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.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
CPAs aren't expected to care about people- just the numbers
In oncology, don't you think that caring about what you do is critical to being able to keep doing it? The 6 weeks I spent as an inpatient on neutropenic precautions, and 10 weeks of M-F 4-hour tele monitoring for orificenic (AML- subtype 3) were much more "pleasant" because the nurses had the capacity to convey compassion....They made a really difficult and uncertain time as decent as they possibly could. I never felt like a trivial sideline to getting paid. :)
On the other hand, in an ED at a different hospital, the nurses were despicable. Their disdain and sometimes cruelty were unbelievable. And it wasn't just a few. Because of my insurance at the time, and having EMS called by my employer or someone else, I didn't have a say about going there- but if anybody asks, I'm glad to give them example after example of their total disinterest in patients (and I never asked for anything!! ) . They made assumptions and judgements with NO attempts to get the whole story. It was painfully (sometimes literally, physically) obvious that they could care less about the human side of nursing. And many of their callous choices were dangerous.
JME. And it's been painful experience.
First of all, I can't hold this in any longer. You aren't the only member here who is dealing with cancer. I have it too and am getting a pretty intense chemo regimen. Getting a cancer dx. completely rocked my world, and not in a good way. I just choose not to play the "cancer card" every time some discussion comes up that becomes controversial. I'll bet there are other nurses here who have cancer or an equally devastating medical dx.
I don't know how you can tell a nurse is in nursing for money or if the nurse is in it because she was "called," or for the love of the patients...whatever. There are good nurses and there are bad nurses. It's not up to me to judge who is "worthy" of being a nurse or not. Like I said, I just care that my co-workers do their job and will have my back when I need them.
This whole mentality of being grateful for the crumbs your employer throws you baffles me. You can certainly love taking care of your patients, but that won't pay your bills. I think part of the reason nurses get burned out is because they're expected to be so altruistic ("Martyr Mary").
If the nurse giving me my chemo is competent and does her job, I'm happy. I don't need someone to sit and hold my hand and moon over me.
First of all, I can't hold this in any longer. You aren't the only member here who is dealing with cancer. I have it too and am getting a pretty intense chemo regimen. Getting a cancer dx. completely rocked my world, and not in a good way. I just choose not to play the "cancer card" every time some discussion comes up that becomes controversial. I'll bet there are other nurses here who have cancer or an equally devastating medical dx.
I don't know how you can tell a nurse is in nursing for money or if the nurse is in it because she was "called," or for the love of the patients...whatever. There are good nurses and there are bad nurses. It's not up to me to judge who is "worthy" of being a nurse or not. Like I said, I just care that my co-workers do their job and will have my back when I need them.
This whole mentality of being grateful for the crumbs your employer throws you baffles me. You can certainly love taking care of your patients, but that won't pay your bills. I think part of the reason nurses get burned out is because they're expected to be so altruistic ("Martyr Mary").
If the nurse giving me my chemo is competent and does her job, I'm happy. I don't need someone to sit and hold my hand and moon over me.
You are over-personlizing this issue.
I am not playing the 'cancer card'....LIKE YOU- I"m going through chemo- and these are just my experiences with nurses I've had.
Some of it was on an oncology floor- others had nothing to do with cancer. Saying I have cancer isn't some "card"- it's a frame of reference re: nursing and healthcare in general.
I'm sorry about your diagnosis- and having to go through intense chemo- I hope you have more tolerable days than not. :heartbeat
Wow... who said anything about doing it for altruistic purposes... my intent in the post you blasted was a compliment to you , and other oncology nurses. If that is offensive to you, then lady- that is definitely your problem.
If there are OTHER people out there who I've offended w/any reference to my personal experience, I'm very sorry- I never intended it to be taken that way... I view my situation as simply seeing things from both nurse and patient angles... nothing more.
If others care to blast me, could you have the decency to PM me? Thank you.
Regarding the phyisical aspect of nursing. it is very hard work but if anything my health has gone downhill since I started. I have less time to work out and the rotating shifts and sleep schedules has taken its effect on my health and looks in less than one year.
here is my input on nursing and money. I do it for the money. That's it. now i feel stuck cause I don't know what else to do that would pay as much.the glory night club days/nights are gone for me and will probably be gone forever as mid twenties is on the older end......... I don't want to go back to school etc. i don't LOVE or really like nursing. I get through a shift from hell by thinking of the moeny and the nice things it can buy me. that is my motivation. I like doing a good job so I am very nice and professional to all patients. Just because i esp care about getting a pay check doesn't mean I come in huffing and puffing when i assess pts. I have NO IDEA what motivates my co-workers and don't care as long as they are competent.
I cant speak for RNs working in other specialties, but as home health nurse I can tell you this, I work hard for that money and some more!!! And I'm not even speaking of really good money but that 40,0000. On most day I came home 8-9 pm and I still got paperwork to finish at home.I lost couple good pounds, I barely take lunches.
I am drawn to nursing because I can measure my success by something other than just money. Sure, you can work at any number of jobs and get paid much more money, but in my experience, that's not been enough to drive ME to excel. I worked as an IT professional for most of my career and made good money doing it, but the profit driven nonsense drives me crazy. When profit is first, everything else is second... including the welfare of "the customer." In nursing, your patient is supposed to be first. I like the idea of not having to worry about profit and marketing and all of that other stuff that is designed to separate people from their money to buy some sort of thingy that they probably don't need.
There are many who have given up better paying jobs to do something that moves them. If you're young, you may find yourself eventually thinking the same way. I used to think like you, but ended up unfulfilled and unhappy.
Patient first? Ouch you are in for a rude awakening. At the end of the day the administrators, DONs whoever all they care is about those $$$$$ Please dont be naive.
Patient first? Ouch you are in for a rude awakening. At the end of the day the administrators, DONs whoever all they care is about those $$$$$ Please dont be naive.
Yeah, I read this also, and hope that nursing doesn't turn out to be totally horrible for KeepClimbing....it's all about money and bottom line...and that gets drilled into staffs' heads at every possible opportunity. They do it in a way (at least where I've worked) that implies a total lack of understanding by staff that budgets have to be met. It can get very snarky.
It wasn't my intent to be condescending at all.. I apologize for that. :) And OK - if it sounded judgmental, fine- it's just very obvious when dealing with nurses who don't care about patients- they come across as cold and cruel... THAT does stir me up. I've met MANY. And thank God (no pun intended) that nursing isn't only for "saints"... we'd have none
But you don't know that this OP would be uncaring!?!? They're being honest and I'd be the first to say I love what I do but it doesn't define me.
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.
I am a little confused about this post. Anktshah are you a nurse or in the healthcare field? Nursing is challenging, provides many opportunities, and the pay is decent. You don't think that there is an EASIER way to make money than going into healthcare? I often work twelve hour shifts with no lunch and a 15 minute break (if I am lucky), while holding other peoples' lives in my hands. And... from talking to other nurses and reading, this trend is not unique to nursing in the US and other countries. What is so easy about that? As far as job security, it depends on where you live and practice. Of course, in that case, their are other opportunities such as travel nursing. I won't lie and say I don't care about my salary, sometimes I get so frustrated with the state of healthcare that I have to remember the paycheck so that I don't leave the profession. On the flip side, there are times when I have to think about the ultimate reason that I got into nursing---the desire to help others---to keep me going. I recently had a conversation with a doc about this. He felt that "most of us get into the healthcare profession out of some form of altruism." I agree. For those nurses, docs, and other in healthcare who are in it just for the money (and we all know them), I don't see how they can provide true quality care to their patients. Sure that I will get blasted for this but it is just my personal opinion. And yes, furthering your education does increase your pay and make you more marketable. That is why I am finishing my BSN and then pursuing a Masters. I have seen that this may be the only way to advance in my career. I have witnessed some nurses getting desired positions on my unit r/t a unique phenomenon called the "brown nose," despite their qualifications or apptitude, while my nose remains the same color.
But you don't know that this OP would be uncaring!?!? They're being honest and I'd be the first to say I love what I do but it doesn't define me.
OK... fine
I didn't say anything personal about the OP... it was a general comment based on my opinion. :) That's all. It wasn't intended to be nasty...I feel strongly, but I'm not angry, intending to talk down, or anything else that has been made extremely clear that I supposedly mean for sure, even though nobody knows the tone of voice or intent that I had with my comments ... lots of mind reading going on
The OP and I seemed to come to an understanding as to what the other meant- :)
Not sure what the bold define is about- but it doesn't define me either- I loved working as a nurse. It was important to me. But I do have other things to keep busy with :)
Got knocked for using IMHO, too- I state that it's an opinion, and I'm told it's not what I mean.... alrighty then :)
I didn't say anything personal about the OP... it was a general comment based on my opinion. :) That's all. It wasn't intended to be nasty...I feel strongly, but I'm not angry, intending to talk down, or anything else that has been made extremely clear that I supposedly mean for sure, even though nobody knows the tone of voice or intent that I had with my comments ... lots of mind reading going on
The OP and I seemed to come to an understanding as to what the other meant- :)
Not sure what the bold define is about- but it doesn't define me either- I loved working as a nurse. It was important to me. But I do have other things to keep busy with :)
Got knocked for using IMHO, too- I state that it's an opinion, and I'm told it's not what I mean.... alrighty then :)
Whatever. Have a good night :)
Not sure what all the 'Smiley faces' are all about. Have a great night!
OCNRN63, RN
5,979 Posts
First of all, I can't hold this in any longer. You aren't the only member here who is dealing with cancer. I have it too and am getting a pretty intense chemo regimen. Getting a cancer dx. completely rocked my world, and not in a good way. I just choose not to play the "cancer card" every time some discussion comes up that becomes controversial. I'll bet there are other nurses here who have cancer or an equally devastating medical dx.
I don't know how you can tell a nurse is in nursing for money or if the nurse is in it because she was "called," or for the love of the patients...whatever. There are good nurses and there are bad nurses. It's not up to me to judge who is "worthy" of being a nurse or not. Like I said, I just care that my co-workers do their job and will have my back when I need them.
This whole mentality of being grateful for the crumbs your employer throws you baffles me. You can certainly love taking care of your patients, but that won't pay your bills. I think part of the reason nurses get burned out is because they're expected to be so altruistic ("Martyr Mary").
If the nurse giving me my chemo is competent and does her job, I'm happy. I don't need someone to sit and hold my hand and moon over me.
You are over-personlizing this issue.