Go into nursing for the money?

[jackhensy]

Lets face it, the economy is bad. I barely got into my studio apartment on my measely hourly wage retail job --- and life basically sucks. I got laid off twice as a teacher and never found a living wage job since. So much for retirement.

At age 50 I am barely making ends meet. I am college educated and can do better in life.

I saved some money so I could pay cash to get LPN license and make $18-20 after graduation in one year.

I am choosing nursing because of the money and stability. I used to be a CNA a long time ago and it was an ok” job. It paid the bills. I can do nursing, even though its not my passion.

I have applied and sent out tons of resumes in sales, teaching, management positions, HR – you name it. The clock keeps ticking with loss of income and at my age its harder to land a job.

Anyone go into nursing for the money? Be honest. You would be surprised what people do when they need a living wage.

[xoemmylouox, ASN, RN]

I have a bachelor's degree and many high schools want a master's to be a teacher. (20k out-of-pocket for master's, 40k to start, lack of stability, lack of jobs. Nursing is 8k out-of-pocket, salary is 40k to start, more stability, secure, and more opportunities.

BTW, I was a male health and PE teacher so I am not making a total 360 degree mid-life career change. Health teacher to nursing is an acceptable transition. I love preventive health.

When I became a CNA/medtec I was basically a glorified LPN passing out meds, bathing, cleaning, vitals, some charting, etc. That job was "ok." It was exhausting but I liked educating patients about good health. The money I made was great compared to retail work and teaching.

Nursing is like being in the trenches of warfare -- dealing with blood, poop, guts, vomit, scabies, infectious diseases, and every bodily function imaginable.

The question that comes up is: Is nursing good for older males?

My options have run out. No one is hiring.

If you already have a BA why not do a BA to BA transfer nursing program. You'll have A LOT more options with a BSN than an LPN. That would be the route I would chose. I will say nursing has a glut of canidates in some areas so you may need to relocate once you graduate and pass the NCLEX. Good luck.

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

I have a few friends who are/were teachers- with Masters, and the one could only find a job out of the states teaching english,and the other only found work working for Catholic schools making 9 dollars an hour.Seriously- 9 dollars!!!!this was 5 years ago. yep- 80,000 $ for a degree that makes 9 bucks an hour???? not a good investment. She now works at a local retail store and makes a slight biit more per hour.

That said, I went into nursing ,asmy area used to have a very large industrial component , and about 20,000 of us lost our jobs over a 10 year period. Now we had 5 local colleges offering nursing degrees. Health care is the main provider of jobs in my area now.I wanted to move , but my spouse won't. So one could say I did it for the money, or the job, as there are no other jobs in the area that I have the ability to do, without more training ( and more expense)

I don't hate the job so much , as I hate what it has become. The customer service thing has gotten so outt of hand. Not that I hate customer service itself,but I hate the risk of the license everytime I go to work, and work short, etc, increasing ratios, sicker people.Noone wants to explain "I was doing CPR" to someone angry that you didn't get them their meal tray, pain meds, fill in the blank, when they asked for them.They don't care.we get bad scores; hands slapped, etc. This is what nursing is now - Thanks medicare and ACA!!!

Anyhow, Check you local job market. As others have said, LPN's could have very limited opportunities. My area got rid of ALL LPNs( which was a shame,and some of them had more experience and skills than 5 RN's put together), then all of a sudden I see tons of jobs for LPNs again. I notice they arent being filled. Prob cause LPNs moved on/out/retired.

ADNs here can get a job, but the big hospitals (which is pretty much all that's left as they bought/pushed out the small hospitals.)tell WILL need your BSN in a certain amount of time.

Check your local market. Good luck.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Damn, that's harsh. In the hospital system here they at least "demoted" LPN's to PCT's and unit clerks. They did take a couple on in the clinic, but of course most "nursing" positions there are filled by MA's.

I absolutely went into nursing for the money, too, and it has treated me well.

I would not become a LPN for the money. Getting paid is dependent on getting a job. My hospital system just laid off all of the LPNs in any position across the board, even in their physician practice office, along with some other "extra" people. Over 400 people total lost their jobs. I would not want to be a LPN right now for anything. You make more money with a minimum wage job than you do being unemployed.

[softrbreeze]

Yes. I was making $11/hr working with the state as a case manager at the food stamp office with my 4 year degree. I could almost have been on food stamps myself. I saw nursing as a promise of a living income, not anticipating that I would actually enjoy it. I'm so glad I did though

[gettingbsn2msn, MSN, RN]

Not all places pay good money. Please beware of this. I am a NP in the southeast barely making ends meet. RN's in other parts of the country do better than we do here. This is an at will state. I asked for a 5.00/hr increase and they let me go. No questions asked. Do not come south!

[llg, PhD, RN]

I haven't read the entire thread -- just about half of it ...

But I think a person in the OP's position might do well by switching to nursing. While his primary motivation is the money, he has some previous health care experience. So he knows what he is getting into and knows that he can handle the less glamorous aspects of the job. If he plays his cards right, he can use his non-nursing education to augment his nursing and perhaps find a satisfying, lucrative niche in health care.

However, I recommend he take a good look at the job possibilities in his area as well as the educational opportunities -- so that he makes a good choice about which nursing education program to start with. LPN - ADN - BSN -- MSN etc. He's the type of person who sometimes gets taken advantage of by poor quality schools just looking to take his money while providing a mediocre education. They prey on people looking for a "quick fix" to their problems. Sometimes, the slightly longer route is better because -- IF the quality of the program is better and the program is more respected in the community.

[Hpy_Vly_RNBSN]

Seriously....If the money was good I might have gone into it for the money. I am not making it big time at all and with all my student loans that I pay for actually becoming a nurse, I just get by. I went into nursing because it was something that interested me. I love nursing because its who I am. Maybe someday when my loans are paid I will say that its a decent paying job but for now I slave away.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

If you can go for the RN!

[honeyforasalteyfish]

The job security more so than the money. I had to resign from a competitive job with a 60% turnover rate because of the economy. It was the best paying job I ever had. If any one asks I spew this idealistic tripe about all my health issues how I nearly died twice, and its true. I want to give back what was given to me.

I would be lying however if I hadn't thought about the security of having an in demand job. I would work for less money than new grad RNs typically make to get job security in this economy. So yes money played an important role in my decision. I would do it for free, but only for like 5 hours a week if that where the case.

As a career path I need to eat, and someday I want a family, and be able to send my kids to college, and see them finish on time unlike me. Also I want a college education, and CNAs, LPN, and RNs are so in demand you can often get some one to pay for much of your education, and have a job lined up at the end of it.

All that plus my own personal health issues played a role in my decision to take a chance go back to school, and go for it. If anybody asks its all about wanting to give back, and I do. Still a job where I can give back, and support myself, and possibly a family in todays world THAT IS GOLDEN.

At this point I am a 27 year old without a college education, or many prospects of getting one financially unless he can find a way to get it economically, and have it show dividends in the end.

I would do it for less money than I could make as a new grad adn if I could get some one to pay for a large portion of my education. Job security, and avoiding crippling debt are two of my highest priorities.

I wouldn't cross any picket lines. I like to think I have a passion for healthcare since I have been so desperately in need of it my whole life, but if I am being honest I am drooling at the idea of some one helping me pay for my education, and having a stable job lined up at the end of it.

That's not why I chose to pursue it, but when I learned more about the opportunities educationally in my area, and a chance to finish my education I started licking my chops at the thought of getting some one to help me pay for my education, and then offer me a job at then end of it.

It would be like the best of all worlds. Wait so you are telling me you will help with my education, and line me up a job. At this point I might sign my soul away for that kind of deal.

[cdsavannah59, CNA]

Never tell the instructor of a nursing program you want to become a nurse strictly because of the money. You may find you got dropped from the program.

[smartnurse1982]

Well,yes the money is ok,but here is an area that nurses lose out BIG TIME: Benefits.

Also,those advertisements for nurses are more then likely places with horrible working conditions.

[smartnurse1982]

Not all places pay good money. Please beware of this. I am a NP in the southeast barely making ends meet. RN's in other parts of the country do better than we do here. This is an at will state. I asked for a 5.00/hr increase and they let me go. No questions asked. Do not come south!

All but 2 states are At Will.