How can you say you're not paid well?

CHATSDALE · Apr 8, 2005

This is a profession which cannot be outsourced...and the need for medical people of all fields will increase as baby boomers get older you can't lure good smart people into a field where they will not be compensated...

and as has been said..you can't be too thin or too rich

and i have never seen anyone who says 'dang their paying be too much money'..however i asked my dtr what she wanted for her birthday and she said she couldn't think of a thing that she wanted or needed...

that is my dtr i can always think of something

RNKPCE · Apr 8, 2005

When you realize that we often have to make important decisions in a matter of of seconds then you realize another reason that we should make more. Just like a lot of service professionals police officers, fire fighters, resp therapist, often we have seconds to make decisions that can mean someone will live or not.

One night I asked my husband who works in the computer industry how often are you given a decision to make and have to come up with an answer in less than 1 minute, less than 5 minutes, less than 10 minutes? And how often will that decision make the difference of whether someone lives or dies?

How often do the administrators at the hospital have to make such quick decisions?

NicInNC, CNA · Apr 8, 2005

Two things. First, many places in this country have out of control, cuckoo, housing costs. My mortgage, for our modest 1200 square foot home, is twice your's, and it isn't at all unreasonable for this area. Two, I would have to say that one of the advantages of getting an education and working hard is providing my family with a certain standard of living. I happen to believe that my son should enjoy the fruits of my labors. He doesn't get everything he wants, but he gets a lot, and I am delighted that my husband and I can provide it for him. I grew up poor. I don't think it is the worst thing in the world, but I decided long ago that it wasn't for me. I certainly think the value of my work entitles me and my family to more than living paycheck to paycheck and worrying about the cost of participating in youth softball!

After reading through some of the other posts, I'll admit that I didn't factor in the cost of insurance and all that come out of your paychecks. I don't think about that stuff since my husband has all that through his work. And I made us sound dirt poor. We have a failry nice home (it's only 7 years old...we got it new) and our kids are clothed nice....but that's all due to me being a serious, hardcore bargain shopper. :chuckle

I'm shocked to read how much some of you pay for your mortgage. I guess when I think of becoming a nurse and making even $18/hr, that to me would make me feel RICH! My neighbor lives a very "rich-like" life now that she's a nurse. She is always shopping, getting manicures and going to the salon, traveling, etc....then again, she also has a hubby that works and her bills and mortgage is about the same as mine.

I guess the perks for living in NC is lower cost of living than in NY or someplace like that. Once I become a nurse, we should be able to live VERY comfortably considering we're surviving on just one income now.

smk1, LPN · Apr 9, 2005

Two things. First, many places in this country have out of control, cuckoo, housing costs. My mortgage, for our modest 1200 square foot home, is twice your's, and it isn't at all unreasonable for this area. Two, I would have to say that one of the advantages of getting an education and working hard is providing my family with a certain standard of living. I happen to believe that my son should enjoy the fruits of my labors. He doesn't get everything he wants, but he gets a lot, and I am delighted that my husband and I can provide it for him. I grew up poor. I don't think it is the worst thing in the world, but I decided long ago that it wasn't for me. I certainly think the value of my work entitles me and my family to more than living paycheck to paycheck and worrying about the cost of participating in youth softball!

exactly and then there are those that have student loans to pay off as well. In certain parts of the country you can't rent an apartment for 700 per month let alone mortgage a house. I do appreciate that people can't expect to live the high life and need to be more frugal in general, but education is supposed to increase your standard of living at least a little.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Apr 9, 2005

Here, you can rent two bedroom place for 800.

In No. Va. 800 MIGHT get you a bedroom in someone else's house.

smk1, LPN · Apr 9, 2005

After reading through some of the other posts, I'll admit that I didn't factor in the cost of insurance and all that come out of your paychecks. I don't think about that stuff since my husband has all that through his work. And I made us sound dirt poor. We have a failry nice home (it's only 7 years old...we got it new) and our kids are clothed nice....but that's all due to me being a serious, hardcore bargain shopper. :chuckle
I'm shocked to read how much some of you pay for your mortgage. I guess when I think of becoming a nurse and making even $18/hr, that to me would make me feel RICH! My neighbor lives a very "rich-like" life now that she's a nurse. She is always shopping, getting manicures and going to the salon, traveling, etc....then again, she also has a hubby that works and her bills and mortgage is about the same as mine.
I guess the perks for living in NC is lower cost of living than in NY or someplace like that. Once I become a nurse, we should be able to live VERY comfortably considering we're surviving on just one income now.

i am a stay at home mom and student right now as well and as we have been living off of one income for 4 yrs, i know i will "feel" rich for about a minute when i graduate and get to work. But I really want to build up or savings and put something away for our daughter and plan for our future, so we aren't paycheck to paycheck, so hopefully we won't get bitten by the "life upgrade" bug and get brand new cars and a bigger new house that would keep us worried about money (just with better things). Also we have to think about parents because neither sides parents have a lot of money and they could end up with us or in a nursing facility near us. In any case for what they do it looks to me like many nurses (especially senior ones) are underpaid, in comparison to accountability and other professions.

auctiontrisha · Apr 9, 2005

I live in NE Alabama where the start pay in $17.50-18 depending on the hospital.

My brother (who has a two year electrical degree) works in a box mill in Rome, GA (about 30 mins from here) and he makes $19.00. Don't mistake what I say, I am very happy for him, but if he screws something up it is just a box not a life.

High School teacher in this area makes $30-35K per year. Keep in mind they get 3 months off in the summer and 2 weeks off at Christmas plus other holidays. Also, weekends off (if they do not bring it home).

Auto mechanic makes around 30k.

Get my point.

Just like everyone else has said....look at what we do and compare our pay to others.

I have a friend who teaches kindergarten and she told me they work 180 days a year at about $35,000. Not bad!!

auctiontrisha · Apr 9, 2005

Do you actually live in New York? Becuase I do and 52K, even 70K, is not a lot of money and I am single with no kids!! You forgot to factor in the union dues, NY State tax, New York City Tax etc. which came to $977.21 on my last paycheck.
Do you have any concept of how much rent is in Manhattan?? Even for a small one room studio in a nice part if the city that is 2 weeks of your paycheck. That is before utilities and other expenses etc.
I work in the biggest NICU in Manhattan, see the sickest babies and I am not up for working another day per week after being on my feet for over 12 hours working my a** off.

That is insane!! My husband & I work full time, have a kindergartener and I am working towards my nursing degree. We make less than 35 grand together and have a nice 2 bedroom apartment for $405 a month and utilities are about $120 for everything. We eat out at least twice a week. I don't know why anyone would pay such expensive rent. We moved from Dallas because it was so expensive.

ValerieB · Apr 9, 2005

I live in Maryland and make $36.00/hr as a med surg nurse in the float pool. I'd say that's pretty darn good money. I make more money than my husband. If I'm called in on my on-call days, I make time and a half for the first 4 hours and double time for the next 8hours. It's almost like getting two pay checks when that happens. I also get benefits,sick time and four weeks vacation. We are always looking for good nurses in Maryland so come on down! :nurse:

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2005

Gosh Valerie!!! That would be an absolute dream to make that much $$$!!! Maybe I will have to move to Maryland! But first I gotta get thru school!:rotfl:

ldynwht · Apr 9, 2005

wow I am gonna quit complaining about wages here in Colorado. I am an LPN, just got a new job, start pay $20.00, I turned down two jobs before that starting at $18.50 and they were all day positions

mariedoreen · Apr 9, 2005

Don't question what you don't know my friend.

I often question what I don't know... that's one of the ways I come to know...