Is the pay really that bad??

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2008

The money is definitely decent for the work. If I work nights after graduation, that's roughly $30 an hour after differential. That's $62,400 going by 40 hours a week, or $65520 going by 84 hours a pay period (7 shifts) not including overtime, evening differentials, patient satisfaction bonuses, coming in for education/training days, etc.

Definitely not what I'd call bad for an associate's degree. Heck, I make half that with my current BS in biology.

If I pick up a day or two per month at a PRN rate at one of the other local hospitals I could probably clear $80K within one year of graduation, if I so choose.

Edit: Whether or not I so choose has more to do with what my wife decides to do. She's considering working half-time or less (she's a teacher), and that will be a substantial loss of income...

TLCinCICU · Jul 31, 2008

I really feel that I have a calling to be a nurse (as cheesy as that sounds!), it's all I think about and I don't know why but I'm so drawn to it and the pay makes it even that much better for me.

That part alone says you should go for it! I also felt something like a "calling" to make the career change - and I've never looked back. It's been one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life!

I agree in that there's really no other field where you can work less than the standard 40 hours a week and pull the yearly income that even an 2 year RN makes.

dreamingofbeing · Jul 31, 2008

I guess I am at the low end of the nursing pay scale, I bring in about $32,000 a year. I will never be rich but my family doesn't go hungry, we have a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. Next week is my last week on the night shift so my paycheck is going to take a hit losing the differential I am used to.

Nacki, MSN, NP · Jul 31, 2008

I think the people saying "Don't go into nursing for the money" are saying that, yes you can make a lot of money in this profession (I make a base of about $72,000), but it is HARD work. I work hard dealing with family members, demanding doctors, the nurse managers and quality control team, the constant phone calls...being stretched beyond normal. And then on top of this I have to take care of pts., cleaning up after them, answering call lights (multiple times!), making sure my pts got their meal tray, titrating drips, monitoring vitals, calling the doc, neuro checks... all of this and more is the ICU where you only have 2 pts. The list goes on and on and on....I am a caring person too and thought this was the way to go. The money is good, but it is tough work. Just remember that.

bosnanurse · Jul 31, 2008

As all other said- pay is not bad. Hmm, now I saw one ad for computer specialst with 2 years degree and little bit expirience.they can start with 45K.SO we can make it. Problem is this: In our job we are resposible for almost everything . What ever needs to be assessed or evaluated "CALL A NURSE!". I do not mind going and looking into the toilet that runs water as it is brocken but I REALLY do not have a clue how it works. Or a few days ago with all madness that was going on on the floor, a cleaning person calls me in the room to empty urinal after a patient left home. I asked why she can not do it and she answered that they can not "touch" it per policy. For nurses I do not think that there is any policy except the one we make when we yell" NOW I AM IN THE BATHROOM!! DO NOT DARE TO LOOK AFTER ME!@!!" So, to say, we are paid but boy if I do not like that madness I would go mad in one shift with or without money! :twocents:

And, yes I do like money and there is nothing wrong with that prospective. I pay my dues for it.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2008

It's enough to live by...and if you don't define sucess solely from the amount of money....the care you give is MORE than enough to make you feel ok....

ASSEDO · Aug 1, 2008

Yes the pay really is that bad. After working 35 years in nursing, I make $25.00 per hour.

Why should nurses settle for less. We all want a confortable place to live and a reasonable car to drive. We should be paid for our education and experience just like any other profession. The only raise in pay we get is a "cost of living" or "across the board" raise. Nothing else. I have never had a $$ raise just because I was a good employee.

I have two children that never went to college and make more money than I do with a BS. They have wonderful jobs, get bonus pay and never work weekends. I want to do more than "just get by", I want to live a confortable life, and get a retirement income. However, in my profession, its not going to happen.

ann945n, RN · Aug 1, 2008

I am very pleased with my take home pay. I live in a very pricey area but still make enough to get a home and save for my future. So in that sense I feel rich. Can I buy luxury cars and fancy trips? No, but my life is very comfortable.

myty23 · Aug 1, 2008

Yes the pay really is that bad. After working 35 years in nursing, I make $25.00 per hour.
Why should nurses settle for less. We all want a confortable place to live and a reasonable car to drive. We should be paid for our education and experience just like any other profession. The only raise in pay we get is a "cost of living" or "across the board" raise. Nothing else. I have never had a $$ raise just because I was a good employee.
I have two children that never went to college and make more money than I do with a BS. They have wonderful jobs, get bonus pay and never work weekends. I want to do more than "just get by", I want to live a confortable life, and get a retirement income. However, in my profession, its not going to happen.

I understand what you are saying, but I have to ask why you've stayed in the profession for 35 years if it's so bad? In all of the jobs I've had in the past 7 years they all pretty much have only given me cost of living increase etc. along with an increase in the insurance premiums it always evened out every year. I worked for 2 different mortgage companies last year and was laid off from both of them when they all started crashing and now I'm back in banking making less than what I made 5 years ago and paying more out for insurance and doing a job that is not fullfilling at all and I can pretty much count on more of the same if I stayed in this field for the next 20-30 years. $25 an hour to me is more than doubling my current income, plus the job is secure being that there will always be one available no matter how bad the economy gets. I guess I have a different perspective being that I'm barely getting by on the crappy wages that I'm currently getting. I understand however that your job is really tough and you've probably been through and seen it all, which I haven't. Seems like the people on this board either really love their jobs or are really burnt out.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Aug 1, 2008

I think it's all a matter of perspective.

For me, making almost $60K a year is HUGE. Considering the fact that the average hourly wage in my part of the country is somewhere in the neighborhood of $12 an hour, I feel like my family and I are pretty well off. Also, considering where we were a mere dozen years ago---when $13,000 a year was a good year---we're on top of the world! Back then, we couldn't afford to live in a nice house, pay our bills, drive a reasonably later-model car, or treat ourselves every now and again; now we can.

So if you're asking if the pay is "that bad", I'd have to say '"no way!" But then again, it depends on what you want out of life; if you want Caribbean vacations and the newest and best of everything, nursing is not the way to get it.

Personally, in view of today's economic uncertainty, I'm grateful that I have a skill set that's marketable AND pays enough to enable us to absorb the recent increases in the cost of gas, food, utilities etc. without having to sacrifice too much. But, that's just me.:)

djc1981 · Aug 1, 2008

I think it's all a matter of perspective.
For me, making almost $60K a year is HUGE. Considering the fact that the average hourly wage in my part of the country is somewhere in the neighborhood of $12 an hour, I feel like my family and I are pretty well off. Also, considering where we were a mere dozen years ago---when $13,000 a year was a good year---we're on top of the world! Back then, we couldn't afford to live in a nice house, pay our bills, drive a reasonably later-model car, or treat ourselves every now and again; now we can.
So if you're asking if the pay is "that bad", I'd have to say '"no way!" But then again, it depends on what you want out of life; if you want Caribbean vacations and the newest and best of everything, nursing is not the way to get it.
Personally, in view of today's economic uncertainty, I'm grateful that I have a skill set that's marketable AND pays enough to enable us to absorb the recent increases in the cost of gas, food, utilities etc. without having to sacrifice too much. But, that's just me.:)

In all fairness, my aunt is a RN and takes multiple vacations a year to exotic places! Its more about money management than simply saying RNs can NOT afford these things ever

UofMTiger · Aug 1, 2008

I am going into nursing because their always we be a need for nurses. The money is decent for sure. There is also an opportunity to make more being a FNP or something similar. I know people who are FNPs that make over 100k.