How much do YOU think nurses are worth?

Nurses General Nursing

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Personally, I think nurses are grossly underpaid. I am 10 years in and I think I should be earning a bare minimum of $150k/yr. I hear what my friends/relatives are making, who have degrees in business, human resources, communications, marketing, PR, etc. (I'm in NYC) and they make so much more than me. Additionally, they have cushy schedules which allow them a better work/life balance, and they generally talk favorably about their jobs and report manageable stress levels at work.

Are you satisfied with your pay? What do you think nurses are "worth" (in regards to salary)?

You may wish to take a look at the salaries of nurses in England, where we have the socialist healthcare system (NHS) that pays absolute peanuts compared to the salaries and wages I see being discussed on here. That might make you feel lucky!!

Clinical support worker nursing

Band 3: £16,800 – £19,655

Clinical support worker nursing (higher level), porter team leader.

Band 4: £19,217 – 22,458

Nurse associate practitioner acute

Band 5: £21,909 – £28,462

Also, don't convert dollars to pounds....the cost of living is somewhat comparable, with housing costs being higher in general in UK, I would say. So for the most part a pound FEELS like a dollar in terms of spending power.

Think you could survive in NYC on under 30,000? That's what the London nurses get paid: and average of 28,500. It's disgusting.

p.s. I've lived in America for 20+ years

p.p.s. I think I'm worth billions, but that's a whole other story....LMAO! :roflmao:

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.
You may wish to take a look at the salaries of nurses in England, where we have the socialist healthcare system (NHS) that pays absolute peanuts compared to the salaries and wages I see being discussed on here. That might make you feel lucky!!

Clinical support worker nursing

Band 3: £16,800 – £19,655

Clinical support worker nursing (higher level), porter team leader.

Band 4: £19,217 – 22,458

Nurse associate practitioner acute

Band 5: £21,909 – £28,462

Also, don't convert dollars to pounds....the cost of living is somewhat comparable, with housing costs being higher in general in UK, I would say. So for the most part a pound FEELS like a dollar in terms of spending power.

Think you could survive in NYC on under 30,000? That's what the London nurses get paid: and average of 28,500. It's disgusting.

p.s. I've lived in America for 20+ years

Mic. Drop.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I posted something to the following effect on another thread...but I'm too lazy to find it.

My husband is the CFO of a financial firm dealing in hedge funds, has a beautiful office overlooking a lake, and makes an enviable salary.

He also typically works 60+ hrs per week. He travels frequently and comes home exhausted because he doesn't sleep well in hotel beds. If the travel is international, he also comes home jetlagged. Lots of times he takes an overnight flight and drives straight to work in the moring. He frequently works on his laptop at night, on the weekends, and even on vacation. He paid extra for wifi in a national park, so that he could get some work done after retiring for the night. Last spring he took our older kids skiing, and among the pictures my oldest texted me was one of him and his laptop with the text "Dad working." If he takes a sick day, he has double work the next day. He spent 6+ years in school, between his BS in finance and his MBA. Billions of dollars are not worth as much as human life, but managing that kind of money is no small stress. The nature of his work can be volatile.

I've said there is NO amount of money that would convince me to do what he does.

When I call in sick, I know there will be arrangements for another RN in my place. I can clock out, go home, and do NOTHING work related until my next shift. I've made as much as $44/hr with an ADN. I have the security of knowing that people will ALWAYS get hurt and ALWAYS get sick; as long as that happens, nurses will be needed. As a nurse I also have the option to work part time, which I do. My geologist sister and some of the women who work in my husband's company would love the option for work part time, but it's not available. It's full time or nothing.

Are some nurses underpaid? Absolutely. Long-term care comes to mind. I think it's disgusting how those nurses work so hard and with so little resources to care for the elderly -- a population that should be treated with the utmost value and respect -- and get paid what they do. I also think teachers and social workers areunderpaid, given the amount of education needed, the hours spent on work, and the importance of what they do.

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I'm not satisfied with my pay, benefits, or the way I'm treated in most nursing positions. My husband has a business degree, and although jobs are harder to come by, he's offered at least 15-20k more/year and instant, good quality health insurance. Other benefits may vary. And like you said, a better schedule.

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Personally, I think nurses are grossly underpaid. I am 10 years in and I think I should be earning a bare minimum of $150k/yr. I hear what my friends/relatives are making, who have degrees in business, human resources, communications, marketing, PR, etc. (I'm in NYC) and they make so much more than me. Additionally, they have cushy schedules which allow them a better work/life balance, and they generally talk favorably about their jobs and report manageable stress levels at work.

Are you satisfied with your pay? What do you think nurses are "worth" (in regards to salary)?

OP would you mind sharing your rationale for $150k/yr? I'm not disagreeing necessarily, but am curious as to how to came to the conclusion that this is what you deserve.

I think we all have a tendency to portray our lives in a positive light to others (especially in the age of Facebook and other social media). OP: I believe your friends/family who are living rich and "cushy" lives may not be representing their lives as accurately as you believe.

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The problem with comparing what we do to celebs and athletes or even high earning business people is we don't really make the hospital money, per se. Pwople will pay 150 dollars a ticket or more to watch someone throw or kick a ball but they don't think they need to pay their medical bills.

While you could argue that many people keep coming back to a facility because they like the nurses, Healthcare isn't a typical business set up. A high powered sales guy for a huge bank can say yes i deserve a bonus because i single handedly made this back 10 million dollars. Nursing doesn't work that way. Plus let's not forget the biggest users of hospitals are ppl who are broke anyway. High income earning individuals are a) healthy hence being high income ppl and b) have the means to get things done outpatient. If my income as an ER nurse was a reflection of my clients ability to pay for services I'd be really really hungry! Lol

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Specializes in ICU.

Some of my coworkers are worth a LOT more than others...

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.
Some of my coworkers are worth a LOT more than others...

Good point. Some are worth $0.05.

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Good point. Some are worth $0.05.

The ones you consider worth only a nickel....what do they do (or not do) that deems them to such a meager wage?? Just interested, not questioning your assessment of them :cat:

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.
The ones you consider worth only a nickel....what do they do (or not do) that deems them to such a meager wage?? Just interested, not questioning your assessment of them :cat:

Well, I'm pretty sure if I did an ROI analysis, we'd find that certain people cost more than they make the org, due to errors, unit inefficiency caused by cleaning up their messes, readmissions, and so on. The nickel was a kindness. Mostly, I'm joking. I don't know anyone THAT bad. At least not anyone that lasted more than a couple months.

But there are DAYS we feel like certain co-workers are worth less than a nickel.

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The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Only because it's "fertilized" differently... :sarcastic:

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Only because it's "fertilized" differently... :sarcastic:

But sometimes that other fertilizer is preferable.

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