I have been in nursing for a long time. Some of you may not believe this, but you can make (within reason) what you want to in nursing. It all depends on where you want to work, who you want to work for, when you want to work and what you want to do. There have been years I made over $100,000 and years I only made $30,000. I have worked 18 hours a day, seven days a week and then there have been times I have worked only weekends. I have worked in Saudi Arabia and I have worked a block down the street from where I live. I have worked in hospitals, in warehouses, out of a truck and yes, even out of a tent with a camel for transportation(kidding) we did have the use of a van! I have worked for rich people, poor people, kind people and hateful people. I have busted my butt to save lives and sat quietly watching some die. I guess what I'm trying to say, is this; If you are in it for the money, then go where the money is, if you are co-dependent, then go where you can do the most good. It is possible to do a lot of good and be paid well to do it!
Joe,
I like what you said. You're right. Doesn't make it right or wrong as to WHY someone entered nursing. Just choose the road that takes you to your destination. kewl
Like Brandy, I also have just graduated. In Phoenix, new grads are averaging between $17 and 18.50 without shift diffs. And we all think this is low! Because of the nursing shortage, we have been taught that we are highly valuable and should be getting offered more than $17. I definitely agree that nurses are highly underpaid and overworked and do deserve higher wages. But sometimes I get tired of hearing people complain about how low the wages are while not doing anything to change it. For those people: most people going into nursing school were keenly aware that nurses are underpaid and overworked yet they still completed nursing school for one reason or another. If we all wanted to be rich, we would of chose another career. Nursing is more than money. The rewards come in rare and unique forms that almost no other career can match. Nursing will pay my bills and allow me to live a happy life.
Oh wow, I had no idea what everyone else was making. I'm starting at $25-something as a novice nurse in a Magnet hospital, which I thought was average for this area. Before I moved here, I was making $30 CAD fresh out of school (I have a BSN). Everyone's union in Canada, though, and I was living in the highest paying province.
I make 27 +change an hour. I get time and a half when on call from 0700 to 2300 and double time 2300 to 0700. Pluse shift diff.
$3.00 to be on call from home.
We take call one night a week and every 6th weekend. My last weekend on call I worked 30 hr OT, my gross on my next check should be unbelievable, but I'm sure it will bump me up to the next tax bracket and most of it will be taken.
I have been an RN with a BSN for 27 years, and make $26 an hour. My daughter is going to be a civil engineer in one year. She will either make more money that me or almost as much as I do know.
We've been emplyed almost the same amount of years and make almost the same amount of money. I started as a diploma nurse but got a BSN. My daughter is an accountant and at 26 makes as much as I do- and her salary can only go up- she's working on her MBA.
I second everything you say. Honestly, when I talk to girls about future choices and options, I don't even mention nursing.
Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
I want to know who is in that 50.00 range, too !!!!
I have over 25 yr. nursing exp. and make 24.00/hr. I do think that the location has much to do with salary...here in the south, pay is less than my northern friends....I think average in Md. is about 30-35/hr. and what unit you are on may have effect, too...
I have 25 years plus and only now make over 30.00 an hour. I work in AL but not all of our state has the same wages. I do know that all nurses at my hopital make over 55,000 per year, even new grads.:yeah:I talked with a travel nurse for an assignment close to my state, she was astounded at how much I made as a staff nurse. I passed on the travel assignment.
I work in Austin, Tx and make almost 29.00/hr and am fine with that....I love the people I work with, but the patients and their families are a challenge EVERY day. Sometimes I feel like if I were to make twice that it isn't enough....I keep my chin up and my smile on.
nurs4kids
753 Posts
Joe,
I like what you said. You're right. Doesn't make it right or wrong as to WHY someone entered nursing. Just choose the road that takes you to your destination. kewl
tracy