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

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2010

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.

No. I did start out as a nurse with a BSN 18 years ago at $13/hour but that was more than double what I was making as a CNA.

Today if had a BSN and had to start at $8.50. No. I can make that at many fast food restaurants that do not require technical college or university time. That is not much more than the minimum wage.......

I love nursing but I would not have stayed at my CNA wage for the past 18 years........

Otessa, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2010

I would still be a nurse. Education and doing what I love is priceless.

Unfortunately education and love of a profession do not pay the bills-and I'm a debt-free fanatic.

otessa

Mission · Jan 24, 2010

I would still be a nurse. Education and doing what I love is priceless.

Being homeless is also priceless...living on the streets is free, which is where I would be making $8.50/hr.

pedsrnjc · Jan 24, 2010

I'd have to go back to school...but I'd do nursing while in school and it would be my hobby after I became a wall street CEO.

FowLaf24/7 · Jan 24, 2010

This is a silly question...no one would be a nurse for next to nothing unless they belonged to the group called the catholic Sisters. I did not receive a "calling from god" to be a nurse, nor most of the people I have met along the way. I am so glad this is not the reality... :uhoh3:

mustlovepoodles, RN · Jan 24, 2010

I absolutely would not be a nurse at $8.50/hr. Who in their right mind would break their back, stay on their feet 12-14 hours at a whack, skip lunches, work nights, weekends and holidays, AND take the incredible load of responsibility that the job requires for a mere $8.50/hour? I can make that much working the drive-through at McDonalds.Burgers & fries don't care if I can read a doctors handwriting or even if I can resuscitate a 2-lb baby. Long as I have ketchup we're in business.

I went into nursing because it was a career that I knew would support me. In the 1970s there weren't a lot of choices for women. I never thought of it as a calling. More like "what am I willing to put up with to make this money." I happen to love being nurse. But I wouldn't do it for minimum wage pay.

rngolfer53 · Jan 24, 2010

I'd quit in a heartbeat. I might do it PT as a volunteer for needy pts or something, but there's no way I'd work FT for that little bit of $$$. That is below minimum wage in my state!
Unless I was at risk of starving I don't think I'd step foot outside my house for
I think you hit it just right.
Only the desperate would work in a professional position with the responsibility and accountability of a nurse, and get paid teenage wages.
There are very few truly altruistic people in the world--probably

rngolfer53 · Jan 24, 2010

I wouldn't be an ice cream taster for $8.50 an hour, and I love ice cream.

Ok, call me a hoe, but what flavor ice cream do I get to taste?

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jan 24, 2010

Even if I was married to a multi-millionaire and did not have to work and just wanted a job to get out of the house, I would not work for $8.50 as a nurse. Its about respect. I worked hard for my degree and what we do as nurses is way worth more than $8.50 hr. Anyone that would work for that has no respect for themselves or the profession. IMHO.

bossynurse101 · Jan 24, 2010

Hmm . . . . im thinking op just tossed out $8.50 amount to imply as some lowly figure & that some of us are truly in this for the cash. Well I just got home from a typical crappy work day at the SNF trying to figure out what to do with the train wreck admit that our lovely census driven admissions dept demanded to put on our long term hall despite our insistent pleas not to. So I must now have my nurses do q2hr bil AKA stage IV dressing changes on a VRE pt w cont diahrrea, TF's, IV abts, non-verbal, shaking secondary to tourettes, on top of their other 32 pts. Yes, I said 32. Oh, and lets not forget the adorable family member (probably has Morgan & Morgan's number on his speed dial) who was screaming at the techs and their inability to keep this man clean and dry every minute. So . . . right about now I'm thinking an $8.50 hr job sounds just peachy. But not in "nursing". Not anymore. Funny thing is, the best part of the day - was covering that poor soul up with a blanket. Trying to connect some sort of communication, with him and determine how to comfort his pain and fear. Too bad "nursing" just isnt nursing anymore.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2010

Its about respect. I worked hard for my degree and what we do as nurses is way worth more than $8.50 hr. Anyone that would work for that has no respect for themselves or the profession. IMHO.

This! I have cleaned horse stalls for $100 a month (my labor exchanged for a stall for my horse), and this was after my first college degree. I have no problem taking low-paying jobs when the need is there. But nursing requires so much of us, there is no way I would ever perform the functions necessary to be a good nurse for that low a pay. We are highly educated PROFESSIONALS. The minute they stop compensating us like we are, I am OUT!

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2010

I would still be a nurse. Education and doing what I love is priceless.

Hahaha ! Gotcha. Ofcourse I would not work as a nurse for 8.50 ! I was just curious to see how others would respond to one person saying they would do it. I got bored reading these so I decided to post this to see how others would react.