Ok, try not to get too angry. I've been on this looking at posts on this site for a couple of months now and I hear "there are easier ways to make money than nursing/NP/CRNA." My question is: are there really?
Nurses start off at a higher salary than most other professions. Sure, that salary doesn't increase much unless you take on specialties, get certifications, go on and get an MSN, etc., but it's still good money. When I think of people that make a lot of money, I think of lawyers, doctors, and business executives. Lawyers go through an EXTREMELY competitive law school, then, if they're good enough, get scooped up by a big firm and may one day make partner and start making insane money...or they stay stuck in their same position for the rest of their career.Doctors don't really start making money until their mid-30s (assuming good money management/debt repayment). Business executives also need to be working a LOT. For example, the higher-ups in accounting firms need to be working most of the time; it's not uncommon for them to work 16 hour days.
Some of you might think that owning a business would bring in good money, and it would, if you're willing to put in A LOT of work. With your own business, you have to be "on-call" every hour of every day. Also, most small businesses fail, and if you're lucky to not fail, then you'll eventually have a Wal-Mart or McDonalds undercut you in price until you're forced out of business (which is ruthless, but great strategy).
Now, with nursing, you have good job security and relatively good money. Yes, lots of nurses are underpaid, but pretty much everyone who has a job feels the same way. Becoming an advanced practice nurse only highers your income and marketability. Sure, it's challenging becoming one, but the pros outweigh the cons here.
My point: I don't think there are really any EASIER ways to make money than going into healthcare; making money is difficult and time-consuming no matter how you want to go about it. Like the saying goes, if it were easy, everyone would do it.
This is just a weird thread- LOL....:) Comparing nursing/healthcare to anything else is apples to oranges, grapes, kumquats, or kiwi...
That's not the comparison I'm making. I'm saying that there just aren't easy ways to make money. Nursing is hard, as is being a lawyer. If you want to make twice the money you're making now, be prepared to do something four times as hard, stressful, and demanding...no matter what the profession.
Ok, try not to get too angry. I've been on this looking at posts on this site for a couple of months now and I hear "there are easier ways to make money than nursing/NP/CRNA." My question is: are there really? Anyone agree?
I agree. The problem is, it's just getting ridiculously harder and harder to get in to nursing programs now (I don't know why), since nursing jobs aren't falling from the sky! A potential nursing student works and invests his/her time on doing pre-requires and compete just to get in to the program. Then, while in it, there's still a bunch of hurdles to get through. This is true 'til today. The added concerns are (happening more now): will there be ANY jobs at all after student graduates. On top of this, the nursing school might close down, cut more, or both --> which affect graduation rates of student/s. So, many more people will probably end up sitting on the sidelines for now. For how long? No one knows. Working on pre-reqs and nursing school is a lot of $$ that most people today, just can't afford to invest on (anymore). A degree that's just getting to be MORE and more saturated.
Getting trained for 'real jobs,' like mechanic, plumbing, etc. seem to get more action nowadays. I don't know, I'm confused myself. I thought I knew what I wanted, but the more facts as I see/hear/read about is just discouraging. It's just sad on what nursing has become. Less and less 'new blood' are getting in. The ones that have been in it too long, are more resistant (I can't say I blame them though).
Bringing home a (preferably big) check is important to me, and should be important to everyone. How much money you make defines your quality of life. Maybe money doesn't buy happiness, but I'd rather be rich and miserable than poor and miserable. Sure, you can get by doing something you love and make less money, but don't think that you're happy about it. There's always something that can put you down. Everyone wants the best for their family, but without money, you can't get the best of ANYTHING. Making money doing something you hate, then coming home (to a nice house, because remember, you have a good job) and seeing your family happy should make up for it.
I'm glad you'd rather be rich and miserable :lol2::loll:... you may just get what you settle for!! If you don't define quality by possessions, you never 'settle'...you're always ahead ! You sound very young... (that's not an insult at all- just an observation).
There are more descriptions to financial situation than rich and poor.... it's not all defined in absolutes :)
Do you also think that right out of school you'll get a 9-5 Mon-Fri job? :lol2:
You don't get to decide what "should be" important to ANYONE but yourself. Newsflash Not that powerful !!
Why not be the best you can be at what you do, knowing that every day you work, you make someone else's life a bit easier during a time of hardship? What's wrong with that being a big part of the payoff in nursing? Having a big check "should be important to everyone" is so incredibly shallow, IMO- and offensive. But maybe depth of character is meaningless to you (another reason to avoid working with people). You will be working with people you feel are somehow inferior because they don't make "enough" money in your eyes- and that will effect how you give care. You're not doing anybody any favors by being in healthcare if you can't see past the dollar signs. Unless you want to be a CEO or CFO, where you're paid to be insufferable!!
NO.... being content with what you have defines quality of life (and if you can afford more- that's great- but always aiming for more is a set up for a lot of disappointment and waiting "until" you have something. Being able to enjoy what you have gives a sense of contentment and having quality of life .. not waiting for it. :) Sometimes the 'best' is what you can afford at the time. Being content will never happen if you define it in possessions/money. There is always "more"... it's like trying to be perfect- it isn't attainable. Make a list of things that define success and happiness to you...figure out how long you're going to have to work as a nurse (hours/day, days/week, etc) and see if you'll have time to watch your kids grow up... that doesn't have a price.
I don't have any problem with people making money- but don't go into a profession that requires a degree of compassion and caring... materialistically driven nurses tend to be sorely lacking in empathy and compassion and INSIGHT... and usually suck as co-workers. IME.
You don't get to decide what makes me happy (thank God)
I'm on disability, and while I have much less money than I did when I was working, and struggle at times, I'm not unhappy. I'm alive- and with a lot of medical issues that could have dropped me like a rock many times over (and current leukemia chemo) that is MUCH more important. I'll take alive and doing 'fair' financially to the alternative, any day. It's not always about how much you have- just that you have anything at all, and still living in a decent place because of not living above my means beforehand has been a blessing .... But if you're only in healthcare for the money, that wouldn't make sense to you ....:)
What happens if (God forbid) something would happen to you, and you end up disabled, can't work, and the paycheck dries up- or shrinks a whole lot ? Insure the snot out of yourself... long term disability pays 50-66% of your base salary at the time of becoming disabled - and with %0 economic 'growth', there are no increases each year, no matter how much more expensive things get- and if you can be happy living with what you can afford, that doesn't cause your world to stop spinning on its axis !!! You won't have any way to derive happiness or contentment if you aren't "rich". That would be pathetically sad. Nobody thinks anything will happen to them. But you never know- and there generally isn't much warning. Planning for the unexpected, good educations for your kids... I can see a lot of peace in having that (I don't have kids, so no worries there) ... but you can do that without constant focus on money just for the sake of money.
I wouldn't change my years of working as a nurse for anything (and this is when it paid a LOT less . It can pay well but doesn't always- depends on position and location-- staff nurses start out 'relatively' low- and the yearly increases aren't huge). I got a lot of satisfaction from a good days work- and accepted what I was paid as good enough (and it was fair for the area/years of experience)- I didn't have some 'need' to have a Mercedes when a used (very used ) Toyota got me where I needed to go just fine for 9 years :) (I've had 3 cars in my life- all used- and I'm not all that far from 50 yrs old...not there yet, but I'm within reaching distance I loved taking care of people- that was what drove me- not how big my check was. I made enough to live in decent apartments that provided anything I needed...I didn't want more. What I had was enough.
That eliminates a lot of stress- the ability to be happy where you are...not dependent on something you don't have yet.
If I had had more time with family, and less materialistically valuable stuff as a kid, I would have lived in a tent to get it. I've seen what having a goal of more money at any cost can do. Sure, the house was nice- but I spent a lot of time alone in it d/t parents' work hours- they too wanted to provide well for our family. But a lot of time was lost that can never be replaced. Providing for a family isn't only money. Memories aren't made by reading bank statements :) Good intentions can cause a lot of emptiness.
If material possessions define your happiness, you'll never have enough... that's sad. And pretty much stinks for whoever you take care of- JMHO- but it's my opinion, that is just as valid for me as your "money = happy" is for you. Good luck. I can't see someone who goes into nursing for a 'preferably large' paycheck lasting in nursing for very long. You have to bring more to the table than a single focus on money.
So, you are telling me that you made a minimum of $57,600 a yr bartending. I used your $300.00 dollar a night figure and not your $500.00 a night figure. I live in the capital of night clubs and let me tell you, your estimation does not seem very accurate.
Haha I worked at a very high end place and it was a madhouse every night. I made almost 100k one year. It's definitely possible . So quitting that to transition to nursing was rough financial - wise You can make awesome money in te restaurant business. And yes, the clothes stayed on hahaha!
The only thing I seem to compare nursing to is the military. You don't do it for the money, you do it for your own personal reasons. Nursing is a great field, but you can't just do it for the money, I believe your heart has to be in it in order to be a great nurse. The amount of money you spend to become a nurse is quite a bit so its not like it doesn't cost you anything to do it.
I'm only a nursing student but I have been a military kid my entire life, as well as a proud spouse and my brother is also serving. I can speak to the experiences I have dealt with in the military world, and the military is definitely NOT something you can just do for a paycheck, it isn't a job, its a lifestyle, well at least its that way in the marine corps, especially in these times. JMHO
In some cities working in some clubs or high end restaurants some people can make $300-500 a weekend night. I have seen that. THe thing is i knew my great looks and youth ( semi sarcasm on the looks lol) wouldn't last forever. Those were easier jobs where some people made more than your average rn or lpn but not everyone has the certain personality or look to work in a flashy night club as a bartender. and those were for weekends not weekdays.
Ditto. I left the business because it wasnt a career. I can't do this when I'm 30+, it's a very physically demanding job! But the OP has the right idea. You can't solve everything with money, but without money you just get a whole new slew of issues.
OY... so interest in people and/or medicine, getting satisfaction from being of use to someone else, interest in science and health- that was less important than get out of school and bring home a check???
Sad....very sad
I like all of that stuff too. Medicine, the human body and disease process are all very interesting to me. The fact that it will allow me to live a lifestyle I want just gives me a bigger incentive to do it.
I like nursing or I wouldn't be doing it. But I have to say, that a "love for the profession" or a "love of taking care of patients" doesn't mean much when you have bills to pay. Most of us work because we have to. We have to support ourselves. I do not pretend that I went into this field for the pure pleasure of it; I did it because of the decent pay and job stability. I know that it makes you feel good to say you should only go into this profession because you have this overwhelming love of it, but the truth is, none of us would do it free.
I like nursing or I wouldn't be doing it. But I have to say, that a "love for the profession" or a "love of taking care of patients" doesn't mean much when you have bills to pay. Most of us work because we have to. We have to support ourselves. I do not pretend that I went into this field for the pure pleasure of it; I did it because of the decent pay and job stability. I know that it makes you feel good to say you should only go into this profession because you have this overwhelming love of it, but the truth is, none of us would do it free.
Agree- LOL- free is pushing it :) But to do it only for money, with no concern for why nurses even exist- only looking at money, and focusing on that alone is a recipe for hating the job. Who knows- maybe being miserable is the goal- LOL
Ditto. I left the business because it wasnt a career. I can't do this when I'm 30+, it's a veryphysically demanding job! But the OP has the right idea. You can't solve everything with money, but without money you just get a whole new slew of issues.
Wait until you're moving 300 lb patients around....those bottles might start to look pretty good again :) LOL Nursing is an extremely physical job!! And there is life after 30.....for most of us who are older, it doesn't really start until 40- but it's hard to explain....just know that you'll run your butt off as a nurse for a lot longer than age 30
:lol2::loll:... you may just get what you settle for!! If you don't define quality by possessions, you never 'settle'...you're always ahead ! You sound very young... (that's not an insult at all- just an observation).
Not that powerful !!
You can make awesome money in te restaurant business. And yes, the clothes stayed on hahaha!
Anktshah
11 Posts
That's not the comparison I'm making. I'm saying that there just aren't easy ways to make money. Nursing is hard, as is being a lawyer. If you want to make twice the money you're making now, be prepared to do something four times as hard, stressful, and demanding...no matter what the profession.