People complaining about WAGES!!!!

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OK, I have a big beef here. I'm currently in my first year of nursing, and I feel like I have to say something regarding nurses complaining about their pay.

Reading these boards, I just came across someone who said they make $34 an hour in Ontario, and they were telling someone that if they're looking to make money, go into accouting or something. THis just floored me!

$34 and hour!!!! How can you tell me that is not making money? Many many nurses who work in Ontario get WAY less than that.

I just really don't understand.

People are always saying, "if you're in this profession to make money, get out because you won't be rich." This is ridiculous. I live in SK Canada, where nurses make $24 starting (I think) or if not, it's very close to that figure. That is considered a WELL paying job. How can you not live comfortably on pay like that? I know many many many many people who make considerably less than that, and they do just fine.

Some nurses say that there is no money in nursing. Has anyone heard of a Nurse Practitioner? I know they don't make millions, but they do make more than RN's, some even make 6 figures. I am going to be one. Once I'm an RN, I'm working in the ER for one year, then returning to school for a 30 week course. YOu don't have to be a genious to do this either.

I know that you have to love nursing to be in it. You CANNOT be in it JUST FOR THE MONEY, but it makes me mad when people say THERE IS NO MONEY. Some areas pay nurses more than others.

I know it's a lot of work, it's stressful, and it's a hard job, and I know that many people (including me) feel that we should be payed more for what we do, but come on people. Doesn't it make you mad when people who make $34 an hour complain they don't have enough money? Do you spend foolishly? The cost of living in Ont is higher than SK, but $34 an hour is STILL much more than many many people in that prov make.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Walk in our shoes a year after graduation and see if you hold the same opinion.

In 1985 made $25.00hr per diem doing IV infusion visiting nursing.

In 2003 I make ~$24.50/hr as Manager in a homecare agency --benefits add another $4.00/hr---minus the $250/month I now have to pay for family health insurance and 24/7 accountability for a department with 21 years experience as RN, 18 in home care. Salary going backward, not forward here.

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if you work full time, do you not make $51,720?

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I'm not sure what the cost of living in Canada is like or what you pay for medical benefits and retirement but 50,000$ is not a lot of money down here. It's not enough to raise a family on if you want to own a house and own a car. Plus you have to factor in saving for children's educations, retirement, and other costs. 50K is a nice place to start when you are single but since wages don't increase much as you put in your time the idea of caring for your family in the future is pretty scary.

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I don't understand why some of you don't be NP's if you want more money. The course is only 30 weeks (at lots of schools) and you don't have to be super smart to complete the program. and since you have more experience being RN's, you'd be MUCH more prepared for the course than I would be...and NP's make more than RN's. Like I said, some even make 6 figs!

Is the role of a NP unattractive to most people? They are in demand, and I don't think i've ever heard of someone with the requirements able to work as a NP not being able to find work...

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DMR,

Who has a 30 week NP program? I've done a lot of research about different schools, and I've never heard of one. Most of the programs I've seen are 2 years if one chooses to go full time.

Salaries range widely for NPs in my area.

I've been a nurse for 2 years, and make about $22/hr which includes my night shift differential. Some NPs don't make much more than that.

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I'm just thankful I make ANY amount of money. I'm also thankful I don't live in the middle east where conditions are much much worse. So I guess I can see your point about why ppl complain that their wages.

On the other hand, going on to be an NP requires money, times away from work, kids, etc...oh and did I say money. Also, a lot of ppl don't live near a school that offers NP programs and if they do, it might not be the typeof NP program that they want.

Oh and BTW...you have to be "super smart" to be a LPN and RN!

So please don't say you don't have to be "super smart" to be a NP.....that just makes it sound like monkey's can do a nurses job.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

NP programs in my area are minimum of 24 months FULL TIME.

Salary gain is around 10,000 + minus of $2,000 + for net gain of $8,000 and higher chance of being sued---not the best trade off.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Your post seems somewhat annoying, are you trying to stir the pot? Ok, some of us make more money than others, there is always a trade off, the positions that pay the most are usually agency nights and weekends with no benefits and a chance of getting cancelled. What did you mean you don't need to be "supersmart" yes we do, as nurses we are. You sound almost bitter about not making $34.00/hr, you have a long way to go before you can understand our positon, maybe when you finish school and walk in our shoes with the responsibilities that go along you will understand. Just remember what is written down looks good but the actual job of bedside nursing, caring for accutely ill patients and dealing with a multitude of personalities from physicians to wacko families is another story, one that the public has no idea about.

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NPs are just not that marketable in many areas, and no, I don't want to be one. Nothing about it appeals to me, and if I wanted to be an NP in my specialty I am looking at a 2 year Masters program, not a 30 week course.

34 an hour isn't bad, but where in Ontario do they live? In Toronto, where a small home can cost 500 000$? I thought the wages sounded great as a student as well, but after taxes, it really isn't that great compared to other professions, especially when you are new (cause new nurses in Ontario make 22, not 34) or carrying student loans. Some of the nurses I work with have student loan payments of 500$ a month. Add a car payment, insurance, retirement money, rent, food and taxes and you're not left with a ton of money. You might gross 3000$ a month at the high end of the payscale (which is 9 years long), but that isn't all pocket money:)

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1. NP programs usually take at least 2 years fulltime here. They are expensive.

2. NP jobs don't always pay all that much, depending on where you live.

3. NPs are not all that in demand.

4. Cost of living in some areas can make $34/hr near poverty level. In no area will a salary like that make you rich. Most nurses aren't out to get rich.

5. Starting salaries often start out high, then you wind up with little or no raises over the years, so you end up going backwards.

6. Pay is not commensurate with responbsibilty.

7. In some places the guy who picks up the garbage makes more than a nurse does.

Overall, nursing pay is low for what we do. Do we still do it? Yes, because a lot of us can get by on the pay. But there are still some huge disparities in wages going on.

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Last job -- telecommuted full-time in IT. Honestly...I sat on my butt and looked for things to do and had very little REAL responsibility. Made $37 an hour.

When I graduate from school in December, I'm looking at a starting wage of just shy of $16 an hour.

I'm not doing this for the money (ha, what money?) but the pay for nurses is pathetic considering the responsibility and nature of the job. In my area of the country, there are very few nurses making $34 an hour...the ones that do so are likely in management.

I may go back to school and get an NP but I need to wait and decide if that will benefit me at all -- I haven't seen a lot of NPs out there and have seen very few job postings for them. Pay isn't that much better either. School would be another 4 years part-time or 2 years full-time.

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