the money at the home but with higher paying positions also typically comes with higher responsibilities.

Do what you are passionate about!!

[socal1]

There was a study done, that 75,000 dollars is a level where even if you make more than that as a single person it wouldn't necessarily make you more happy. Its evident throughout what we see, high earners, famous people getting in trouble with the law, drugs, divorces, etc. Yea you get to drive a nice and all that but its not gonna get to a point where you are more happy. I just heard about Mariah Carey having bipolar disease. So yea..heres the article.

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This Is the Ideal Amount of Money for Happiness, Study Says | Money

[Serhilda, ADN, RN]

It's very subjective but I'd say absolutely. I grew up homeless and/or in poverty. I have a job lined up after graduating earning more in a week than my family made in a month growing up, with benefits I didn't even know existed. I only have a few grand in loans, no mortgage, no current car payments. I've calculated out what type of lifestyle I'll be able to have and how long saving up a down payment on a house will take and let me tell you, it's all a dream come true. Knowing the struggle is over has been amazing. Nurses that complain about their earnings come across as ungrateful to me and unaware of how the average person lives. Most of us aren't worrying about the roof over our head, if we'll be able to afford car repairs and still get to work, or if health insurance is even an option. If you're even on a rough budget with an RN salary, yes, living a semi-luxurious lifestyle is a possibility.

[TigraRN]

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[BrendaH84, BSN]

Absolutely, without a doubt. Just marry a surgeon.

freaking awesome! if I werent already taken, that's what i wouldve done :) hahaha

[tgraves66]

No. As a young nurse I have been very frustrated by the earning potential I have as an RN with a BSN and 5 years of experience. That said, I am now going back to school and looking into management. I definitely did not understand the nurse life when completing my BSN. Simply, you cannot afford a luxury car (bmw, mercedes, tesla...). You cannot afford a one bedroom apartment in Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Washington DC or Philadelphia comfortably and still save anything (I've tried). I also have expensive but not extravagant habits of going to yoga, and the occasional night out with friends. (one night a week). I like designer things but I buy them on sale or at nordstrom rack. I try to go on vacation once a year and even that seems to be a large financial burden. That said, I have touched so many peoples lives and have been able to support hundreds of people through some of the toughest times in their lives, I couldn't imagine trading those experiences for anything else

[BrendaH84, BSN]

Honestly, I don't think that was a real post. I do think the answers were real

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Nurses that complain about their earnings come across as ungrateful to me and unaware of how the average person lives.

It's not ungrateful to expect to be fairly compensated for the amount of work, responsibility, and liability that comes with nursing. "Well, you're not homeless" isn't really good enough imo.

I don't complain about my salary, but in comparison to all of my friends who have similar education (Bachelors degree), I probably make the least amount of all of them.

[wondern, ASN]

Oh yes. Like this you mean?

[BlondieMSNRN]

OMG I literally spit out my coffee laughing! Awesome way to start the day :)

And then you won't have to work at all if you marry a surgeon!

[Green Tea, RN]

I work part time (0.5 FTE) as an RN and take classes at local college for non-nursing master's degree. I can do this because RN's hourly wage is fairly good (also, I'm single with no kids) and the job is flexible. I know everyone's definition of luxury is different, but getting education (also, without taking out of loans) is luxury to me.