why should doctors be paid higher - page 2

1. 
   Feb 24, '07

   Joined: Jan '07; Posts: 4,317; Likes: 4,901

   I hope my post didn't imply that I don't think nurses are also accountable or that they aren't a very important part of the health care delivery.
   
   When I said the docs are responsible ultimately for the patient I meant that if the miss adx, they are the ones the lawyer will go after for misdiagnosis, they won't go right to the nurse if the doc made the mistake.
   
   I guess exactly what I am trying to say isn't coming out correctly when written.
   
   Yes, nurses also hold lives in their hands and are accountable for their actions.
   
   In a nutshell it all comes down to education..the docs have a lot more than the average nurse..that's why they are paid so much.
2. 
   Feb 24, '07

   Joined: Jul '06; Posts: 9; Likes: 4

   People say nurses should be paid more for their work. My question is, what does everyone think fair pay would be?
3. 
   Feb 24, '07

   Joined: Nov '05; Posts: 3,082; Likes: 2,214

   I would like to point out that more education in the US does not necessarily equate to more money!!! I have always had more education then the LPNs and Registered Nurses (the ones with less then a Master degree) yet, I have never made close to what a Staff RN makes while working only one job!
   
   However, I do not disagree that physicians should make more money then nurses. I disagree that the number of years in school is a reason.
   
   Physicians are fortunate that the average citizen equates his/her pay with education. This is not true in other fields. Seven to Ten years of education in the US is not uncommon in other fields of study yet, pay is not equal to that of a physician.
   
   A physician's pay is based upon our societies value of the job. There was a time when physician's were paid poorly despite saving lives, long work hours, being on-call, education level, etc. so this debate is pretty silly. If as a society we stopped valuing physicians and devalued them the way we devalue nurses, then we would see a CUT in their pay. A rise in their pay would follow only if the demand for them rose because their supply dropped, just as it has done for nurses.
4. 
   Feb 24, '07

   Joined: Feb '07; Posts: 3

   Nurses or fellow nursing students that make those kinds of comments embarrass me :icon_roll Just promise not to make it out in public or in hospitals and we'll be fine
5. 
   Feb 25, '07

   Joined: Feb '07; Posts: 9

   The docs get paid more because they go to school forever and then residency, their school costs a lot more and their responsibility is so much greater, I am the wife of an MD resident and believe me they deserve it!!
6. 
   Feb 25, '07

   Occupation: Graduate Registered Nurse Specialty: acute medical ; Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 172; Likes: 13

   I think doctors here earn minimally more than first year RNs but don't quote me on that.
   
   The nurse makes decisions based on what they see at the time, they are the first ones there.
   
   The doctor makes the ultimate decision, based also on what they see.
   
   As such they both have an important role, but I think the doctor has more responsibilty. That is not to say that legally the nurse is not more likely to cop it! Because we are the ones who are first there.
   
   So as much as I hate to admit it, doctors do deserve more. But if we are unhappy with their decisions, my God, don't we have to cover our butts with heaps of documentation!
7. 
   Feb 25, '07

   Occupation: emergency room nurse From: IL, US ; Joined: Jan '04; Posts: 901; Likes: 509

   i know a few nurses that make more than docs only because they work so much. yes, a doc should get paid more. if i went to school for 12 years i would hope my salary is more than the nurse. it is also true that society values docs more and historically being a physician is a male dominated profession so there are many reasons why a docs salary is high.
8. 
   Feb 26, '07

   Occupation: PMHNP From: US ; Joined: Dec '03; Posts: 2,918; Likes: 1,551

   Physicians "make" money: nurses are a cost.
9. 
   Feb 26, '07

   Joined: Feb '04; Posts: 386; Likes: 151

   Doctors are paid more because they bill insurance companies for their services. If it would a fee-for-service business and people would be paying out of pocket (as they always have throughout the history of civilization), their salaries would deflate quickly. In Europe of 19 century, doctor was not recognized as "gentleman", did not belong to upper class and was not allowed to attend aristocratic parties and share the meal with a person of title. Medical education consisted of 2 years of school back them. And back then, every woman was a nurse by definition of Florence Nightingale.
10. 
    Feb 26, '07

    From: US ; Joined: Feb '05; Posts: 2,694; Likes: 126

    Quote from zenman

    Physicians "make" money: nurses are a cost.

    Someone finally said it!
    
    Doctor costs aren't bundled in the patient's room and board costs.
11. 
    Feb 26, '07

    Occupation: RN Specialty: 4 year(s) of experience in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab ; Joined: Oct '06; Posts: 568; Likes: 284

    I think doctors earn the pay they are receiving but thats not to say that nurses are grossly underpaid. A better question might be why arent nurses making more compaired to a MD salary? Length of education to me doesnt always mean a warrent in increased pay.
12. 
    Feb 26, '07

    Occupation: LTAC RN Specialty: EC, IMU, LTAC ; From: US ; Joined: Mar '06; Posts: 531; Likes: 526

    Keep in mind that docs have to pay malpractice insurance, pay back incredible loans, pay for staff if they are in private practice, give up massive portions of their lives, etc. You couldn't pay me enough to do that.
13. 
    Feb 26, '07

    Joined: Jan '04; Posts: 9,601; Likes: 3,188

    i have seen docs right out of school that go into private practice and they have unbelievable student loans, frequently young children they work very hard esp if they do not have a partner to give some time off
    
    if yo work hard for something you deserve what you get

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