Here is an idea for you

[Navy Nurse]

As I read this board, I constantly here the following:

1) CEO's make too much money

2) We must unite

3) Take a stand

4) Nurses are underpaid

5) We need better working conditions

6) Nurses really have power

Before you take part in a strike (which probably will not accomplish any long term changes) or participate in a million nurse march (which is useless), why don't you organize these large groups of nurses and start buying hospitals. Then you could have nurse run hospital that take care of patients and nurses and doesn't care about big profits. That would truely be taking control of your profession.

[RNPD]

Navy Nurse-I agree with all your points. But I disagree about strikes-they can definitely accomplish long term changes, as is seen throughout the history of organized labor. Nursing strikes are still in their infancy, however, and it will take time to see lasting benefits, but i believe it will happen. The MNM was/is a great idea, but unfortunately I am reading of some irregularities, which is so sad. I really feel for those who worked so hard and were deceived as well. However, your idea of nurse owned and run hospitals is a great one. We would need an organized group with power to start the ball rolling-UAN comes to mind. The ANA might actually also be a possibility, as I see a very slight but definite shift to the plight of the staff nurse.

chili-will you please stop harping on this question of nurses'pay? RNs are paid better than CNAs because we are licensed, with all the inherent responsibilities that go with licensure, as well as educatedin nursing, with all the knowledge that is gained with that education. CNAs are neither-no matter if they hold degrees in another field!

As far as RNs complaining about their pay-when you are an RN then you have the right to comment because you will have full knowledge of what you are talking about. But until then, why do you persist in obscuring the stated topics with your nonsense?

[pooh]

Chile;

WE are well paid compared to other professionals? WHAT other professions are you referring to?

I'm an LPN in Minnesota and make just under $30G/year - 10 years experience. I'm working on my RN and can expect another $6G/year entry level and MN is one of the higher paying places that I've scouted out on the net. It's also a $#%^ expensive place to live, relatively. I don't get paid one penny extra for the fact that I've completed 2/3 of my RN degree and all that science, anat and phys has come in darn handy sometimes...

Sound like a lot? Go through a quarter of nursing school or a quarter of college to qualify - no guarantees you'll you'll make it. Pay for that yourself. No guarantees.

I realize that while you're lifting pts that are kicking and fighting you, the nurse's job, walking cooley down the hall with a hand full of pills or a BP cuff may look easy by comparison, but she/he didn't get there by by simply filling out an application and taking a 6 week course.

In truth, you have no idea of the responsibility that goes along with the title of 'Nurse'. I've never met one that thought they were paid commensurately with their responsibilites.

Of course NA's are important and I admire those that are good at their job and want to stay there. A good aide on the shift is worth her weight in gold but, but. They aren't nurses. Walk a mile....get there first.

[chili2641]

I was trying to make the point that nurses work in the human services. Their work is helping other people. Most people who work in human services do it for more than just the money.

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Nursing assistant

[Q.]

And most of us do Chili. But those moments that we crave or love are GONE. We cannot connect with our patients they way CNA's can at times. We have too many patients, too many support staff to watch over, too many orientees. Not enough nurses.

To attract more nureses, seeing as the altruism is GONE, we want a more fair compensation. Also one comensurate with experience.

[RNPD]

chili-if your point is that people who work in human services do it for the patients and shouldn't complain about the money they are paid, then you should stop complaining about a nursing assistant's salary. After all, isn't there more to YOUR job than money?

Historically, hospitals obtained nursing services for free because student nurses did most of the work while graduate nurses were paid a pittance to supervise them. Few women continued to work once they had families, and men were virtually unknown in nursing. However, as Susy pointed out, times have changed. Women no longer work simply to "keep busy" until a man comes alomg to support them. Today, we support ourselves, our children, sometimes our husbands (or wives) and even need to help with elderly parents. Most families can no longert live on one salary. People don't want to become nurses for little compensation-especially after spending time and money on education.

I think you have amply "made your point", here as well as in several other posts. But now it is time to stop pointing out how much nurses make compared to nursing assistants. As someone else said, it's comparing apples to oranges.