Becoming a nurse for the money...

Nursing Students General Students

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...just wondering who's becoming a nurse for the eventual excellent pay???

I am. :D

I am not a nurse or a nursing student. I am an accountant who is thinking about the nursing field. I've read every post on this thread and find it very interesting. I personally am not motivated by money in the general sense. But money is important. An example: I was thinking of leaving my job to go to a job that I had done before and was much more fulfilling. However, the pay was $12 an hour. As much as I knew I would love the job and be completely fulfilled $12 an hour was not worth it. I have to make a living and $12 hardly begins to support a family. Everyone has their price. Needless to say I chose not to give up my accounting job for this job. But, I am still looking for something to do that will make me feel like I am making a positive difference in people's lives everyday.

I guess what I am saying is I personally wouldn't get into a job for the money but you need enough to pay the bills and save for the future and have a little fun. What motivates me is helping people. If money motivates someone else to do and be their best then so be it. Bottom line is if you're not good at your job you won't have it very long.

I sort of ended up in the accounting field by circumstances. Growing up it was not even remotely something I would have chosen. I wanted to go in the medical field either as a doctor or a vet. If I am going to make a change now is the time to do it because I am not getting any younger. Nursing seems the best option in my current situation. So I am here doing research and talking to as many nurses as I can to help me make a decision.

I think the attitude of the original poster throughout this thread has brought out the worst in people. He has made it clear that he is so smart that he will not have to study. I think that is what is upsetting people much more so than the fact that he is in it for the money. It is the whole general attitude.

Still waiting for him to come back and enlighten us with how far along he is in the nursing program

So what, that attitude portrays confidence IMO. I felt the same way. I am in my last semester of NS, 3.7 under my belt, and I don't find this crap hard at all... Study 8 hours the day before a test, BS your careplan, and treat clinicals like a job, whoopdie doo :rolleyes: Nothing but a means to an end for the big $$$, CRNA school. Props to the OP.

not to sound crazy u can do nursing for the money and care for the patients. @ the end of the day we all need money-stability-and benefits for our families. My hubby is a marine and with all the moving to different duty stations lpn or rn would be a good idea because nurses are needed.Come on!! look @ the economy trying to do something creative is crazy!! u need money i dont care what anybody says.if nursing would have my family living comfy why not do it for the money?:up: i love doing nails and manicures I WOULDNT MAKE ANY MONEY AS A NAIL TECHNICIAN!! THE ECONOMY IS IN SHAMBLES--GO WHERE THE MONEY IS!!:nuke:

What 50-70k?

100,000 isnt filthy rich, but its a comfortable life. The city of San Francisco starts about 100,000.

I think it's pretty good money, especially for someone who is young and single. Unless you have 10 kids to support, I don't understand why everyone is complaining about the RN's salary, do they want to be rich?

It's not worth it because nursing is a longterm dedication that will drain you out mentally, physically and emotionally. If you want the big bucks, you might as well consider other jobs that may not come with so much stress. It's priceless when you tend to the sick. It's more than money is worth.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

For what nurses do...they are not paid well; and those that are going into for the money will realizes this real quick and most will not last, at least it seems logical...going into a profession for the money to find there really isn't money...what is keeping them around?

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Hi Shann106, well i was about to respond to your query earlier today when i was logged on but my laptop battery died :/ But i'm here! So do not fret, i will respond since you are eager to know, lol. I just got done with my 1st year for the CNL program at USF! I know much of the first year classes are theory, but they were just like any other class i have taken in my undergrad. So where are you going to school, or where did you graduate from?

But your not a BSN already? This does not make sense since USF CNL program requires a BSN to get in.

For what nurses do...they are not paid well; and those that are going into for the money will realizes this real quick and most will not last, at least it seems logical...going into a profession for the money to find there really isn't money...what is keeping them around?

The money is good IMO. I think most ppl are aware they won't get filthy rich doing nursing but they will always have a job with secuirty and health benefits. I don't see why nurses should be paid more, just what exactly do you want the salary to be for what you do?

For what nurses do...they are not paid well; and those that are going into for the money will realizes this real quick and most will not last, at least it seems logical...going into a profession for the money to find there really isn't money...what is keeping them around?

I would be glad when people realize this. There are so many careers that pay good besides nursing. Teachers and nurses make the same amount of money when you do the math. Teachers only work 9 months out of the year and nurses work year round 12 hrs a day. People do all the talking about how much nurses make, in actuality they don't make as much as teachers do. Also, in the hospitals there is a hiearchy thing. If people are going into nursing for money and recognition they will be sadly mistaken when they realize that there is no external rewards. In the hospital hiearchy setting, nurses are viewed on the level of janitors. This might upset some, but it is the truth. Doctors, residents, and administration look down their noses on nurses. They do not respect nurses. Yet, who is doing all the hard work and busting their tails? The nurses. Who gets all the external rewards and recognition? The doctors. Also, nursing is not such a stable career as it was back in the day. I know of RN's who have been laid off. There are also hiring freezes along with some hospitals shutting down. So is nursing the #1 recession proof job? I don't think so! There are many nursing students having problems finding nursing jobs.

Nothing wrong with that as long as you don't forget the basics you learnt at your nursing program college. Remember, it's a tiring job that expects you to show some empathy even at the end of a 12 hour day (where you've probably hadn't had a break).

All The Best!

I think he's going to be in for a wakeup call once he graduates, unless he plans to become an NP or a nurse manager. Though the average NP or nurse manager doesn't even make that kind of money right out of school.

I didn't go into nursing because of some higher "calling" either, though I did know I wanted to go into healthcare/a social service/"helping" profession. I decided on nursing because it was a good medium between medicine and social work and public health, three fields in particular I had interest in, in addition to the flexibility in scheduling and the relative employability compared to other fields. I think the money is OKAY, but nothing impressive. It could be better, IMO.

I already have a degree, so in much shorter amount of time (than it will take me to become an NP, which is my plan) I could get my Juris Doctorate and be a rich *******. But that's not really up my alley.

I know alot of RNs in Califonia making 100k plus a year. Northern calif does pay more but many of the RNs I know are doing it in southern calif also. (noc shift, overtime..) I know LVNs in Norcal making 80 k with overtime. An RN making 55/hr or LVN making 32-35/hr doesnt take long to gross that kind of money.

I have never met an NP that doesn't make over 100k. From what I read at this site I think calif pays lot more than other states?

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
From what I read at this site I think calif pays lot more than other states?
Yes, that's true. California pays more to nurses than most other states. However, rents, house prices, food, gas, utilities, and the overall cost-of-living is significantly lower in other states. In addition, other states offer a better, lower stress quality of life. I'm a native Californian who has no desire to return to the troubled Golden State.

The 2-bedroom apartment that rents for $1,800 monthly in San Francisco will rent for $495 per month in the Midwest. The 2,000 square foot house that sells for $750,000 in Burlingame will sell for $99,000 in the South or Midwest. You can save money by working in San Francisco and living in a cheaper and far-flung place like Tracy, Modesto, Stockton, or Sacramento, but who wants to live far from work? Pay is relative to the cost of living in your particular city.

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