I hate to say this, but I think it's true.....

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I think alot of people are going into nursing these days because of the economy and the stories drilled in peoples heads about how nurses make alot of money for only a 2 yr degree. I can tell this by listening to students in my pre-req classes. Some whom I talk to don't have the slightest clue about nursing but they can spout off how much money they think they'll make when they first start out. I'm sure some of you on here will agree with me. I was talking to this one student and he told me, "Yeah, I'm going into nursing. I was a mechanical engineer and was laid off. I can't find work in that right now. Nursing is only two years. I made good money on my last job."

Honestly, I am considering a career change into Nursing after I got laid off from being a 1st grade Teacher. I have my Masters in Education, yet it's near impossible to land a job as a Teacher. The whole "Teacher Shortage" is a total sham.

When I was in college, I was torn between Nursing and Teaching. Obviously, I decided to become a Teacher. But now that I don't have a job...Nursing is something that definitely interests me.

That said, my husband is a Surgical Resident. He definitely isn't supporting me going into Nursing. So right now, I'm again torn between STAYING in Education....or going into Nursing.

Also, I already have student loans from undergrad and graduate school to worry about...on top of my husbands student loans from medical school. So going back to school to pursue Nursing is making the decision even harder.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
The state that you are from and other states like yours may very well have jobs for new grads with RN and BSN positions because there are not a lot of nurses competing for a $24/hr job no matter how passionate they are about nursing.
I am in a large city in a southern state that pays inexperienced new grad RNs between $21 and $25 hourly at most major hospitals and, believe me, the competition for these jobs is extremely fierce around here.

$24 hourly might not seem like much, but it really goes a long way in a low cost-of-living state where a decent apartment can be rented for as cheaply as $450 monthly or a decent house can be bought for less than $100,000.

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Yes, those $24/hr jobs are very competitive as I stated before. Where I live you can't really get a nice house for $100k either.

However, it doesn't take more than a few years of experience before that pay increases quite a bit.

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I just don't relate to the thought of straight up of "Wow, they make great money, don't have to attend school for too long and I could perform those duties too, even though it's the medical field I don't care too much for".

No one ever said they didn't care for the medical field; that's an assumption on your part.

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I don't think it really matters. Money is not everything and if you don't like what you are doing, you will still be miserable. You can pay me 200k to be an engineer/comp science/progamer but I will be extremely miserable everyday waking up to go to work because I don't care and don't derive pleasure from those things.

I live in the bay area and trust me, entry nurses make a boat load of money with a relatively simple 2 year degree. It is ridiculous to make 44/hr right out of school with 2 years of education. I know a ton of people who got into nursing for the money but that doesn't make them bad or any less competent vs. a nurse who does because it is their "calling" in life. I'm fortunate enough to love what I do and enjoy nursing as a career but I got bills to pay and want nice things in life and working here in the bay area allows me have that lifestyle.

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i had a degree in psych and decided nursing might let me help people in a more tangible way. I did not even think about the money when I entered school. Now I wish I did think about it. I dont think nurses get paid enough for all the issues, headaches, backstabbing we endure. As the years go by, some nurses act so unprofessional , that I wonder why they made the choice to go to school at all.

The biggest trend I see is the CRNA track. It is abounding in popularity. There are alot of future CRNAs that are going into programs for the money. They dont ask themselves if they are a good fit. I would not be a fit in that branch of nursing so I didnt chose it.

I dont blame people looking towards nursing for a second degree but I hope they sure know what they are getting into. I wish I had more counsel before entering the nursing profession.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I hate to break it to ya but not all mothers care for their children. And because of the baby bonus in my country some people have children simply for the payout and welfare they receive and not one cent will go towards their kids, it goes to feed their addiction, pay for their plasma tv etc.

As a school nurse I can attest to this. Sadly.

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Monicanurse:You're right on about the CRNA track. It's a popular route only and I mean only because it pays a lot of money. It's the only advanced degree in nursing where you actually make a lot of money in return for your education. I have a buddy who was a paramedic for 10 years and then nurse, CRNA, and now owns his own CRNA company and contracts to hospitals. He has a CRNA who's making $100,000 working part time. Too many people are going into this field for the money, especially right out of school and don't have a clue about the actual profession. I worked in the OR right out of school so I know what they do. If someone states they aren't going into CRNA school for the money, they're blowing smoke up your orifice!!!!:eek:A majority of them talk about CRNA school simply because they aren't happy with being a regular nurse or they aren't happy with the money in nursing. NOw, when I hear the CRNA card being dealt, I just roll my eyes:rolleyes:It's almost a cliche!!!

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Johnnybravo:

Yes, I kind of roll my eyes too at that one. But at the same time, who is to blame them if they want more money and a better life ? I know CRNAs do seem to have more job satisfaction and autonomy. I just like to talk to my patients....so it wouldnt be the right fit for me. I do know of someone who makes 100 k as well working part time and she is a mom , so it works out great for her. I personally am going back to school for my NP to gain a little more autonomy, even though I wont enjoy the big salary of CRNAs.

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Nursing is a profession. Of course people want to be paid well for what they do. Why wouldn't they? You can bet your bottom dollar if nursing didn't pay well that I wouldn't be one. I love patients and providing care but I wouldn't take on the level of responsibility I have for less money.

Nurses should back one another and work towards even higher wages. We deserve more. We are educated and trained professionals. Do you think doctors argue about who goes into it for money? They don't nor should we. We aren't martyrs and volunteers.

I agree. Nurses are overworked and underpaid.

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Johnnybravo:

Yes, I kind of roll my eyes too at that one. But at the same time, who is to blame them if they want more money and a better life ? I know CRNAs do seem to have more job satisfaction and autonomy. I just like to talk to my patients....so it wouldnt be the right fit for me. I do know of someone who makes 100 k as well working part time and she is a mom , so it works out great for her. I personally am going back to school for my NP to gain a little more autonomy, even though I wont enjoy the big salary of CRNAs.

I just spoke to my buddy last night who runs his CRNA company and he said the big money is going to change with the healthcare reform. He's working 16 hr days now and says he'll be out of it when the money stops-He's not going to work that hard for less money and I don't blame him. The one's who are becoming CRNA's for the money may be in for a rude awakening really soon.

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It isn't just nursing. How many people do you think try to get into medical, dental or pharmacy school every year because of the money. A lot of people that I started nursing school with that had that kind of attitude never made it past first semester. We had close to 50% fail out or quit because they couldn't take it. If you are not in the program yet, just wait and see what I mean. We all have our reasons for becoming nurses and I don't think we should judge people for those reasons. A nurse just in it for money can be just as good a nurse as any if she knows how to do his/her job. If nursing paid $10 an hour I wouldn't do it either!

I agree just because a person didn't have childhood dreams of becoming a nurse doesn't mean that he or she will not make a great nurse. On the flipside just because one claims they've always wanted to do a certain profession doesn't mean they will succeed in that profession either. I know many pilots who love flying but hate the pay who are getting out of aviation. I also have a friend who's a Director of Sales who makes a salary that most Ivy League MBA's would kill for hate his job as well, but obviously he's very good at it. In fact, his true passion would be to work on cars and be a mechanic, go figure, but he chose the "money". There are very few people who can make a decent living doing what they enjoy. Those that do are more the exceptions and are extremely fortunate.

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