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

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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.

Specializes in ER.

No way would I work for 40k a year! RN's are educated professionals. We DESERVE more than that. I am already planning for something like this to happen. Instead of pursing a Master's in Nursing I am thinking of doing a Master's in another area.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

No way would I stay for 40K.

Or 60K.

In fact, I'm not in favor of the govt capping my salary-at all!

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ok let me redirect since many don't believe a salary cap could ever happen, lets use a cost cutting measure already implemented by hospitals in a crunch... no OT and if your charting is not complete by the end of your shift, you do it on your own time. and lets add that your hourly wage is locked at its current rate until there is more money available (read indefinitely)!

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Specializes in ICU, IMCU.

This is really sad to say, but I made more money working at a department store make up counter. Nursing is hard work ....mentally, physically, and emotionally. Would it really be fair for them to cap the salary of nurses? I don't think so! If they did I would probably choose to stay at home and take care of my children. Nursing is a calling for me, but it needs to be worth my time away from my family...they are my priority!!!! I am not going to risk my health and sanity by working in a high risk environment for nothing!!!

This is just my opinion.

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Specializes in ED.

I would have to say that I would probably stay with nursing. I believe its my calling, and gives me much satisfaction more so than any other job I've ever had.

Now that being said, I guess I would look into other forms of nursing that paid better if it came down to not being able to pay my bills. At this time however I wouldn't be able to look into another college degree, just can't afford it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"In short. The question only serves to inflame tempers."

My point exactly. It was/is a very pointed question.

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I am confused. 40K is very much an average salary for teachers, police officers, fire fighters, social workers, people with bachelor degrees and/or interesting experience. But why is it poverty level for nursing?

I am not addressing the salary capping idea, I don't agree with governmental regulation of salaries, and I highly doubt it would come to pass unless you happened to be a direct employee of the federal government.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

not a chance.

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Specializes in ICU, telemetry, LTAC.

If that was based on a 3 day workweek, 12 hr shifts, guaranteed health insurance even at and after retirement and/or injury or disability, and a workload that takes acuity into account, maybe.

By taking acuity into account, I don't mean a flat cap on ratios, I mean one that doesn't stretch the individual nurse to the limit all the time. I mean one that has few, if any, "low census" crap. Instead of low census, how about doing patient education stuff, infection control stuff (cleaning), spend a shift doing everyone else's dressing changes, during summer and fall show up for help educating the new nurses, etc. I would like for people who do staffing to have some common sense, is all.

If I had to have 6 patients all the time in LTAC, or 3 all the time in ICU, I would not be able to do it for long. Like less than a month. I would be backbroken, worn out, and hating people. Money - what money? Who can spend it if all your free time is spent recovering from work?

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i would totally stay in nursing.

its taken 9 years and a lot of heartache to find a job i like, but im here now, and i wouldnt trade it for nothing.

im surprised at the amount of replies saying no. it saddens me for some reason.

of course nurses should get paid more......i dont think theres enough money in the world to compensate for what we deal with on a daily basis...but at the same time, reward can be seen as mental and emotional, and knowing you have made some sort of difference at some point in someones life....

life is not something i can see really putting a price on at this point.

being an RN gives me enough energy to give back and then some.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

NO freaking way.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

No, I would not stay in nursing if they capped my salary. I can't see them being that stupid as to implement this though-we already have people leaving the profession in large amounts. I personally think we should all get way more than we do. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. But, not to toot my own horn, I'm pretty intelligent. It wouldn't be hard for me to change careers.

If I wanted to work solely for emotional gratification..I would have become a nun.:down:

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