Is the pay really that bad??

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I've read a couple of people on this site saying stuff like "Don't go into nursing for the money" and "Don't expect to get rich with nursing", etc. I'm curious as to why some are saying this. I've been working in the banking field for about 6 years or so and I'm still only making about $25k a year and there's not much better in sight for the future for me. Nursing would have me starting out making at least in the low $40's in my area. There is really not much else in my area where I could make this amount of money unless I get into sales, which I am no good at and it's not stable. I know $40k a year isn't making it rich, but it is making it comfortable and I would be able to take care of my family without struggeling so much. Is there a reason that there is such an attitude about the money? Is it worth it? 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. But I'm just curious as to why some seem so down on it.

One has to ask why you accept and continue to hold a position that only pays $25/hour if you have 35 years of experience.

I essentially start at $25.00 hourly upon graduation, and I seriously doubt the cost of living in my neck of the woods is much higher (suburban Houston is one of the cheapest places to live in the U.S.).

With 35 years of experience, you'd likely be maxed out on the pay scale at $38-45/hourly here.

Location, Location, Location.

If you start out at $25.00 an hour at my facility, in Alabama, then you would be overpaid by about $6.00 an hour. I bet my hat, you work hard enough to earn every penny of the $25.00 per hour as a new graduate.... I bring years and years of experience to the table and make the same amount as you, and I am at the top of my pay scale. Once you reach the top, there is no where else to go, you just hang on to that salary for year after year. So my answer remains the same. No nurses do not make enough money, never have and never will...

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I agree with others, it's a nice middle class income. When it's combined with a spouse or partner with another middle income, it could be quite comfortable.

I have a modest home, a modest car, take vacations every year and save about 15% of my income for retirement. But I won't be rich, and am going to have to work until my mid to late 60s.

Prior to becoming a nurse I worked in restaurants or as a clerical worker and the nurses salary looked pretty good to me, especially considering it required an associates degree. It looks good to many other people too.

But as the years go on, the old body gets tired, and the blood pressure rises from the stress, I realize some days how hard I work for the money. LOL

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Specializes in ER/OR.

Yes, nursing pays good. Especially for the fact that entry level requires an associates degree. Wanna talk about being screwed? Look at education -- even into higher education. Those people get paid miserably. Many nurses get paid nearly the amount of a teaching Ph.D. It's sad. I also think thats why graduate education is so important. As you age, the bedside does indeed get wearing. If you have invested into at least a MSN, you can do administration, teach, NP...things that are easier on the body and have a slower pace. Education is the key -- the best investment you'll make on your mind AND body. I know its not a possibility for all, but with financial aid and part time/online venues blah blah blah...its always possible if you want it. :twocents:

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honestly we shall not complain about any job that we have. We are blessed to have the freedom that we have. Look at the 3rd world contries, africa! oh my god nurses work there ass off and make probably close to nothing. Be greatfull for what you earn, people you meet. Be greatfull your not living on the streets because of a tainted government. Thats how i see it, in some instances we have it easy in a way

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

Raison, you had me up until the "tainted government" part, boy do we have a tainted government.

Anyhow, otherwise, Raison is correct. We should be happy we have jobs even though most of us have to pinch pennies right now. To be honest, this is precisely the reason I went into nursing in the first place: I knew I would always have a job no matter what the economy! I learned to like what I do, as I got into it - but that wasn't the reason I chose this profession.

Lets all give thanks, it can always be worse.

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honestly we shall not complain about any job that we have. We are blessed to have the freedom that we have. Look at the 3rd world contries, africa! oh my god nurses work there ass off and make probably close to nothing. Be greatfull for what you earn, people you meet. Be greatfull your not living on the streets because of a tainted government. Thats how i see it, in some instances we have it easy in a way

Yes, be happy you have a good job, have job security, saftey (for the most part), get paid a good wage, and so many other good factors for being a nurse.

I've seen people that I know that complain about how much they make no matter what the income level is. My brother makes $75,000 a year and complains left and right about having to work weekend nights (3rd shift), and work 6 10 hour shifts a week. I no longer listen to him when he complains about his job.

I'm not a nurse, as noted in my post above, but I still live like a college student even though I could own a house. Every dollar made after your basic needs are meet becomes less of a value to a person. If you have 150 dollars extra to spend at the end of the month as a college student, you tend to spend it. You then get older and accumulate more bills. A person then starts to complain about how they don't make enough to get by with the new bills. Two years later the same person has 300 dollars extra each month to spend on whatever they please. They then add more bills. They then complain about how they can't afford to pay their bills. Its a cycle of repeat and rinse.

Everyone tends to compare themself to others. It is natural to do so.

I don't get where people say $20-$27 an hour starting is not good pay. Please. That is very good pay. Why do people even care to be rich? If you become rich, just about every single person accumulates more expenses and drains the extra income anyways. My yearly expenses is expected to be $16,312 my first 12 months out of college. With the salary that I have that I listed in another post above, I could go and purchase a brand new car, get a house, and a lot of other stuff, but now way am I going to do so. Most people I graduated with that I was friends with got new cars. I still drive the same used 2001 Ford Focus that I was driving before college. I hope to drive this car for another good decade. A good nursing friend that I went to college with got a starting salary of $27.50 per hour. This person went out and bought a whole new wardrobe, brand new car (value of $35,000+), goes out every weekend, and travels all of the time when she can. What was wrong with the clothes and car she had before?

I haven't bought a new pair of shoes, pants, shirt, or sweater for years.

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Genetics,

I agree with you that people tend to make more money then add more bills to make up for it. That's exactly what I have done. Everytime I started making a little bit more money, I would add some new bill to make up for it. I've totally learned my lesson as now I'm truly struggling because I lost my job that paid a *little* more and am making less now. My husband and I got caught up in gathering things and not being responsible with money, not saving, living outside of our means, etc. I used to say things like, when I start making more money I want to buy that house (something way too expensive). But now I realize that even if I make more money, I want to stay in the house I'm in because I'd rather have more money to spend on living life not paying bills. Plus I know now that nothing is a sure thing, anything can happen, and I don't want to be put back in a situation that I'm in now, ever! Granted I am still able to pay all of my bills and have food on the table (God Bless) that's about all I can do.

To respond to some of the others about this generation wanting everything new NOW, it seems that this is the disease of the American society right now. Everyone swimming in debt because of our dire need for instant gratification and materialistic-ness (don't know if that's actually a word, but you get what I mean!) I got caught up in it, but I know better now. I think it can be seen by the way the economy is right now what the effects of living outside of our means are. Everybody is going into forclosure.

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it is a scary fact indeed. I guess nowadays just ponder about what is truly needed, love what you got. Damn i still got one year till highschool i havnt learned anything quite yet

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As many other posters have pointed out, the stress is hard because a person's life depends on every action you take. There is alot of face-to-face interaction, and patients and their families are frequently going through the roughest time in their life.

If someone is hospitalized, they are not making an income to support their family, may be risking their job, then there's that pesky little thing about possibly facing death. It may seem harsh, but it doesn't take compassion, empathy or knowledge to simply "follow doctor's orders". Being a nurse encompasses feeling pain and loss, and sometimes even crying with patient's families. Genuinely caring affects good nurses and frequently burns them out.

In short, I believe that nurses, firefighters, and EMT's deal professionally with people when they are at their worst. No amount of money can give me back my sleepless nights when I question my every action and decision. Fortunately, after 18 years as a nurse, I have less of these nights through continuing to learn and having the experience and knowledge to know that I indeed did my best.

As an aside, I work full time Monday-Friday, teach at a College most Saturdays and work in an ER on Sundays. I don't do the weekend jobs not because I need the money, I do them because I feel that I am giving back to my community.

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meat and potatoes: the more you make the more you spend.

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Myty23, you got it right! I used to be the same way, always wanting more and trying to keep up with the 'Jones's'. I'm still a student who is now filing for bankruptcy. It took me way too long to learn that what my family has is enough. I now prioritize my spending and watch every penny. I get only what we need and treat the babes a couple of times a month. Fast food every week has thankfully gone to the wayside.

I can't wait to get a decent job and actually save a bit for retirement and the kids college. If I make $16 an hr starting, I'll be happy. Its much better than the goose-eggs I make now (ha ha). Seriously, I'm much more concerned with health insurance coverage than pay. Can you tell I'm getting a little older? I'll check back in a few years and maybe my view will be changed.

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

Genetics56: "I don't get where people say $20-$27 an hour starting is not good pay. Please. That is very good pay."

First, I believe for what we nurses have to do on a daily basis, or most of us anyway, we should be getting about $50.00/hr minimum - with experience. It is our responsibility to monitor the patients, recognize when a patient is decompensating and take appropriate measures to intervene. Where is the doctor in all this, usually at the office or at home.

We have to help patients while they vomit, defecate, and urinate. We bathe them, change dressings in wounds so deep, are arm can fit it them up the the elbow (not an exaggeration).

We must deal with patients in emotional and physical pain. Keep on top of it and monitor them appropriately. If we suspect abuse in any patient, but especially the very young or old, we must intervene to find a safe place for our patient to be discharged to. We must hold our patients hand in prayer, or when they are dying, we must and do, hold them in are hearts when the work day is through.

We must and do, save lives daily. I know I do. The average person cannot do what we do. The lawyer, engineer, chemist, or PHD in psychology - cannot do what we do. Their jobs do not entail saving lives, being their loved ones voice when they cannot speak. Hold their loved ones when they take their last breaths.

Please real the article entitled "Nancy and Babs" in our article forum, this is what nurses do. How do you put a price on that?

It doesn't matter how much education we have, without us, the entire healthcare system in this country would shut down within 12 hours. CAn't say that about attorneys or Phd's in psychology.

I know how to bring your dead child back from the dead, providing he hasn't been down too long - WITHOUT THE DOCTOR EVEN IN THE ROOM- can you do that? Can your attorney do that? Can your college prof do that?

We work many shifts without benefit of lunch breaks, or any breaks at all. We have chronic problems with our backs/necks from years of lifting patients.

Trust me, nurses are not paid what they are worth, not even close. We do it because someone has to - because saving even one person, makes our week. Because, taking care of a maggot filled wound - needs to get done, clearly, the family won't do it, so it falls to us. The young mother who rushed into our ER stating "Something is wrong with my baby" and thrusting the baby in my arms. I took one look at the 27 days old and I knew what to do - doesn't always save them, but this time it did. I had this baby on oxygen, and iv started, bloods drawn and labs sent out, respirator therapy there and a chest x-ray ordered - all before the doctor even saw the patient.

Are you getting the picture?

Read that article. Then tell me our wages are comparable to the jobs we do.

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