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.
It really depends on what part of the country you live/work in. On my wages we live very comfortable for my family of 3. I'm able to pay a mortgage on a nice home, 2 car payments, all the bills and able to afford *toys* too. With my wage my husband really doesn't need to work and is retiring 15 yrs earlier than planned.
Yes, I know people get by on it. It can be enough. I am sure I could put a roof over our heads and keep my family from starving to death, lol. That wasn't really my point. I merely scratch my head at the notion of nursing wages being "a lot" of money. My idea of "a lot of money" and some others' are clearly very different!
I define "a lot" not so much by a number, b/c the number necessary will vary depending upon family size (we have 7 children) and where one lives (which I will decline to say for obvious reasons).
Simply put I define "a lot" as never having to make payments on anything, and being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, without worrying about what it costs. Nursing wages could never provide that lifestyle; therefore to me, while it may be enough, it does not equal "a lot" of money.
Yes, I know people get by on it. It can be enough. I am sure I could put a roof over our heads and keep my family from starving to death, lol. That wasn't really my point. I merely scratch my head at the notion of nursing wages being "a lot" of money. My idea of "a lot of money" and some others' are clearly very different!
I define "a lot" not so much by a number, b/c the number necessary will vary depending upon family size (we have 7 children) and where one lives (which I will decline to say for obvious reasons).
Simply put I define "a lot" as never having to make payments on anything, and being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, without worrying about what it costs. Nursing wages could never provide that lifestyle; therefore to me, while it may be enough, it does not equal "a lot" of money.
Okay I get what you mean. I call that rock star rich or winning the lottery definitely not from a paying job except maybe if you were a CEO or something of that nature.
I'd call it comfortable, maybe even affluent. To me, rich is something else all together (and I'm not rich, BTW)! If we have a sudden itch to go someplace, we can buy 9 plane tickets (that's two 1st class and the 7 kids in coach, lol) and go wherever in the world we want to go, tomorrow -if there were seats available, but we certainly don't have our own plane. We'd have to do our own packing b/c we don't have a multitude of servants. Dh would have to drive us to the airport b/c we don't have a chauffeur. You get the idea.
I'm not saying that everyone has to agree so please don't assume that from my post. There is a respectful way to disagree and give opinions but what I see here about half of the time is judgemental remarks. Please don't be offended this is just my opinion.
Looking back through old posts and weren't you c/o something along these lines not too long ago :):):):):)
Yes. I was. It was the first day or so of being on the forums. And some kind folks PM'd me and showed me different ways to look at things, so I'm capable of learning that!!! It was done back then (what- did you go look through old posts to find negative things to wave around:cool:. :)
OK= glad to know your opinion....and I agree, there are many respectful ways to disagree...this thread unfortunately, was an example of horrendous misunderstandings and lack of clarification before responding- and yes, I was a part of that. I apologized to the OP. Can it be over? Back to everyone being able to express themselves w/o being perceived as attacking? I'll do my part :)
My daughter with a 2 year degree in accounting made more money than I did last year in her 2nd year on the job.
My son with 4 years experience made almost as much money last year as a warehouse shift supervisor as my husband with a degree in network engineering and 15 years experience.
I took a pay cut when I quit my 30 hour a week bartending job and took my first 40 hour per week nursing job for what (at the time) was considered very good wages.
And nursing has proved to not be recession proof.
There is a lot more to quality of life than money. Money buys things, not quality.
I looked up average salaries of warehouse shift supervisors and network engineers, network engineers made twice as much in some cases. Maybe location is playing a role in pay. Making $50,000 in Manhattan is not the same as making $50,000 in a small town in Indiana.
I looked up average salaries of warehouse shift supervisors and network engineers, network engineers made twice as much in some cases. Maybe location is playing a role in pay. Making $50,000 in Manhattan is not the same as making $50,000 in a small town in Indiana.
Boy, isn't that the truth. When I was in TX, I made less hourly than I did here, but it bought SO much more. And, no state taxes, better rental deals, etc. It's not always a flat amount that matters but the cost of living. I did much better in TX with a good percentage less per hour in wages.
and "he may be spared that"? what does that mean? i may be spared maturing?
i got this right away. irony....and a very effective use of it, imo.
"grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them." ---[color=#0000cc]antoine de saint-exupery
linearthinker, DNP, RN
1,688 Posts
Yes, I know people get by on it. It can be enough. I am sure I could put a roof over our heads and keep my family from starving to death, lol. That wasn't really my point. I merely scratch my head at the notion of nursing wages being "a lot" of money. My idea of "a lot of money" and some others' are clearly very different!
I define "a lot" not so much by a number, b/c the number necessary will vary depending upon family size (we have 7 children) and where one lives (which I will decline to say for obvious reasons).
Simply put I define "a lot" as never having to make payments on anything, and being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, without worrying about what it costs. Nursing wages could never provide that lifestyle; therefore to me, while it may be enough, it does not equal "a lot" of money.