Hi, I have been reading a lot of comments saying that nurses make more than the median salary, so you should be grateful for what you earn or you earn more than the average of the population.
To be honest with this opinion, I disagree.
The median salary often referred to in this case includes those who did not go to college or those who work part-time.
If we compare the median salary of mid-level college graduate jobs, nurses' mid-level salary is on the lower side compared to other jobs.
Don't say that you did not do this for money. If you say so, you should not get paid instead should do some volunteer for free. We are still responsible for our care and can be sued by patients. This sounds like it has some money involved. Isn't it?
Let's talk about New York.
Considering mid-salary of college graduate workers they are most likely to be six-figure for sure close to $200k, but nurses are below or around $100k in their mid-level career.
I think we should not discourage each other by saying that you didn't get in this field for money or your money is enough for the job you are doing.
Don't you think it is unfair to be treated like this?
If travel nursing can pay that much why can't regular full-time pay us that much?
Is leaving this field the only thing that I can do?
I make what I consider a reasonable wage but I still think it's too low. Mostly because the wages in just about every other sector have risen and not by just a little bit while nursing wages have remained stagnant for more years that I can count.
Even for employers that are still giving annual COLA adjustments they in no way come close to reflecting the actual increase in cost of living. I guarantee the cost of living the last year has gone up more than the measly 1% or if you are lucky 2% raise.
Even in health care the wage gap between non-licensed support staff and nursing is narrowing. The kitchen, maintenance and housekeeping staff all got large bumps in pay around here while nurses got nothing. CNA's are in such short supply so guess what they did? Yep, gave them a huge bump in pay. I'm not saying that wasn't needed or deserved but where is the huge nurse bump in pay?? So yeah, it's a little tough to swallow when I see a local LTC is now hiring CNA's at $25.00/hr plus a hiring bonus that is in one case $7,000 while nursing staff got either no raise or such a small raise in comparison to everybody else it's just insulting.
Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
On 8/15/2021 at 10:44 AM, Julius Seizure said:
What is the ballpark figure - $50k, $100k, $200k? What are these travelers telling you that they make?
The current travelers on my unit are making $90 an hour average- according to three of them. They also get a $5k living stipend per 13 week contract. Three of the seven travelers live at home and commute about an hour to our facility.
We had an evening last month where a traveler was put in charge because the staffing for that shift was a new grad and four travelers.
I don't begrudge the travelers their salary. If I were young and had debt to pay off and wanted to see the world, traveling sounds like a great way to do it. I haven't met any travelers that have been canceled mid contract, although we have had at least half a dozen travelers quit mid contract. In the height of COVID season, four of them left after a month because they could make $8k per week elsewhere. Whatever. My unit has been so poorly staffed for the past four years that I don't really put much thought into it any more. Clearly my management doesn't care, so I'm lowering my expectations to match. We have had a few travelers recently, though, that have no business traveling in critical care. We are a low acuity unit and these nurses are over their heads. One year of nursing experience in total, in another ICU, does not necessarily make you competent to travel and work independently. Again, I blame my management and their "sure we'll take anyone that applies" attitude. If I hear "it's a body" one more time from my manager, well, nothing will happen because I know it's what she will say.
I work in an ED and we have some traveling nurses. I won’t sit here and say it doesn’t upset me that we are doing the same job and sometimes less (lack of training and knowing policy or population) and getting paid more.
They have no vestment, the ones I have worked with and are looking for the next fun/exciting spot to travel to. Well, this is my house and you are a visitors who has all the privileges and is getting paid to stay here. Meanwhile, we are fighting for much needed raises after being pushed through a pandemic that is still here.
Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
I will always be grateful for the travelers I work with and do not care how much more paid they are than me - I don't fault them for that, I blame the greedy corporation. Travelers are not at fault for getting paid what they get paid, just like a coworker isn't at fault for short staffing just because they don't pick up an extra shift.
They have no vestment, the ones I have worked with and are looking for the next fun/exciting spot to travel to.
With regard to this, the thing that many of the nurses upset about travelers' loyalty are actually upset about is what their own vestment has earned them--which is often nothing, regardless of their years of service or their beneficial activity in the workplace. They are expendable and replaceable just like everyone else.
That's what people are actually upset about...but it simply is not the travelers' fault if employers place no value on a certain thing.
It’s an overall statement, not just an excerpt of what I posted. I am fully aware of what and why I’m upset when it concerns the situation.
I might at some point travel and face what I am frustrated about. The fact is, the travelers I have worked with have an employment parole attitude “short timer syndrome” and act accordingly. That makes it very tough on those that are making 3 times less, working twice as hard and will be there past 13 weeks. I’ll agree, the employer is also at fault for the tension and less than appealing circumstance.
I don't know what people make where I work, so I was a bit shocked when a new grad told me her salary, not that I even asked. We were talking about overtime bonuses being paid right now. I had no idea it was as low as it was.
But thinking about it, she has no experience and an associate degree and is probably making good money for someone with an associate's degree in this area. I read that RNs are the highest paid associate degree holders (but that's been a while).
I can't complain much about my salary. We've gotten "market adjustments' for retention purposes so people don't quit to go to another higher paying facility. Plus we've got a $6,000 retention bonus this year if we worked January through March without calling off. We're getting a raise this month for another market adjustment.
For the area I feel like we're making what others make.
Travelers do indeed make more money, but I'm happy to have them during times of short staffing. There have also been times they have had their contracts canceled if it turns out we didn't need them.
But just because we're above the median income and not in poverty it doesn't mean we shouldn't continue make what we're worth and negotiate better salaries and working conditions.
The median income according to Google in Florida in 2019 was about 28,000.
I've always wondered... when staff is short or someone calls off, nurses are expected to do the job of 2 employees. If you're doing the job of two, why aren't you paid the other person's salary for that shift?
@Tweety "But thinking about it, she has no experience and an associate degree and is probably making good money for someone with an associate's degree in this area. I read that RNs are the highest paid associate degree holders". In my area, there is no compensation for having or completing a BSN. It is all about years of experience. Also, if your unit is losing $, you will get a "meets expectations" no matter how much effort you apply. Nurses become savvy to this fact and are not willing to accept extra projects, etc.
Specializes in Hospice. Worked ER, Med-Surg, ICU & ALF-Dementia.
I am lucky enough to currently work in an institution that gives great support to the staff, at least in my department. The pay is up there, though not in the $100/hr (I wish) and usually just work 40-45 hrs weekly. I've worked in this comlany for the past 6 years and we have low turn over rate. But the OP should not be hating on the travel nurses. They are just doing their job like every one of us. This is a company issue, so maybe the OP can bring that up to the management.
OUxPhys, BSN, RN
1,203 Posts
Hospitals can pay nurses more they simply choose not to. For them its cheaper to keep hiring and training new grads than to pay experienced staff.