How many are pursuing nursing studies just for the money?

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 7, 2003

Uh what money? New grads here start at $15-$16 an hour....not much.

M

RN NascarFan, RN · Jun 8, 2003

Personally, I don't think any job should be persued for money alone.

Before I decided to go into the nursing field, my husband and I talked for a long time about what I would do for work, once the children were old enough.

I had been a SAHM for ten years, no higher education and childcare and grocery clerk experience.

During the itme I was a SAHM, i also lead some parenting classes and foster/adoptive training. That was my extent of experience.

The only career I had ever thought about, other than parenting, was nursing.

Of course money DOES have an impact, as someone has already said, not many WOULD go into the field if the pay were minimum wage, not with everything that the job entails.

Nursing is so much more than "just a job", at least imo. I want a career that I am doing something useful, contributing to lives, and, hopefully, making a difference to someone.

francine79 · Jun 13, 2003

I think money has alot to do with going into nursing. If it didn't, why not just continue being a CNA? That's who gives the majority of the patient care. I think being an RN is a compromise between getting a decent paycheck and helping people out.

rnnurse2be · Jun 13, 2003

Yes and no for me. I have always loved dealing with people and helping them. In the area of MT we live in, the cost of living is HIGH and wages are LOW. Nurses make more than 40,000 a year. The AVG household is 20,000 a yr. NO, Im NOT doing this for the money, but it does help. I want to be able to buy things for my boys, hubby, self. I am EXCITED TO BECOME A NURSE, not just make some $.

Ann42 · Jun 13, 2003

I've read a lot of posts pooh poohing the amount of money nurses make. I think it all depends on perspective, or where you are coming from. I've been a SAHM for years with my DH never earning more than $25,000 a year, with many years of far less. Just $10,000 more sounds like pure heaven to me!

I agree that you have to be in it for more than money, but those who really aren't into nursing usually change majors or drop out. Then there's some who go in for the money then discover that nursing means much more to them than they thought.

My instructor, a highly paid professional woman married to a highly paid professional man, shamed the students in her class for admitting that the pay was indeed one of the factors that drew them to nursing. I felt that was the wrong attitude for her to take. If you really feel like your pay is "filthy lucre", you should ask your employer to cut your pay in half.

Actually, one of my first draws to nursing was from talking to a part-time missionary nurse. I saw nursing as a service I could give a people that would be really welcomed. Afterall, Jesus told us to wash one anothers' feet. It was after talking to her that I looked up salaries and job opportunities; and that seemed to settle the matter in my mind. I'm going to be a nurse. :-)

reign · Jun 14, 2003

many students today are taking up nursing. infact, in our university, the college of nursing is the most abundant students.

the 1st year students have 40 sections.

many of them choose nursing course because it is in-demand in other country and also in abroad the salary is high.

i choose nursing because its a challeging coorifice to me and also working in abroad is a great oppurtunity to grab for professional growth. some machines are only available in other country.

snag · Jun 15, 2003

I just wanted to put in my 2.17 cents worth. I could have left the military and gone straight into flying for the major airlines. In spite of the downturn in the industry, those senior pilot captains are making about $200K-$300K per year and have a great retirement plan to boot. They are BUS DRIVERS!!! You don't get variety (except for an in-flight emergency...and who wants those!) or any job fulfillment from helping someone else. You never really get to know any of your coworkers because you fly with different crews all the time. You work 2-3 weeks a month living out of a suitcase. The last week you go home to enjoy the big house your salary bought and for a week you fix everything that broke during the last 3 weeks while you were on the road, then it's right back to the cockpit and a bunch of disgruntled passengers (hauling cargo is a LOT better) and machinists, flight attendants, schedulers, etc. The money's great, but what have you done with your life other than accumulate a lot of goodies you don't have time to enjoy? I am looking forward to a constant challenge and an ever-changing environment. My theory is if you don't keep exercising your brain (mine is small to begin with) you will start losing it. In my case, that would probably mean:

1. The rest of my life making French fries at McD's

2. Driving home in a '72 Plymouth with a leaking exhaust system

3. Plopping home in front of the tube with a grease stained T-

shirt stretched tight over my huge, fat gut, microwave Spaghetti-o's, and a 6-pack of warm (generic) beer

4. Oh yeah, the remote

5. Falling asleep in 5 minutes while snoring obscenely with 2 weeks worth of dirty laundry at my feet (the dog somewhere buried within)

6. Waking up late, still in the Lay-Z-Boy, no shower (just some heavy cologne splashing) and back to work!

A nurse has the power to do a LOT of things. Their worst enemy seems to be themselves. If we (you) could collectively bargain and approach management with the same intensity (countrywide) that the union airline pilots bring to their bargaining table (or docs with the AMA) you would be a formidable threat. NO ONE can replace you! Look at the shortage crisis...now would be the perfect time to get some things on the table. A national union with some potent hormones!!! If there were decent retirement plans and health care insurance and some of the other benefits "regular" folks get in their jobs, I don't think nurse pay would seem as low as it does for some. Why is it that such a powerful (and LARGE) group of professionals can't hold the medical profession's feet to the fire and get some of these things? Here in Fairbanks, Alaska, nurses get paid a good salary, but their healthcare plans are crap. Homeless people get better health benefits than the people that provide the care!!!

I'm ranting, so I'll sign off. Take care everyone...I am signing on for the fight!!

Snag

ucandoit · Jun 15, 2003

I have always dreamed of being a nurse, but I also have always dreamed about being rich! I guess one out of the 2 aint bad! Guess which wish I got!!!(hint: I worked 12 hours today)

**P.S.-I wouldn't mind getting both!$$$$

goober4699 · Sep 2, 2003

I too have always wanted to have a job in the helping professions. My mom is an LPN although she decided to pursue healthcare management instead of further her clinical expirience. Despite this fact, there isnt a week that goes by that I dont here from some nurse at the hospital about what a great nurse my mom was once upon a time... I thought about social work as well but decided that the money was to little to care for a child and live comfortably on and so I did some soul searching over this past summer and decided that Nursing is for me.I have to admit the money does speak especially where I live (northeastern USA) Starting salries for GN's are 41,000 a year and increase to 44,000 after licensure. I work at one of the top paying hospitals in the USA and so I will get the best of both worlds helping ppl and living extremely comfortably.

NursePru · Sep 2, 2003

Money is part of the reason I decided to pursue nursing. I'm also going for job stability (we will ALWAYS be needed), flexibility (jobs in every state, and several options within the profession), and because I have a general desire to help people. All of these things combined with decent pay make nursing a smart choice for anyone who doesn't have a weak stomach :lol2:

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Sep 2, 2003

If i wanted a high paying job, there are other routes to persue.

I want a job i can pay my bills with, set some extra aside, and love every second of what i do.

Tilleycs · Sep 2, 2003

If the students are 18 yrs. old, cut them some slack. How much did YOU know when you were 18? I chose my first major (electrical engineering) because of the money. Three years later, I admitted that I HATED it and changed to English. I've been a technical writer (which combines the two) for almost 10 years, and am working on the prerequisites for nursing school at my local comm. college.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money (I don't think any of us work for free or would refuse a pay increase), and the people who aren't a good fit for a particular field will be weeded out. Although it's not why I'm pursuing nursing, in light of the collapse of the IT field over the past few years, the job security in the health field WILL be a nice perk.