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?
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.
Thats what they signed up for though, right? To be "short timers"....there are perks and there are downsides. Yes the hourly rate is sometimes great (especially in COVID times), but traveling is not all roses.
I do think it is unfair to say that staff nurses work twice as hard as travelers though. Especially without having been on both sides. They are doing the same job (not easier or harder)....just with a different pay structure and employment agreement.
I do think it is unfair to say that staff nurses work twice as hard as travelers though. Especially without having been on both sides. They are doing the same job (not easier or harder)....just with a different pay structure and employment agreement.
The accountability and expectations on travelers is not there. No performance meetings. No write ups that could lead to getting fired (which is a concern for people that meets their needs). No expectations of committees. Often no mandatory staff meetings. Less likely to be charge or have preceptees. So, travel nurses get paid more for the base model of the job, without some of the added stressors of staff nurses. Maybe lower rotating/weekend/holiday requirements (maybe not, depends on the contract). Staff nurses put in a lot more "emotional labor" into the job, and that isn't compensated monetarily.
I don't think the pay is inappropriate or unfair. Travel nurses make more because hospitals aren't paying for their benefits and they don't have to train people. They are a short term investment for a hospital and the job market has made it something profitable for everyone involved.
There's actually truth to this. Hospitals benefit from paying these wild contracts for travel staff but do actually save themselves a buttload of money by not paying benefits towards them. It's profitable for them to hire temporary staff that hits the ground running and don't get bennies vs staff that get a lengthy orientation and benefits.
That doesn't make it right, though. If a nurse in the NY metro makes about $100,000 but the hospital execs are making millions plus 6-7 digit bonuses? Hospitals could save themselves a whole lot of money by rehashing those numbers to improve staff retention, improving staffing ratios that improve staff AND patient safety, and to provide fair wages considering the amount of work and responsibility we take on in our positions.
So no, I don't agree that we are paid proportionately or fairly, and no I absolutely don't think that we should be grateful that we make more than average because given the abuse we are forced to take, lack of protections in place, legal responsibility we carry, the emotional labor, the physical labor and injuries we endure, subpar staffing, the list goes on. We are not compensated fairly for how much we do.
The accountability and expectations on travelers is not there. No performance meetings. No write ups that could lead to getting fired (which is a concern for people that meets their needs). No expectations of committees. Often no mandatory staff meetings. Less likely to be charge or have preceptees. So, travel nurses get paid more for the base model of the job, without some of the added stressors of staff nurses. Maybe lower rotating/weekend/holiday requirements (maybe not, depends on the contract). Staff nurses put in a lot more "emotional labor" into the job, and that isn't compensated monetarily.
This, and also I don't know how everyone else does it but we generally don't give really hard assignments to travel nurses because we don't know them. We don't know their skill set, we don't know their experience, we don't know if they can safely manage x, y , and z. We also want them to come back and not cancel their shifts. Staff get stuck with the more challenging assignments because of this.
Specializes in CVICU, Travel RN, Cath Lab, Clinic RN.
I am not "grateful" for my income, nor do I believe any of us should feel that way. What we do is HARD WORK!! I earn every penny I make. Nursing is NOT volunteer work!
Management should be feeling grateful that any staff is even around these days! As previous posters have mentioned, CEO's and other mgt can all take pay cuts if they want the bedside staff working their butts off to remain - especially if they don't want to hire travelers.
As a former travel RN (3 years of it), I certainly cannot resent anyone who wants to do that job. It's frankly the only time in my career I felt my pay was what it should be. If we all made that kind of $$ our industry would be far better off!
Let's be clear about priorities. WE SAVE LIVES! When our work is devalued, care suffers and lives are lost.
I know from speaking to the many travelers I have encountered and the current offers out there, they make double to triple what I do.
One of our coworkers left our unit after the initial surge died down and became a traveler. Their current year-to-date is double our salary. They have been a nurse for about 3 years. It's making us talk to our Director and HR. Will it change anything? Maybe not, but at least an attempt is made. Two of our coworkers already plan to leave within a month, our two most experienced nurses. We barely hired 1 new grad while the rest are travelers. Some days, there is only 1 core staff member who is charge while the rest are floats or travelers. If this continues, I may want to leave too.
I am 100% in it for the money. The pandemic has reinforced this because the citizens won't do anything to mitigate the risk and do their part. I make 58/hour and I will demand 60+ soon. If they won't pay it I will quit. I have 15 years ICU experience. No kids no wife. No loyalty to any hospital. I don't really "want" to travel, but I will. I don't care if someone else does it for "more than money". That is them and I am me.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
I AM grateful. But that does not preclude my thinking I am worth a LOT MORE. I can have it both ways in that respect. I earned my way here after all.