Ethics: Does it bother you when people are in nursing to make money?

theatredork · Feb 1, 2008

I wish I could understand why it's such a controversial topic.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

o.k so this will probably make some people mad, so i apologize if it does. Im 19 yrs old right now and starting to get all my pre-reqs to get into the nursing program BUT!! ive read a couple threads and heard how hard being a nurse can be. So to be honest with you, i am getting into nursing for the money. I've done some research and 60k seems like great pay. So is it worth going into this field for the money??..do you guys really make that much??..how much do u make to start??..and how expensive is school??..i hear a lot of nurses are in debt because schools/nursing programs are expensive. finally, how long did it take most of you to get your RN license and start working?
Thank You

Someone your age should definately consider salary when choosing a career. No one should criticize you for that.

Most starting RNs don't quite make it to 60,000 here but some parts of the country they do. With experience though, it's a nice middle income. I made $76000 last year. So yes, we do make that much.

Most people that go into nursing ONLY, note I'm saying ONLY, for the money find it too touch and demanding and not worth the time and stress. If it's ONLY money you want, then try something else.

However, if you do like people, and think you're interested in a career where you might like to help people AND are looking for a job that pays the bills and then some, then nursing is for you.

But you have to like people and taking care of them at their worse, when they are sick, pooping, vomitting, bleeding and dying.

Go for the money, but if that's your ONLY reasons for picking nursing, you're probably not going to make it.

I went super part time, one class at a time and it took me five years to be a nurse. I went to a cheap community college. Their tuition now is about $75 per credit hour, but the cost for nursing degrees can run from a few thousand to $40 grand depending on the school and if they are public or private.

Good luck to you, and don't let anyone shoot your down because you're talking about money. Someone your age SHOULD be talking about the money in a career you're going to spend potentially the next 40 to 60 years in.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2008

I wish I could understand why it's such a controversial topic.

Because we all work beside a nurse or two that's a troll, that really doesn't like their job, hates people, and only is there to collect a paycheck. They are few and far between but they are there. Out of the dozens of nurses I work with, I work with one of those. She's a rotten nurse.

Also, there's the idea that nursing is a "calling". In fact the Christian College I got my RN to BSN has this written in their value statement, that nursing is an art and science and a calling from God. People who have a passion for nursing and a calling from God get offended by people whom have different reasons for being a nurse that don't fit in with this ideal.

I agree that it shouldn't be controversal. Ask any 19 year old trying to choose a major and 99% of them are going to consider salary. I think salary should be considered, but hopefully isn't the only reason.

Batman24 · Feb 1, 2008

Doesn't bother me a bit. Of course nurses care about money. They aren't there to work for free. My feeling is nurses are underpaid. I will make more at past jobs then I will as a nurse when I graduate, but I welcome the career change. I care about patients and I want a fair wage for the work I do. I am entitled to that. It is okay to like both apsects.

zamboni · Feb 1, 2008

I'll admit it. I'm in nursing for the money. I also enjoy taking care of people, and being there to walk them through the scariest times in their life (like that life threatening hangnail! LOL!)

I worked for 12 years as a paramedic in Texas, and the whole time it was a struggle to just pay my basic bills. Medic pay in Texas, for a variety of reasons, is downright pathetic here, unless you go into management (I chose not to. I like having a soul, thank you!). I often worked 80 hour weeks, endangering my health and safety, all the while missing out on the Kiddo growing up...just so I could pay rent. He and I both sacrificed so much during that time, just so I could do my "calling". I finally realized that the electric company didn't care that I took care of my community like my extended family...they just wanted me to pay the damn bill. :)

Now, the Kiddo is all grown up. And don't get me wrong, we look back and laugh and are amazed that we pulled it off. But real life beckons...so I went to nursing school and I am working in the ER. I can make almost twice the money with half the hours (and not have to work in the rain! LOL!) It's still caring for the same people, with the occaisional feed to my always hungery adrenaline monster. If I had done this a long time ago, our lives might have been different (not saying better, just different). Now, I can start to build up some savings, help the Kiddo out with college and his career, and have my bills direct paid from my account (since I won't have to shuffle what gets paid when). Oh yeah, and replace my 15 year old TV.

Part of the reason that EMS pay is so bad here is because of the large number of EMS folks that have said to my face, "You shouldn't do this for the money. You should only do this to take care of people". There's little to no organized effort to demand better pay. Just as with nursing, I don't expect (nor want) to get rich. I do expect a livable wage (and maybe a vacation every once in a while). Being a martyr is fine and dandy, until you look back and realize that life flew by. I will take care of my community, but I will no longer do it at the expense of my family and my own well being. Plus, now I can afford to get back on the ambulance and work a few shifts for fun!

lamazeteacher · Feb 1, 2008

o.k so this will probably make some people mad, so i apologize if it does. Im 19 yrs old right now and starting to get all my pre-reqs to get into the nursing program BUT!! ive read a couple threads and heard how hard being a nurse can be. So to be honest with you, i am getting into nursing for the money. I've done some research and 60k seems like great pay. So is it worth going into this field for the money??..do you guys really make that much??..how much do u make to start??..and how expensive is school??..i hear a lot of nurses are in debt because schools/nursing programs are expensive. finally, how long did it take most of you to get your RN license and start working?
Thank You

I believe that you will be miserable in any career no matter how much money it provides (well, when it gets into the millions, as long as it's not illegal.........), if you are interested only in the money.

There's this component in life called "job satisfaction" that adds to your well being, keeps you sharp and prevents anger. If you tend to resent little yucky things that attending sick people brings, it's not for you. There are some R.N.s who yell for an aide, when a patient's secretions threaten to ruin his/her day. If that's how you see yourself once your Nursing education is completed, you might like hospital administration better, or health education.

Many careers pay $60,000/year these days, especially in the computer fields. To earn that during the downturn in our current economy, you'd have to work nights, in an area with a large population (cities pay more). Taking an apptitude test with a credible career service agency (possibly EDD) may fiund your interests with Nursing or elsewhere.

Life really is short (even though at 19, you are just beginning), and costly (in years) mistakes can shave precious time away from a career you'd love. I can't believe that I'm 69, but when I stand up painfully after sitting for some time, I get that I am. Also if the health insurance fiasco we're experiencing continues, after age 55 you're, much less employable, since employers have to pay higher (much higher) premiums for employees older than that! :specs:

unsureRN · Feb 2, 2008

well i wanna say thank you to those that have replied, i really appreciate it!..i have time to change my career option but im still unsure(hence my name :icon_roll)..i love health though, in high school that was my favorite class and since then i knew i wanted to be in the medical field but i dont know what career is best for me. Money will always be my main priority though, which is why becoming an RN seemed fit..but id like to be less hands on. Id love to be a doctor in an office that deals with patients that have diseases or viruses, things like that. I dont know if theres a specific name for a doctor like that, if there is id like to know :mad: ..

lamazeteacher · Feb 3, 2008

well i wanna say thank you to those that have replied, i really appreciate it!..i have time to change my career option but im still unsure(hence my name :icon_roll)..i love health though, in high school that was my favorite class and since then i knew i wanted to be in the medical field but i dont know what career is best for me. Money will always be my main priority though, which is why becoming an RN seemed fit..but id like to be less hands on. Id love to be a doctor in an office that deals with patients that have diseases or viruses, things like that. I dont know if theres a specific name for a doctor like that, if there is id like to know ..

They're called Infectious Disease MDs, and HIV/AIDs patients constitute most of their patient load, as well as those with repiratory problems. The requirements for that occupation, consist of:

1. getting perfect grades in the 4 undergraduate university years at a institute recognized for its superior (hard) science and math subjects

2.having worked for pay or volunteered or written about new medical

achievements at significant programs with medical content

3. 4 more years after acceptance (hard to get) to the School of Medicine at an accredited University

4. 1 year internship at a hospital connected to a superior medical school (also difficult to enter)

5.2 years residency in internal medicine at a place similar to # 4, with

better than good references and certificate showing successful completion of all aspects of the program

6. research in tropical or epidemic diseases that could take 1 - 4 years

with great recognition/recommendation and certification.

After those 11-15 years of study, you may find work in a medical group

in a city where the incidence of infectious disease demonstrates that

another specialist is required. Then you'd need to be accepted on staff of several hospitals, and spend time consulting with other doctors.

Should you find at completion of the above marathon, that you dislike the work, your ability to achieve good care and results treating patients, would be compromised. A lot of your and those who put the effort (and heaven only knows how much money) into your education would have been wasted!

Please have aptitude tests!

twotrees2 · Feb 12, 2008

If you're looking solely for money, there's easier ways to make it. But I don't care why you get into whatever career you're in. Just do the job well, get paid what you can to do it.

when i first became a nurse the pay wasnt "all thatat" considering what i came into when i came back after being a stay home mom. i was glad i hadnt put "what salery do you want" in the app like they alwasy ask you to lol. i near fainted what the pay had gotten to!! all in all - the responsibility had also increased as had the liability. we dont get paid over payemnts that is for sure. but it is good.

twotrees2 · Feb 12, 2008

And I truely wonder,
If it were world war three in these here states, would you as a nurse volunteer your services to the wounded. Since, possibly the country could be in financial ruin. Would you just think bottom line mother dollar and run?

yes definatley - if they would let me. my health may be an issue but if they wouldnt take me then id fill in where others were able to go.

twotrees2 · Feb 12, 2008

No it really doesn't bother me if someone is in nursing to make money. I haven't really heard very many people say they are in nursing for the money though.
I am probably one of those who is in nursing for the money but I don't go around spouting that fact. When I was growing up I wanted to be a nurse then I got to high school and had an awful chemistry teacher and knew if I couldn't get past chemistry then there was no way I'd be able to get into nursing and so I kind of gave up on my career choice and decided to pursue business. Well, I was only going to school part time all those years and after my daughter was born I still wanted to be a nurse and thought I'd give the science classes one last try and if I could get past them I'd try to get into the nursing program. Ok, I made it past with a lot of hard work. I was considerably older and knew how much nurses made and believe me if I wasn't going to be making quite a bit more money than I was previously making why should I make the sacrifices I was making to go back to school and go through an intense program? There had better be some sort of incentive for me.
I believe I do a good job and I try my best each day. I still haven't quite figured out how some nurses I work with are able to sit on their but all day and do nothing. I run around all day and hardly ever stop. It's unfortunate but most people have to work. Would you rather work 80 hours a week at a mediocre salary or 36 hours a week at a better salary and have that time to spend on your off time as you would like?
I usually work 3 days a week and occassionally pick up an extra shift. I pick up this extra shift for the money not really because I want to. But you know it's wonderful to know that I can pick up an extra shift and make some good money for working extra. The extra money can come in handy for different things (vacation, major purchases, etc.).
Any job I've had I have always done my best at it no matter what the salary is. Yeah, I'm not going to get rich being a nurse and I am making more $$$ now than I have ever made and let me tell you it is wonderful to not be living paycheck to paycheck and wondering how I am going to pay the bills. Go ahead and have a problem with me but I'll continue to be in nursing for the money, doing the best job I can while I am there, and furthering my education to help me out in my chosen job.

just a thought - anytime i have seen the ones who "go into it for the money" and are NOT able to link up with the compassion and hard work and responsibility they dont generally last to long. they quit in a heartbeat. and the few who are out there that i have met that have bad attitude but stay because of the money - well- ya just gotta ignore and know that you yourself are doing good.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2008

i am not a nurse yet but i hope to be one in the future. i will be in it for the money, job security, flexibility and being able to be with my kids 4 days a week. i do not have a passion for it and i do not know if i ever will. if i do, great, if not, it's a job as any other.

if you look at nursing as just a job i don't think you'll be able to cut it. nursing is not a job as any other :twocents: i hope if you do become a nurse that it will work out for you.