No nursing jobs in 2012 ???

cmonkey · Jun 30, 2010

I'm really concerned with socialized medicine

Haven't heard of Medicare, then?

MsBruiser · Jun 30, 2010

Patients often try and engage me in a conversation that goes as follows: a) Socialized medicine is evil (they are mostly on medicare or retired federal employees who bring this up - go figure); b) Obama is a socialist.

So I tell them the following: "If I lost my job tomorrow I would have to pay $1400.00 a month in COBRA. What is your idea about what I should do for healthcare?"

The response, unanimously - silence. End of discussion. Retired military, usually someone who spent twenty years working as a pay clerk for the Air Force are particularly aggregious and self-righteous.

The lack of universal healthcare in this country is a disgusting stain on our nation. We are the only country in the world - excuse me, wealthy industrialized country - where health insurance is dependent on employment. We are the only wealthy industrialized country where if you lose your job you are SOL with regards to healthcare.

nurse441 · Jun 30, 2010

yes there is,

at my hospital...

evil...

PMFB-RN, RN · Jun 30, 2010

PMFB-RN: Either you or I are blind, this is what I see-
NET MONTHLY INCOME
U.S. average salary= $ 3,168
Australia average income = $ 2,534
UK median salary= $ 2,243
Where am I going wrong?

*** Your number say net but they are not net. In the Australia example the nurses health care costs are already paid in the form of taxes and the net listed is what's left over. In the American example the net does not include any health care expenses for the nurse and his family. Using myself as an example (only because mine are the only numbers I know for certain) I pay $410/month in health insurance (dental not included), plus since my insurance policy (the best the catholic hospital I work for offers) only covers 80% my family also has large medical bills in addition to the premium. For the last 4 years these have been over $5K/year (not including the interest I pay to the medical center because of my inability to pay the whole bill at one time and must make monthly payments).

If the American nurse in the above example has anything like similar family health care costs then that is another $826 a month or so they are paying to get to the real net.

American average salary = $3168 - $826 = $2342 net

Australian average salary = $2534 net

(according the the numbers you used and my health cost numbers)

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Jun 30, 2010

*** Your number say net but they are not net. In the Australia example the nurses health care costs are already paid in the form of taxes and the net listed is what's left over. In the American example the net does not include any health care expenses for the nurse and his family. Using myself as an example (only because mine are the only numbers I know for certain) I pay $410/month in health insurance (dental not included), plus since my insurance policy (the best the catholic hospital I work for offers) only covers 80% my family also has large medical bills in addition to the premium. For the last 4 years these have been over $5K/year (not including the interest I pay to the medical center because of my inability to pay the whole bill at one time and must make monthly payments).
If the American nurse in the above example has anything like similar family health care costs then that is another $826 a month or so they are paying to get to the real net.
American average salary = $3168 - $826 = $2342 net
Australian average salary = $2534 net
(according the the numbers you used and my health cost numbers)

In Australia, experienced RN's working shifts usually earn much more than that, however don't underestimate the tax.

I know $2800 net sounds nice but the RN may have paid $1000 a week in tax first. Some of my coworkers work every weekend, only do nights and do an extra shift or two a payperiod and pay $1000 per week in tax.

And that's a lot of money for socialised medicine.

We usually receive a basic but acceptable socialised healthcare system .... that's all, nothing flash

PMFB-RN, RN · Jul 2, 2010

In Australia, experienced RN's working shifts usually earn much more than that, however don't underestimate the tax.
I know $2800 net sounds nice but the RN may have paid $1000 a week in tax first. Some of my coworkers work every weekend, only do nights and do an extra shift or two a payperiod and pay $1000 per week in tax.
And that's a lot of money for socialised medicine.
We usually receive a basic but acceptable socialised healthcare system .... that's all, nothing flash

*** The American's make more as well. I was just using the number provided as a example. Is that $1000 in tax in US dollars?

pedicurn, LPN, RN · Jul 15, 2010

*** The American's make more as well. I was just using the number provided as a example. Is that $1000 in tax in US dollars?

No it's Australian dollars

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2010

Patients often try and engage me in a conversation that goes as follows: a) Socialized medicine is evil (they are mostly on medicare or retired federal employees who bring this up - go figure); b) Obama is a socialist. So I tell them the following: "If I lost my job tomorrow I would have to pay $1400.00 a month in COBRA. What is your idea about what I should do for healthcare?" The response, unanimously - silence. End of discussion. Retired military, usually someone who spent twenty years working as a pay clerk for the Air Force are particularly aggregious and self-righteous. The lack of universal healthcare in this country is a disgusting stain on our nation. We are the only country in the world - excuse me, wealthy industrialized country - where health insurance is dependent on employment. We are the only wealthy industrialized country where if you lose your job you are SOL with regards to healthcare.

I totally agree. We have universal health care in Australia. But now the nursing market is VERY tight. There are very few permanent positions being advertised (and the ones advertised you need many years of experience and 2-3 degrees). My agency has cut down hours because the government here has told the hospitals to tighten their belts - hence, no work for me for a week. I am now getting out of nursing, though I will finish my studies I think. I will have to go back to admin/secretarial work to pay the bills. So I think the situation will only get much worse. Try to have a back up career if possible, because as you get older, you are slowly pushed out in nursing.

BTW what does SOL mean? (I'm not up to date with all the abbreviations on the net yet).