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

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

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

How do you make $100,000 as a nurse? I have known nurses in management with several degrees & they don't make this much.

Have they done a lot of extra study?

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Not a nurse yet, but for a 22 year old such as myself, making $35 - 45(Socal) an hour IS real money to me.

You will not be making this money right out of nursing school though.

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How do you make $100,000 as a nurse? I have known nurses in management with several degrees & they don't make this much.

Have they done a lot of extra study?

She works for a public hospital and doing home health care.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I owned my own business and sold it for a good profit. it was eating me alive. I make 1/2 of what i made as a owner of an insurance agency. But I love this and did not do this because of the money. I work in LTC and love every minuet. it is not the highest pay area but it is undeserved and needs good nurses.

I live in a rural area and make double of what the average income is.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
How do you make $100,000 as a nurse? I have known nurses in management with several degrees & they don't make this much.

Have they done a lot of extra study?

Join the military or USPHS....

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

Is that figure before or after tax? And what benefits do you get?

Before. I get an great HMO, drugs, vision, dental, pension, disability, 401k, vacation and sick leave.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.
Oh please. Stop with the dramatics. Picking a profession based on salary is a valid reason. You would hope that the people in nursing are caring, nurturing people, but the fact one wants to make a 'healthy' salary or 'make real money' does not negate one's nurturing character.

I really hope you can find a job. It's no fun being unemployed. While I'm thankful I have a job, trust me, I could and quite frankly should be making more money for all the work that I do. And I'm not going to apologize for thinking that way. My patients love me and my co-workers respect me, so I'm good.[/quote

Thank you well said. I wanted to make a difference.... But had to make enough to support a family!!!! MONEY was a factor... but I also love this work.

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Specializes in Hospice.

Im starting out with what i think is Great pay . I have a bsn (which does not affect my pay) but my husband who has worked his same job for 9 years with his bachelor in business makes the same as my bare minimum (average of 28 hours a week) working 48 hours a week (he is salary and ot is expected) that i will make. My sister is a teacher and i will make more than her easily.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.
Join the military or USPHS....

Ha ha! I would if I was 23 years younger! Quite fancied the airforce..

But am too old now!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

My husband (also an RN) and I make twice to three times the average household income for the area. On our RN incomes, we were able to pay off $70K in consumer debt over two years, and in about 2 years, we will have 50% down to put on a house. Three years after that, we hope to have the house paid off in full.

We both have associate's degrees. Oh, and our student loans for these degrees? $6000. Total. For both degrees.

I would call that real money.

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Sometimes it is more than the money. I owned my own company doing construction work and was making great money, when the getting was good. It had it's ups and downs. I got tired of the roller coaster and finally the bottom falling out. With nursing you may not get rich like a pilot making $12,000 a month. But you can take your family on vacation and afford your bills. Stability speaks volumes!!!

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First I feel this profession was right for me and I enjoy caring for people and making a difference. I'm not naive and think that everyone pays attention to what we say but occasionally they do and I like that. But I also like the fact that being a nurse you can almost always find a job. It may not be what you want and may not be perfect but you can find a job and support your family. I don't think anyone can say money wasn't somewhere in the equation when deciding to become a nurse?!?! And BTW I was 30 when I finally went to school to become a nurse but had always wanted to be a teacher or a nurse!

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