Nursing salaries/nursing shortages

Geeg · Jul 2, 2005

I hope I live long enough to see a nationwide walkout of nurses. HMMMM. How about 7 AM on a Monday morning?

lee1 · Jul 2, 2005

Nursing salaries have not increased significantly to meet the increase in the cost of living. As a result we see more and more leaving the profession, less entering, and a nursing shortage that continues to grow. Its time for nurses to ban together and present alternatives to our politicians to help eliminate the shortages. The solution is not to import nurses from other countries. Its time for the good old USA to step up and take care of her caregivers. National caregivers deserve better wages, better insurance benefits (we receive some of the worst nationally), more assistance with educational debts and other programs that encourage retention/recruitment in our field. In underserved areas doctors get their student loans waived while working in these areas. Why couldn't there be programs like this for nurses since there are short comings of almost 20% even in metro areas. Nurses deserve to be better taken care of since we are the backbone of health care. Its time we collectively speak out to our officials and claim what we deserve.

The salaries where I work are NOT the issue at least this year. We did receive competitive salaries our last contract that took into consideration years of experience. WHAT we do not have is better pensions for retirement, decent retirement age------not until you just have to drop, more like the police, fire fighters, teachers, etc. Of course, I live in a very expensive area of the country------houses, taxes are ridiculous, maybe some kind of tax break?

Also, we have NO medical retirement benefit other than MEDICARE which the public does NOT know about. NOT unless you work for a state/federal facility.

KCIN · Jul 5, 2005

this is a market economy. the demand will dictate the pay.

Kate2233 · Jul 5, 2005

this is a market economy. the demand will dictate the pay.

Very few places offer good benefits.... and try and apply for disability insurance being a hospital nurse.... you are considered "high risk" and the monthly premiums are higher than most other professions. Cost of living has skyrocketed. Salaries are staying the same. Nurses need unions and the states that pay the worst can't get nurses to sign up. It's time to take a stand.

KCIN · Jul 5, 2005

am in texas and over here i have never heard of anyone unionizing. i dont even think its in the law. i believe it was a compromise between industry and state regulators or something to that effect. now that you are talking, i recently heard that some 150,000 nurses will be coming over from phillipines next year. i wonder what that will do to our salaries or the prospects of getting higher benefits.

Nat_gagui · Jul 5, 2005

am in texas and over here i have never heard of anyone unionizing. i dont even think its in the law. i believe it was a compromise between industry and state regulators or something to that effect. now that you are talking, i recently heard that some 150,000 nurses will be coming over from phillipines next year. i wonder what that will do to our salaries or the prospects of getting higher benefits.

KCIN,

The nurses that will come from the philippine is 15,000 only in next year not 150,000 as you state. brian have a good thread about this and here is the link about the discussion about, https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93503&page=1&pp=10

base from other thread also, eventhough Pres. Bush approved the visas for nurses which i think is only 20,000 per year ( correct me if i'm wrong) that visa also included the family of the nurses. so it will be also short too, and i believe the unused visa from last year will also be use upon approval too.

Nat

Kate2233 · Jul 5, 2005

It will work the same way as outsourcing other jobs. They are bringing in "cheap" labor and your salaries will go nowhere as the cost of living increases. Nurses deserve good pay and benefits. We are exposed to all types of illnesses... often putting our health on the line. All we ask is a decent salary and good benefits to take care of us as we spend our careers taking care of the sick. Not too much to ask.

eelite · Jul 11, 2005

Nursing salaries have not increased significantly to meet the increase in the cost of living. As a result we see more and more leaving the profession, less entering, and a nursing shortage that continues to grow. Its time for nurses to ban together and present alternatives to our politicians to help eliminate the shortages. The solution is not to import nurses from other countries. Its time for the good old USA to step up and take care of her caregivers. National caregivers deserve better wages, better insurance benefits (we receive some of the worst nationally), more assistance with educational debts and other programs that encourage retention/recruitment in our field. In underserved areas doctors get their student loans waived while working in these areas. Why couldn't there be programs like this for nurses since there are short comings of almost 20% even in metro areas. Nurses deserve to be better taken care of since we are the backbone of health care. Its time we collectively speak out to our officials and claim what we deserve.

Nurses need to unite and stop working against each other. Nursing is a female dominated profession and women sometimes do not know how to fight for their rights. Also, they allow themselves to be manipulated by supervisors and administrators. I have closely observed these nurses at work. They are afraid to speak their mind, because of fear they may get fired or black-balled. At my workplace, they have regular townhall meetings where nurses are encouraged to attend. They either don't show up or if they do go, they remain silent for the most part. It's a no win situation with nurses. I have noticed over the years how nurses plot against each other. But when it comes to plotting against the boss or even an administrator, they back up. So therefore, there goes our chances of ever getting paid good money for what we do.

I believe in speaking up for what's right. And one of the biggest problems for me is that when I say something, every body looks at me as the trouble-maker or whistle blower. No one likes me for opening my mouth and saying what is true.

There should be a pay increase for nurses. I'm all for it, but we need cooperation from every single nurse in this country.

eelite · Jul 11, 2005

It will work the same way as outsourcing other jobs. They are bringing in "cheap" labor and your salaries will go nowhere as the cost of living increases. Nurses deserve good pay and benefits. We are exposed to all types of illnesses... often putting our health on the line. All we ask is a decent salary and good benefits to take care of us as we spend our careers taking care of the sick. Not too much to ask.

We never get high risk pay. PLEASE! :crying2:

eelite · Jul 11, 2005

KCIN,
The nurses that will come from the philippine is 15,000 only in next year not 150,000 as you state. brian have a good thread about this and here is the link about the discussion about, https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93503&page=1&pp=10
base from other thread also, eventhough Pres. Bush approved the visas for nurses which i think is only 20,000 per year ( correct me if i'm wrong) that visa also included the family of the nurses. so it will be also short too, and i believe the unused visa from last year will also be use upon approval too.
Nat

:angryfire

We need to go on strike and forget about everything. This is the only way to make a stand.

angel · Jul 11, 2005

Oh, I definiatly agree with you. Nurses do need to unite as one from CNA to MSN...The only problem is when there is a nursing shortage the US gov't decides to open up visas & recruites nurses from other countries( they pay no taxes for 7yrs) (recent 55,000 visas)instead of paying nurses what should be paid & give the true education needed so as a MSN nurse can afford to teach people whom want to be nurses in this country.. I've been in the profession 30yrs, worked my way up, offered morse education(gov't re-nigged on $$$$) got stuck paying the education) & at top of pay scale & no more raises(gee I'm only 51yrs old) so why should I promote more people into the field of nursing...it becomes a dead-end job for no advancement usless up & quit to another hospital with less benefits & more pay...

We don't have faculity to teach nursing because the gov't/hospitals/business never gave any incentive for nurses to promote it...So there we are...allowing others to control our profession....YES; we need to unite & change the system for all...

P.S. Most hospitals don't pay healthcare for retired nurses either(the VA does so nurses come into the VA to get 5yrs of healthcare & into retirement)

QUOTE=grantRN]Nursing salaries have not increased significantly to meet the increase in the cost of living. As a result we see more and more leaving the profession, less entering, and a nursing shortage that continues to grow. Its time for nurses to ban together and present alternatives to our politicians to help eliminate the shortages. The solution is not to import nurses from other countries. Its time for the good old USA to step up and take care of her caregivers. National caregivers deserve better wages, better insurance benefits (we receive some of the worst nationally), more assistance with educational debts and other programs that encourage retention/recruitment in our field. In underserved areas doctors get their student loans waived while working in these areas. Why couldn't there be programs like this for nurses since there are short comings of almost 20% even in metro areas. Nurses deserve to be better taken care of since we are the backbone of health care. Its time we collectively speak out to our officials and claim what we deserve.