Nurses are underpaid

That does not seem right. I know they often tell us once we have experience it goes up. Were you in a residency. Whenever your contract is up maybe move to a different job and scope your options. I just started and I moved to Houston starting pay 29.5 for most on average regardless of BSN or ADN status. 

Pertaining to the bad benefits. In life you must always have a game plan. Invest in other businesses or stocks to get the bang for the buck. 

Depending on your COL, you may be getting a decent amount. I have over 6 years of experience and make a little under $30 at one job and a hair over $31 at my other job, base. But evenings and weekends can put me at $35+/hr. People who are PRN at my job make almost $40/hr base. With all of these incentive shifts, overtime, etc, some of these nurses are killing it making more than 70+/hr. 

That being said, you are correct that we work WAY harder and deserve much more. My boyfriend makes over 125k base and has been getting 10% bonuses every year for the past few years. He has about 14 years of experience as an accountant. He gets 4% raises each year on top of the 10% bonuses. And he works remote nearly 100% of the time. 

The problem with nursing wages is extreme wage compression. We start out making more than other majors (which is more than entry level you are citing...at 26/hr, you make approx 49k base, and that doesn't factor shift and weekend differentials and holiday pay), but we are lucky to double our base pay by the end of our career while other professions can quadruple their salaries overtime.

As for crap benefits, as a government worker, I can't relate too much (I would start looking if your benefits are that bad), but I know private companies typically have crappier benefits. I would look into working for the state, city or feds if possible. 

I was in the elevator leaving an hour late with a coworker from another unit and she was telling me she didn't get a lunch break.  13 hours without a break.  Really what other profession requires this of people?  I'm not sure what she makes but not enough.  At least I took my 30 minutes for lunch.

I think for the stress and toll this profession takes on us we are indeed underpaid.

That being said, last year we got a "market adjustment raise".  The nursing shortage here is keeping salaries up.  Our pension was eliminated in the mid-90s which is the trend in private industry, not just nursing.  Still with what I've been able to set aside and employer contributions I should do okay in that department.  They also match what I contributed to my Health Savings Account.  

Yesterday I picked up an overtime shift and the bonus for doing so was $325 extra.  

I have a house, a car, and have traveled many places around the world and don't struggle so I hate complain but for what we do I think we aren't compensated well.  

This sounds like the stress of nurses.

First, I'd like to say I am truly sorry for what you are feeling. What you're feeling is not uncommon in the nursing world. Research shows an accelerated rate of moral injury, burnout, and actual physical symptoms of stress from our work.

Second, you need to know that you're not alone. Some nurses lash out at other nurses because of the pressure to perform. In your career, know that it takes time to adjust to the job. It's hard, and you'll have to make hard choices. Whatever the outcome is though, you will learn from it and become a more skillful nurse. The way I handled the onslaught of difficulties in nursing was to always be true to myself and how I wanted to be used in the hospital and nursing practice. I value nurses. I want to be a resource and be seen as open-minded and useful.  My first hospital wasn't very kind at all. I left and found that I had options, I didn't have to stay in that environment.

Some ideas that could help you:

Spend the time to learn about yourself and how you buckle under stress.

Nothing taught me more about myself than Nursing did. I didn't realize how gullible I was (and sometimes still is). I didn't realize how upset I would get if a doctor didn't show up when they said they would. I learned a lot about myself. Notice these things in your journey through nursing. Then find ways to work through how you control your responses to them. 

Change locations

One hospital will be different from another. The practice might be similar or the same, but the culture will be different. Arm yourself with good questions related to your last work environment and you'll be able to find a good group of people that will accept you. 

Money is Relative

The most money I made and quickly was from Travel Nursing during the Covid Pandemic. Money is tied to your experience. Aim your goals to be an example to others, win some awards for your patient care experience, and use that to leverage your status as a valuable nurse. In the end, it's how you are able to sleep at the end of the day that matters most. 

I hope this helps. You are doing good by venting your stress. We have them, and you're not alone. 

I am at about retirement age so I have had time to reflect on my career. Nursing has been good to me and I think no other profession offers such diverse experiences. I absolutely hated being a nurse in an inpatient setting and I thought I had made a terrible career choice.

After I completed  my BSN, I became involved in public health and it was truly my calling. Surprisingly, my salaries have been good as well.

Don’t give up.  You will find your niche in nursing.

If possible can you try travel nursing? Hospitals love to say they don't have money to give raises and whatnot but then when they need staffing the money magically becomes available to pay travel nurses.