how old were you when you realized you weren't going to make real money as a nurse

Published

Laid off pilot use to make 12K a month, sitting in nursing school. That's when

Specializes in Home Care.

I was tickled pink when, as a new LPN, I landed a part-time job working 7a to 7p every weekend in an LTC. I'm on Baylor plan plus get shift differentials. I don't get benefits but I bring home enough to cover my bills. I make in 24 hours of work what my friend makes in 40.

I had to quit my previous career to go to LPN school, they didn't offer part-time.

This job is perfect for me while I'm doing the RN program. As an added bonus I'll still have a job there as an RN when I get my license.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU hopeful!.
The problem with your deconstruction (nothing more, nothing less) is that you are discounting the fact that a two-year nursing degree is not comparable to other two year degrees: for example, Associate in Arts or Science from a community college. It is a very simple and common achievement to go two years full time and get those other associate's degrees, it is extremely rare to find a ADN graduate who went two years only.

Take any number of professions: Accounting, Engineering, Marketing, Finance, Computer Science,....you will not find companies hiring Associates and Bachelors degree graduates for the same positions at the same pay rates. The ad will say "Bachelor's in XXX" required.

My inclusion of the GPA requirements is more evidence that an ADN is actually, "quite more" than an AA or AS. There are practically zero requirements to begin a regular Associates of Science or Arts degree. I think you would agree that the requirements to even begin an ADN program are by comparison incredibly stringent.

I was not lamenting the GPA requirement, just pointing out the difference.

Calling an ADN "nothing more, nothing less" than any other two year degree is simply ludicrous. Calling it an extremely challenging to get degree that requires a great deal more time, skill, cost, and effort than other two year degrees would be more accurate.

I agree that an ADN is not as easy to get as an AA.

However, I think that the original point was that no matter how you spin it or dress it up an ADN is still an Associate's degree, and a BSN is still a Bachelor's degree. Both degrees will get you to an RN (assuming NCLEX is passed). However many pre-requisites are required, it is still an Associate's degree.

That's not meant to discount the difficulty, grades required, and waiting (sometimes) required to get the ADN. I completely acknowledge the steps required to completing the degree.:twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.

Before nursing school, i was 20 years old working at a gas station for $7.25 an hour. I used to think that $10 an hour was an awesome job.

The idea of even $20/hr was excellent!

I'm sure that plenty of people workign fast food/walmart/kroger, single moms with no education would think that $20/hr was most definitely real money.

Its all relative, isn't it? if you made $12K a month, then no, $20/hr isn't going to be much at all to you. If you make $10k a YEAR, then that $40k a year nursing job could be your ticket out of the projects/moms house/etc

Its all in the eye (wallet) of the beholder....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
I bet you'd be singing a different tune if you were in one of the many areas in which new grads might go 6-12 months or longer before finding work.

um excuse me but i graduated in january and i still don't have a job and its July. 3 hospitals just closed in my area with a next one closing today. I have friends who graduated last May and either don't have jobs or just now finding jobs. Just because I am desperate doesn't mean I should allow somebody to take advantage of me. Please don't ASSUME. We all know what happens when you do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L & D; Postpartum.
um excuse me but i graduated in january and i still don't have a job and its July. 3 hospitals just closed in my area with a next one closing today. I have friends who graduated last May and either don't have jobs or just now finding jobs. Just because I am desperate doesn't mean I should allow somebody to take advantage of me. Please don't ASSUME. We all know what happens when you do.

Here's something to consider. If you were to accept that $20 per hour job, you'll be gaining actual experience. Fast forward to a time when hospitals where you can make a better wage are hiring and you will have more to offer them as an employee, experience others may not have, especially if they all have the attitude you do. That could make it or break it as far as a job offer goes. A hospital is never going to hire someone with no experience over someone who has some.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
Yeah, but is that $38/hr starting salary for HOSPITAL nurses? If so, then you can't really apply that amount to a Nursing home because nursing homes tend to be less stressful working environments.

New grads have no right to demand high salaries. $20/hr starting at a nursing home is decent pay. Enough to live on and even save some until you get a raise.

The problem here is that some nurses just demand more and more. $20/hr isn't enough, $25, 30/hr...not enough. Only a person with YEARS of nursing experience should have the right to negotiate a very high salary.

I COMPLETELY RESENT THAT STATEMENT. Just because I am a new grad does NOT mean I am completely useless and have no right to ask to be paid what I am worth. I told everybody who would listen about the situation and they all agreed with me. NONE of them would've taken that salary. I don't know where you live, but nursing homes where I live pay their nurses (even brand new ones) in the thirties. $20/hr is NOT decent pay when you've busted your behind in nursing school, you live in an area where cost of living is the highest in the country, and all of your peers are making $38/hr and up. Give me a break. Some of my peers I graduated with have nursing homes and make well into the thirties so please don't give me bull about not accepting that wage. Especially when LPNs starting salary in my area is $23/hr. Because I know exactly what would have happened. They would've given next to no orientation, thrown me out there to sink or swim, piled work on top of my back because I'm an RN, and I would've been doing all of this making significantly less than my peers, and even the LPNs which isn't right. By your logic, they should've offered me $2/hr and I should've taken it because I'm a dumb new grad who doesn't know anything, isn't valuable to any facility, and has no right to negotiate a salary. I really think as fellow nurses we should be encouraging to one another, not talking down to people and making them feel useless just because they don't have the same level of experience that you do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
Here's something to consider. If you were to accept that $20 per hour job, you'll be gaining actual experience. Fast forward to a time when hospitals where you can make a better wage are hiring and you will have more to offer them as an employee, experience others may not have, especially if they all have the attitude you do. That could make it or break it as far as a job offer goes. A hospital is never going to hire someone with no experience over someone who has some.

Sorry but nursing home experience doesn't count as experience where I live. They pretty much still consider you a new grad because it isn't acute care. Believe me, even if they offered me $30/hr which is significantly less than what other nursing homes are paying, I would've taken it just to have some cash flow but I refuse to be taken advantage of just because I'm a new grad. It wasn't even the nursing home wage, it was the agency's wage. The new grad that was hired there at the same nursing home (not through an agency) was making $35/hr.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
Where do you live?

New York City

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
A new grad must also keep in mind that many pay offers are non negotiable. If it's a union job then you'll be shown the door if the pay isn't considered 'enough'

Oh and p.s. To LaynaER- new grad BSN's make the same in many areas as an associates, good luck there.

Where I live, we get BSN differential. It's not much at all (1500-2000) but there is still a differential. And I know the pay offers are negotiable but she tried to offer me less and I refused. Then she tried offering me $20/hr.

I apologize in advance for the multipile postings!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Sorry but nursing home experience doesn't count as experience where I live.

And instead you're...doing what?

I can tell that my posts are getting under your skin and I apologize. I guess I just don't understand the rationale of preferring to make NO money, and get NO experience, instead of taking what you can get, making $20/hour, gaining some nursing experience, while still looking.

But I guess I'm coming from a place of having a husband and children that need my wage-earning potential, and not having the luxury of turning down a $20/hour job, preferring to earn nothing instead.

As far as what you SHOULD make - you're only worth what someone's willing to pay you (you in general, not specifically).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The problem with your deconstruction (nothing more, nothing less) is that you are discounting the fact that a two-year nursing degree is not comparable to other two year degrees: for example, Associate in Arts or Science from a community college. It is a very simple and common achievement to go two years full time and get those other associate's degrees, it is extremely rare to find a ADN graduate who went two years only.

Take any number of professions: Accounting, Engineering, Marketing, Finance, Computer Science,....you will not find companies hiring Associates and Bachelors degree graduates for the same positions at the same pay rates. The ad will say "Bachelor's in XXX" required.

My inclusion of the GPA requirements is more evidence that an ADN is actually, "quite more" than an AA or AS. There are practically zero requirements to begin a regular Associates of Science or Arts degree. I think you would agree that the requirements to even begin an ADN program are by comparison incredibly stringent.

I was not lamenting the GPA requirement, just pointing out the difference.

Calling an ADN "nothing more, nothing less" than any other two year degree is simply ludicrous. Calling it an extremely challenging to get degree that requires a great deal more time, skill, cost, and effort than other two year degrees would be more accurate.

An ADN is 2 years of coursework. You can draw that out to 10 years, but it's still 2 years of coursework. And the only reason there are "stringent" requirements and you have to take courses like A&PI, II, Micro, etc. before you actually start your nursing classes is because so many people are trying to get into the program that the schools want some way to make the decision easier and weed out some people. Hence, in many programs you are not even considered unless you have all/most of the prereqs. Still, when you finish your program, you will have done 2 years worth of full time coursework, nothing more, nothing less. As for cost? That depends on the school you go to, and I've never heard of a college/university charging more for nursing courses over other courses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am judging their commitment to nursing by their own words they chose to post on a message board.

Right, he had a bit of cynicism in his post. But every other person that has ever become an RN did so because they have an undying passion for service.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion