NBC nightly news

[teamrn]

Well, finally national attention that quasi met my 'approval'. However, the statement that the shortage of nurses exists NOT because of salary issues, but because of image portrayed, irritated me. Yes the image thing is so very true, and when I ran the example by my husband he agreed. But, the reporter dismissed the salary issue as a non-concern w/ a quick comment, something like, after all, new grads make $40K. Unfortunately, they max out rather quickly, the responsibility for that $40K is pretty hefty, the image is poor as agreed. Wish more had been made of the interview w/ the NURSE who discussed what she felt the general public's perception of nursing is. 20 years after I started in nursing I'm making more than when I started, but w/ inflation in there, cost of living, etc, I don't believe there's much reason for this baby-boomer to stick around; except, she LOVES what she does! Let's keep those letters and calls going to Washington and the mnm org, and to anyone who'll listen. I think we've got attention.

[Tiara]

It was a cut above anything else I've seen on the news. However, even though they mentioned the ANA survey they left a lot out. You can e-mail them at msnbc nightly news. I notice there wasn't much emphasis on the conditions in the hospitals.

[oramar]

Those entry level salaries they mentioned are only avaliable in large cites. In Pittsburgh a new grad is starting at about $34,000. Some are starting a little lower, some a little higher.

[cargal]

This segment can be seen in its entirety at www.msnbc.com/news click on the health section to view this video. Not a complete expose into the problem, but a start.

[Brian, ASN, RN]

Here is a direct link to the video that you can see online:

https://allnurses.com/news/jump.cgi?ID=474

------------------

Brian Short

https://allnurses.com

It's how nurses surf the web!

[Hardknox]

Originally posted by fergus51:

I think salary is the single biggest problem with recruiting and retaining nurses, here in Canada especially. My part time job at the library paid about 19$ an hour with my holiday pay. New nurses make 20$ an hour (this is CANADIAN dollars which works out to about 14US$). The full time librarian STILL makes more money than I do !! I have more education, more responsibilities, a much more hazardous job, not to mention the shift work, patient load and bullshit from administration! Why would anyone in their right mind be happy with this? The pay is like a slap in the face reminding me how little value is placed on my skills and contribution.

To me, it's not even about the salary anymore. It's nursing pitting supervisors against nurses, managers caught in the middle, knowing that the staffing stinks, but knowing that the bottom line is all that counts with the higher ups. It's the litigious nature of the clients. The DOCs are as burnt out and dismayed as we are. Our hospital"s new contract did little to retain the nurses they have and in fact have had 3 "restructurings" this year. So many people took the severence package that administration tried to make it apply to only certain groups but the union squashed that! Then there was no nurses to take these people's place. Don't the hospital administrators realize you can't run a health care facility without nurses? When my patients thank me at the end of my shift, I can't help thinking that if they only knew how much better I was allowed to do my job in the 1980's they'd be shocked at how little they get today. My peers and I have agreed to come in and take care of each other if we're hospitalized, but what happens when we're all to old?

I loved my job almost all my career, but when managed care hit everything changed. The bean counters rule health care today. People think we're negative--I say we're just telling it as we see it. Health care is in a very sorry state and no one seems to have any answers. The Discovery Channel has a special on February 18 from 8 pm to 11. I will be interesting to see what slant they take.

[This message has been edited by Hardknox (edited February 14, 2001).]

[nursejanedough]

Is there any registered nurse in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, or Tennessee (that works in LTC - non mangagement) that makes more than $20.00 an hour?

[iris]

Well, from all this reporting on nurse shortage, I had a pt come in today to tell me he heard about the nurse shortage and how they were being paid very well but maxed out to quick. I was dumb founded and taken back by what he said especially since I'm an LPN and I know I don't make nearly as much as an RN. To think that he belived all nurses were paid vey well!!

Then at school a couple of students also mentioned they heard about the shortage and wanted to know why nurses were "so mean"??

Go figure! I'm not sure what kind of message they're actually picking up from all this reporting. I hope the public can get a real good understanding of what the problem really is before they become bored with this topic and think we're just well paid selfish nurses.

[fergus51]

I think salary is the single biggest problem with recruiting and retaining nurses, here in Canada especially. My part time job at the library paid about 19$ an hour with my holiday pay. New nurses make 20$ an hour (this is CANADIAN dollars which works out to about 14US$). The full time librarian STILL makes more money than I do !! I have more education, more responsibilities, a much more hazardous job, not to mention the shift work, patient load and bullshit from administration! Why would anyone in their right mind be happy with this? The pay is like a slap in the face reminding me how little value is placed on my skills and contribution.