If Nurses were paid $8.50 per hr, would you or would you not

Nurses General Nursing

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I have seen a couple of posts about the motives of students/career changers/people going into nursing . I thought of the question and I want to know.

If RN pay became regulated and new grads had to start at $8.50 and the cap was $17...

1. would you still go into nursing ?

2. would you quit nursing?

why and why not.

Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

I could not provide for my family on that so I would have no choice but to pursue other work.

There are plenty of things that I would love to do, but are not practical because of the pay rates.

(the pay rate when I started as $12.50 an hour)

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

No, I wouldn't stay in nursing. I would go back to my old career (where I was making significantly more than I do now anyway) and volunteer my time and nursing skills by volunteering for medical missions a couple of times a year to get my "nursing fix". I went into nursing because I was frustrated with the corporate rat-race and wanted to do something more valuable and significant with my life. But that still doesn't mean I would do it for next to nothing so that somebody further up the food chain could make a lot of money off my back. Not a chance!

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The salary was one of many reasons why I went into nursing. I love my career, but I would not do it for minimum wage.

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Specializes in ER.

I would stay, and I would expect more nurses to help me and better conditions/equipment. And since I'd be the only one left with any experience, I'd expect a raise.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Nope.

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Specializes in LDRP.

NO. no way.

I love being a nurse, i love the variety of fields i have had the opportunity to do. I am committed to helping my families in teh best way i can.

but, whats the saying, you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone else? working a job making only 8.50 an hour is not taking care of myself. i couldn't afford my house/car/kids for that amount of money.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
i have seen a couple of posts about the motives of students/career changers/people going into nursing . i thought of the question and i want to know.

if rn pay became regulated and new grads had to start at $8.50 and the cap was $17...

1. would you still go into nursing ?

2. would you quit nursing?

why and why not.

1. absolutely yes, if we are in the 1920's

2. see above

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Specializes in Med-Tele, Internal Med PCU.

I'm onboard with most of you, specifically take2asprin. I certainly didn't enter this profession to get rich, being seasoned by the Navy and frustrated in my transition into "(not so) civil service" I chose to go in another direction fully realizing I was taking a considerable paycut. My reasons were, and still are, mostly altruistic, but my mortage holder probably wouldn't care too much after 3 months of partial payments.

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I love my job, but no way would I keep doing it for 8.50 an hour. I would keep my licence renewed so I could volunteer and help in times of need but strugling through nursing school is not worth $8.50 an hour.

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Have to go with the majority. All that college, all the resposibility, all the student loans, with a family to support.... nope, no way.

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If money were an issue, I could have spend the energy, student loans and time getting a degree with less responsiblity and less stress. Of course I have to make enough to live on and take care of my family. I have many passions and many of them don't pay anything. At least nursing is one passion that I can at least have a halfway decent life with.

Honestly I think this question is just a dig to prove that those that actually have passion, don't really have enough passion. Because if you really loved it..you would just work for free - wouldn't you. Well, you know, most people actually have bills and a family to support. Of course maybe you are curious, so I apologize ahead of time if that is the case.

I have the passion for nursing, some people don't. I really don't care as long as you do a good job and care about your patients.

But let me play along. No, I could not financially survive on 8.50/hr so I would have to find another job.

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To the OP, how did you come up with $8.50/hr? Why not $0.85/hr?? That's what I started out earning at my very first job (not nursing). And, the answer . . . if homes cost $12,000, cars cost $850 and a gallon of gas cost $0.19 (anyone else remember those days??) . . . sure, I'd work for $8.50!!

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