If healthcare reform resulted in salary caps of $40k for nurses would you stay?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm not asking for a debate about wether or not healthcare reform would result in salary caps, I just want to know would you stay in nursing if your salary was capped at $45k? what about $35k? where would you draw the line? for arguments sake lets say advanced practice nurses got a $10k premium.

If healthcare reform resulted in all nurses being required to get a tattoo that reads "Real Nurses Do It On The Floor" on their foreheads, would you stay?

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ok, Commanderzoom,

According to your info, you are a CNA in nursing school, so you really don't have a dog in this fight. You have no idea of what the big bad world is, so please do not try to tell us that we should be not be compensated for what we do, when you have no clue as to what is we REALLY do.

If I was capped at $40,000 per annum, I would be out of this profession in a heartbeat. Having been in it for 30 years, I think I know just a bit more than you about the risks, challenges and gratifications of our profession. AS one of the many dedicated nurses that work today, I can tell you it is NOT about altruism, it is about compensation for putting your health, emotions, knowledge and safety on the line. I am called upon to make critical judgements daily, develop and use my skills as best I can; and often save lives because of my talents.I relish the kudos I get from patients and family when they recognnize my life saving and life changing interventions; and I go home each night wondering if I will be called on the carpet, or perhaps sued for some percieved insult or "failure to provide".

Saying that I am not a dedicated nurse because I want to be commensurated for my skills is an insult, to me and the entire profession.

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Specializes in Hospice.
I'm so glad that people are saying they wouldn't stay in nursing if salary caps were put into place. That's an excellent way to weed out the bad nurses who are only in the profession for the money.

Horsewallop ... if I can't afford to work as a nurse because the salary doesn't support me or my family, how does that make me a "bad nurse"?

There are a few threads addressing this ... run a search on "in it for the money".

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I'm so glad that people are saying they wouldn't stay in nursing if salary caps were put into place. That's an excellent way to weed out the bad nurses who are only in the profession for the money.

Disagree completely. The desire to earn a decent salary and maintain a middle class standard of living does not make a "bad" nurse or one who is "in it for the money".

Y'all have go to be kidding Commanderzoom!

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Disagree completely. The desire to earn a decent salary and maintain a middle class standard of living does not make a "bad" nurse or one who is "in it for the money".

Y'all have go to be kidding Commanderzoom!

I agree. $40k is not enough to live in my location. House payment, car payment, telephone, electricity, gas, food... etc etc. :nono: Not enough.

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I'm an emt and do that for less. Quit griping. Crap.

Okay...$40 K

to:

Deal with Sh**

Deal with Vomit

Deal with Blood

Deal with HIV

Deal with Hepatitis

Deal with people trying to either bite you, kick you, hit you, throw things at you

Deal with dysfunctional families

Deal with dysfunctional management

Deal with politics, policies that make no sense

Deal with doctors who scream at you because you're only doing your job

Deal with codes and trying to revive an adult

Deal with codes and trying to revive a child who was ABUSED ($40 K, really?)

Deal with a code trying to revive a newborn (Yeah, YOU tell me if $40 K is enough)

I could GO ON.

Are you for Real? I'm thinking you're sitting behind a desk and have never done this stuff. That's what I'm thinking.

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Specializes in PCU/tele.

pish... 40 K a year???? :chuckle i dont make anywhere NEAR 40k!! but then again I work in the lowest paid state in the country :clown:

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i wouldnt stay in in profession that caps salary. thats just stupid and against what the American job market is all about

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I can barely afford to live in South Florida on the wages I earn now. Realistically even if I wanted to stay in the nursing field, there is no way I could for that pay. Honestly, I love my job but would refuse to work for that. It is an insult. A manager at Publix or McDonalds makes more than $40,000 a year.

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