Low Pay

[Nathan89]

It seems that there is a dangerous cycle occurring in the arena of nursing in Kansas. Over saturation of nursing students and new grads; thus, experienced nurses are let go so that they can be replaced with new nurse grads making less than 20/hr, yet charged with the responsibility to keep a hefty patient load alive. I don't work in Kansas anymore, but I've heard some new nurses were being expected to take 8-10 patients on med/surge, yet they lack the experience to know any better! I feel for the residents in the community too because little do they know what conditions they are exposed to when they get sick and need to go to the hospital. There is a need for better regulation of nursing conditions in this area.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Not just Kansas! Oversaturation of newer nurses is a trend in many (most) areas. The glut of nurses was deliberatly created in part for the exact reason of what you see happening in Kansas. The tool used was the false "nursing shortage" propaganda.

[Nathan89]

Nurses really need to support union formation as greedy corporations are acting quick to take advantage of this situation. End result when large corporations take over? Nurses are held to the highest standards of customer service (by the employer), the highest standards of practice (by the board of nursing), and expected to take unsafe ratios - and have limited support to refuse. After all, one nurse grad is quickly replaced by the next. This thread is titled as "low pay," but nurse abuse and quality of care issues are certainly major factors too.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

I agree about the low pay. I am one of those Kansas City new grad nurses. I work at a hospital for less than $23 an hour. The good news is that I only ever have 4-5 patients. No one will ever get more than 5, and we usually only have 4. My charge nurse is also available for help at any time during my shift. I love my hospital and my unit. But, I have friends that have ungodly patient loads, and they have to just suck it up or they know they will be replaced. Very sad.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

When I left Kansas I took a massive pay raise. It was unbelievable the low wages they were willing to scam people with. I got my year of experience and I ran away. 8 pts a night, no CNA, terrible managers, no thank you.