Myth Or Fact?

karenG · Dec 11, 2003

over here there is no difference in the pay scales for nurses- whatever sex! there are differences between NHS pay and private sector pay but thats it! we get paid the same- which is as it should be..........we do the same job!

Karen

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Dec 11, 2003

I don't know... I think the perception is that male nurses move up the ranks faster after graduation (become assistant nurse managers, nurse managers, DON's, CFO's, CNO's, CEO's, etc, etc), and therefore, make better salaries. Anecdotally, SOME of the male nurses I knew were much more aggressive than their female counterparts and actively negotiated their salaries with TPTB. One male nurse I knew was making anywhere from $75 - $100 grand/year because of his superb negotiating skills (besides the fact that he was literally WORKING ALL THE TIME). He was working weekend option at the hospital and being paid approx $38/hr and then the rest of his time went to the highest bidder... particularly those units in the hospital which were offering "incentive pay" (aka $600 for 12-hr shift) .

LeesieBug · Dec 11, 2003

I would say that generally speaking it is a fact, simply because, in the U.S. PERIOD, women still only get 75 cents for every dollar males earn.

Not speaking specifically of nursing.

adrienurse, LPN · Dec 11, 2003

Tweets, I think this has to do with the fact that male nurses are historically more likely to advance in the profession (for any number of reasons), and thus are on the higher end of the pay scale. Some reasons being that they tend to enter the profession later (have previous job experience and degrees) and are more confident than their female counterparts. Again, these are just some reasons.

I think there is some truth in this because the majority of male nurses that I have worked with have been in supervisory positions rather than at the bedside.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2003

Originally posted by adrienurse
.........the majority of male nurses that I have worked with have been in supervisory positions rather than at the bedside.

Here it's the opposite. As a sometimes house supervisor I've made rounds and have seen only two male charge nurses, other than myself, and dozens of female charge nureses. One manager is male and he just resigned, no directors are male. They have however for the first time hired a male VP of nursing.

(I'm more distressed by the fact that only one manager (my manager) is African American. The nurse recruiter is African American, and one relief house supv is African American. But that's another thread. )

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2003

Originally posted by VickyRN
I don't know... I think the perception is that male nurses move up the ranks faster after graduation (become assistant nurse managers, nurse managers, DON's, CFO's, CNO's, CEO's, etc, etc), and therefore, make better salaries. Anecdotally, SOME of the male nurses I knew were much more aggressive than their female counterparts and actively negotiated their salaries with TPTB. One male nurse I knew was making anywhere from $75 - $100 grand/year because of his superb negotiating skills (besides the fact that he was literally WORKING ALL THE TIME). He was working weekend option at the hospital and being paid approx $38/hr and then the rest of his time went to the highest bidder... particularly those units in the hospital which were offering "incentive pay" (aka $600 for 12-hr shift) .

Good points as males tend to be more career oriented. We are brought up that way. But do you see that changing with the younger generation?

I know a male nurse exactly as you describe. He's working two contract jobs and says he's going to make 100,000 this year, in an area where 40,000 is the normal. He's an excellent negotiator, moving on until he gets what he wants. But he works seven 12-hour shifts a week.

I love that "incentive pay".

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2003

Originally posted by LeesieBug
I would say that generally speaking it is a fact, simply because, in the U.S. PERIOD, women still only get 75 cents for every dollar males earn.

Not speaking specifically of nursing.

I agree with you. But rather than generally speaking what is opinion and observation, I was hoping someone could provide some research. I'm not having any luck finding any. But I'm lazy too, hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks for your input.

grouchy · Dec 12, 2003

One can only hope that the nursing profession will continue to become more diversified in every way, and that as more men enter - if they are paid more, and I don't know that's true - that they will help to drive the pay up for everyone else.