It's all about the money.....I mean, the patients...

[Mursanary]

I must say, sometimes it is really annoying when nurses say,"If your in it for the money than you should not be a nurse".Most are hypocrites because the next day they are complaining about how they don't want to do hourly visits and the hospital does not pay them enough.....really??? lol

I am honest about the fact that it is about the money for me. I take great care of my patients and they loved my care and compassion. I pride myself in making people better and healthier. And because I know that I can provide customer satisfaction and happy patients in any environment I want to get the most $ possible for my time working as a nurse.

I am looking to further increase my salary because my agency is taking about 20-30% of what they are billing the hospital for my services. I know there are some people that have been running a business this way for years on this forum, such as NedRN, Expertusprn, renerian, phatlipboardz... and they are taking home the extra cash. I want to know how to take a bigger piece of the pie for my services, because I am the one doing the work! Whether that be starting my own agency where I work as the sole employee, or start being an independent contractor. I need some ideas of how others have increased their salary?

Ways I have already increased my salaries include:

-Moving hospitals and negotiating with Human resources

-Moving to critical care

-Becoming critical care agency nurse....this helped ALOT, but its unstable

...So, if you got any secret tips like: become a sales rep for medtronic, or work for a certain strike nursing company. I would really appreciate your input(nothing is bad advice)!

[brandiep1982]

I commented on the wrong one of your posts. I shouldn't have posted in the entrepreneurial page.

I don't have any tips for you bc I just don't know anything about finding ways to make more money beyond finding higher paying hospitals. I did want to say something about the "in it for the money" thing. I have heard this phrase many times my whole life with all the nurses in my family. Whenever I heard it, and currently hear it, I don't take it to mean "If you care about money at all, don't be a nurse". I always took it to mean "If you only want to go into nursing because you will make decent money, and you really couldn't care less about taking care of people, you really should not be a nurse."

I love taking care of people. I love learning about the mind and body (soul as well, but that isn't quite relevant). I love learning about diseases, research... but I also would really like to make a healthy pay check. It isn't my primary reason for becoming a nurse, but it is important.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I think those who say "I am not in it for the money" are often newer nurses. As you get into longer and see how many people make a lot more money off of your hard work it becomes more clear.

Being an independent contractor is tricky. You need to make sure you know what taxes and paperwork you need to file every quater/year. You need to know what special type of insurance if any you need. If you run your own agency you need to make sure you have your licensing up to par. Also you are still in that no guarantee of hours rut. Have you tried negotiating with your agency for higher pay? Perhaps agency shopping?

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Based on all the good things you bring to nursing and receive in return, it doesn't sound at all as if you are "in it for the money." You also care very much about your salary, as do most nurses, and that's pretty normal I'd say. But if you didn't get anything else from nursing than a paycheck, you might re-think your position. I think that's what people refer to when they make statements about nurses only being in it for the money. Anyone who truly dislikes everything about nursing but the salary probably would burn out pretty quickly. There are easier ways to make a whole lot more money than nursing.

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

...So, if you got any secret tips like: become a sales rep for medtronic, or work for a certain strike nursing company

What do you mean a"strike nursing company?" Like crossing the picket lines, being a scab nurse?