''I Don't get Paid Enough!''- Is this your mantra??

MayisontheWay · Apr 14, 2008

I am satisfied that my wage is fair (but I work strictly PRN).

I didn't feel I was adequately paid as an open heart recovery nurse making $21/hour when the average house is over $300k in this area.

May

sharlynn · Apr 14, 2008

Anyone who goes into nursing for the money probably isn't nurse material IMHO.

:twocents:

PiPhi2004 · Apr 14, 2008

Anyone who goes into nursing for the money probably isn't nurse material IMHO.

I would definately agree. I dont think any of us did this to be millionaires lol! I agree though I definately do not make enough for the responsibilities I feel I have. At least I have job stability though and I have plenty of opportunities for OT! I have enough to get by comfortably and enough to support myself and I dont feel like I'm doing without, so I guess I'll live. I have a great work environment though and great co-workers and it really is a great place to work. I guess I feel bad for people who DONT work in favorable conditions and still get paid peanuts.

RN Randy · Apr 14, 2008

Agreed... After the phone, electric, water, TV, used car and house payments, I notice my lack of wealth pretty regularly, LOL.

As said, the 'comfort zone' is pretty wide, though. I certainly don't worry over getting laid off!

But then again, laid off is better than a malpractice suit... and I swear we're only days away from the norm being legal action over "alleged lack of compassion", or "malicious complacency with intent to disrupt energy field" or something equally brillant.

rb

facetiousgoddess · Apr 14, 2008

But then again, laid off is better than a malpractice suit... and I swear we're only days away from the norm being legal action over "alleged lack of compassion", or "malicious complacency with intent to disrupt energy field" or something equally brillant.
rb

:yeah: ROTFLMAO, especially as a native Cali girl....don't you dare toy with my chakras......

Seriously, I so South Jersey now I may fall into the ocean. The only debt I carry is my mortgage. So the $26/hr I make goes pretty darn far. Still I do say "I don't get paid enough for this!"

And I swear there should be a sliding scale "Hazardous Duty" pay:

Angry family member=$25

Cranky Maladjusted Doctor=$35 (per minute of my time your wasting with your childish diatribe.)

Short Staffing=$75 (per freakin hour I need the CNAs as much as the residents do!)

Misplaced Meds/Missing Meds=$100 per med. (Like I really have the time to crawl through two med carts and the nonexistant back-up box.)

Multiple Falls (Due to Short Staffing)= First Fall well heck I'll give you that one for free, it can happen any shift....Subsequent Falls=$250....Falls requiring Neuro Checks or a trip to the ER=$450

Feel free to add your own....

And if we did charge per "task", generating income.....betcha we might just receive a tad more respect.

Tres

Clear Lungs never a charge! Crackles are gonna cost ya!

RNperdiem, RN · Apr 14, 2008

I think nursing is well paid.

I look at how much I earned in my first full time years of nursing, and it was greater than the average household wage in my state.

On a bad day my mantra is "this is just one day".

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2008

I consider the amount of extra education (CEUs) to keep my license up, even more education to ultimately move away from the bedside, the supplies, the cost of licensure and the cost of health insurance. Even though we're paid the going rate around here, the cost of living has risen pretty dramatically in my area and therefore has more than negated any of the raises that I've received in the past few years.

In addition, the risks to my own health, my family's health, the risk of a lawsuit and the toll that the worry, stress, and angst for my patients takes on my health daily, not to mention the toll that working "off" shifts has already taken, working short-staffed as the norm, I would have to say, nope, I sure do not get paid enough.

What a price we pay! Nursing school is not like any other education. Our first year of nursing is generally regarded as difficult at best. Someone said it quite well in another thread -- to paraphrase -- "I know of no other profession in which it is the norm for members to come home from work and cry, especially during the first year."

No, if I think about all the sacrifices that I've made to be a nurse, all the pain of adjustment, all the possible ways that I could lose my job, not to mention my license and therefore my livelihood, no, we certainly don't get paid enough.

You need to know that I love my job, couldn't picture myself doing anything else with my life, and I certainly did not get into nursing for the money. But for those that do, the joke really is on them. Because in my opinion, we do not get paid enough to do what we do.

gerry79 · Apr 14, 2008

I cant really complain about my pay. Sure I will always feel I deserve a little more because of the responsibility that is thrust upon me, but I have been a nurse for one year and earn $76,000 a year ($36.28/hr). That is almost 20 grand more than the state median income (Massachusetts).

wearingmanyhats, RN · Apr 14, 2008

i do tend to think we don't get paid enough (i am an agency lpn making mid $20's --- last year i made aroung $40,000) -- compare that to a new teacher making $45,000+ !!!! no one has ever sued a teacher and taken their house.... but as nurses, every move we make can be scrutinized.... "what do you mean you were in the bathroom when mrs jones fell" you get my drift...lol

RN Randy · Apr 14, 2008

i do tend to think we don't get paid enough (i am an agency lpn making mid $20's --- last year i made aroung $40,000) -- compare that to a new teacher making $45,000+ !!!! no one has ever sued a teacher and taken their house.... but as nurses, every move we make can be scrutinized.... "what do you mean you were in the bathroom when mrs jones fell" you get my drift...lol

as an asn, i get paid more than a new teacher, who has a bach. degree, and teachers do indeed get shot, beat, stabbed, ridiculed by heartless morons all day, clean up puke, pee, etc, and everyone that harasses them during the day is a minor and must be treated as such, even though they are freely as agressive as any adult. worse yet, they then have to submit to the insane stupidity of said youths parents who come in and defend their baby for whatever crime, no matter how absurd.

you couldn't pay me fnp wages to be a teacher these days. i'll stick to the sticky stuff and let them have this generation, lol.

teachers get sued all the time... you said a word that offended my kid. you showed a film that offended my kid. you allowed this or that to happen..... and the list is long.

i have family in the school system, a teacher and a speech pathologist. the stories are simply ubelievable. i'd bet the average nurse would not make it 5 hours in the school system without getting sued. i guarantee i wouldn't last a minute.... lol.

rb

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2008

Anyone who goes into nursing for the money probably isn't nurse material IMHO.

I'm quite satisfied with the salary I earn in comparison with how much college I attended, along with the relatively low student loan payments when compared with the house docs. I did consider the salary before taking on the responsibility of caring for patients. I wouldn't do it for any less that what I make now, and I don't think that I am "not nurse material".

Nursing is a profession. In order for us to be recognized as such, we need to stop martyring ourselves and looking down on those of us who are competent professionals who are nurses by profession, and not "calling".

Blee