OK, I have a big beef here. I'm currently in my first year of nursing, and I feel like I have to say something regarding nurses complaining about their pay.
Reading these boards, I just came across someone who said they make $34 an hour in Ontario, and they were telling someone that if they're looking to make money, go into accouting or something. THis just floored me!
$34 and hour!!!! How can you tell me that is not making money? Many many nurses who work in Ontario get WAY less than that.
I just really don't understand.
People are always saying, "if you're in this profession to make money, get out because you won't be rich." This is ridiculous. I live in SK Canada, where nurses make $24 starting (I think) or if not, it's very close to that figure. That is considered a WELL paying job. How can you not live comfortably on pay like that? I know many many many many people who make considerably less than that, and they do just fine.
Some nurses say that there is no money in nursing. Has anyone heard of a Nurse Practitioner? I know they don't make millions, but they do make more than RN's, some even make 6 figures. I am going to be one. Once I'm an RN, I'm working in the ER for one year, then returning to school for a 30 week course. YOu don't have to be a genious to do this either.
I know that you have to love nursing to be in it. You CANNOT be in it JUST FOR THE MONEY, but it makes me mad when people say THERE IS NO MONEY. Some areas pay nurses more than others.
I know it's a lot of work, it's stressful, and it's a hard job, and I know that many people (including me) feel that we should be payed more for what we do, but come on people. Doesn't it make you mad when people who make $34 an hour complain they don't have enough money? Do you spend foolishly? The cost of living in Ont is higher than SK, but $34 an hour is STILL much more than many many people in that prov make.
You know the old real estate mantra - location, location, location? Well, I think its corollary is perspective, perspective, perspective ... I hate to see people getting irate with one another over whether $34/hr., or any other figure you want to pull out of the air, is "enough."
Reading this thread, it becomes obvious that we're all coming from widely different scenarios, so it becomes almost impossible to define what's a "good" pay rate. What does $34/hr. mean to you? That depends on what you make now, what you've made in the past, your individual financial circumstances, and the cost of living where you choose to live. Several people have brought up the "average" annual RN pay of somewhere in the neighborhood of $50K - but that's a meaningless number until you put in context. Here in western PA housing is quite inexpensive compared to other parts of the country, and a single person could own a home and live comfortably on 50K - and a frugal family could probably manage to squeak by as well. But there are many areas of the country where an annual income of $50K means renting an apartment with 2 or more other roommates. I have been a stay-at-home mom for several years, so when I graduate and am working, my household income (even when you factor in the tax implications) will increase about 35%. Not too shabby. But that's just my situation, and has absolutely no meaning to anyone else.
For those of you who are young and just starting out, rest assured, there's always "sticker shock" over just how much life costs, no matter what field you choose.
The other issue is whether nurses get paid enough for the level of responsibility that the profession demands. Everyone can name a far less skilled position that doesn't involve life & death responsibility that pays more than a nursing position. There's an absurdity to that that would be funny if it weren't so tragic. But that's something that we need to all work together on - increasing the education and professionalism of our field.
Let's not beat each other up over something that's indefinable.
I don't think anyone is beating anyone up, I don't think everyone is aware of how much it cost to live in different places. It is not always about living beyond your means.The difference in cost of living is quite vast in the state of California itself.
Attached in an address that talks about what one has to make to afford housing in various places.
You all are forgetting that 34$ was Canadian.... So it's more like 24$ an hour. This is the top of the payscale after 9 years and it doesn't matter if you live in the city where things are insanely expensive or in the country where the cost of living is good.
I was referring to some posts in this thread that had gotten kinda testy ... we all get very emotional when it comes to $$$, but I was just trying to make the point that how much is "enough", or what's a "good" pay rate is a very individual thing, and not something objective that we can really meaningfully debate the pros and cons on.
Just trying to toss in my 2 cents, and cool things down a bit.
The other issue is whether nurses get paid enough for the level of responsibility that the profession demands. Everyone can name a far less skilled position that doesn't involve life & death responsibility that pays more than a nursing position. There's an absurdity to that that would be funny if it weren't so tragic.
I understand your point, but I'm not sure I agree with you. I've seen people on this website complain that some auto workers get paid more than some nurses, and they're "just auto workers". BUT, let them decide to start cutting corners and not do their job, and see what happens. Try having a wheel dislodge because it wasn't attached properly while you're tearing down the highway trying to make it to work on time. Their decisions ARE life-and-death decisions, it's just not as immediate an effect as in the healthcare field.
I've also seen people on this site complain that some electricians and construction workers make more than some nurses, and they're "just electricians and construction workers". Let them cut corners and not build a building, house, or road properly, and see whether it's a life-or-death decision. Same for an electrician who's wiring a house or a building - let them not ground switches, or leave wires exposed, and see whether it's a life-or-death decision.
Are restaurant managers important? Their decisions can be life-or-death. How about referees for your children's soccer/football/etc. game? Their decisions can be life-or-death. I could go on, but hopefully you see my point.
Don't get me wrong, nurses are **incredibly** important, but I've seen a lot of what seems to be a "We're more important than anyone else on the planet" tone in some people's posts on this site. You want people to understand how important and difficult your job is, but you don't want to give credit to anyone else for the level of difficulty/responsibility in their jobs (and get mad if they do that to you). Cultivating a respect for other people's professions may help you not get as bent out of shape about your own.
I agree with the last post. Unfortunately the people we depend on for so much, mostly service workers, make the least. It is easy to take for granted what the electrician does or autoworker you are right if they did their job haphazardly we might need even more nurses!
However our athletes and stars make plenty? That is another topic for dicussion.
my husbad is an electrician and let me tell you when someone has a major electrical problem, they want it done ASAP. everything we use runs off of electricity and we take it for granted so often. My husband is always taking "2" minutes to fix an exposed or hot wire that someone hasn't noticed in their home. We have a 2 yr old and he's always making sure their aren't exposed wires wherever we go because she could touch one. these people have incredibly important jobs that we take for granted. On a side note licensing permits and electrical equipment isn't cheap so these aren't generally making out like bandits!
I make a decent salary, but the costs of commuting make a good argument for me to stay and work in the community where I live (if I could find a job here), for the pay difference between here and there is $6.00/hr. I'm actually making MORE money, by being on disability, for I am saving $400/month, just by staying at home!
Altra, BSN, RN
6,255 Posts
You know the old real estate mantra - location, location, location? Well, I think its corollary is perspective, perspective, perspective ... I hate to see people getting irate with one another over whether $34/hr., or any other figure you want to pull out of the air, is "enough."
Reading this thread, it becomes obvious that we're all coming from widely different scenarios, so it becomes almost impossible to define what's a "good" pay rate. What does $34/hr. mean to you? That depends on what you make now, what you've made in the past, your individual financial circumstances, and the cost of living where you choose to live. Several people have brought up the "average" annual RN pay of somewhere in the neighborhood of $50K - but that's a meaningless number until you put in context. Here in western PA housing is quite inexpensive compared to other parts of the country, and a single person could own a home and live comfortably on 50K - and a frugal family could probably manage to squeak by as well. But there are many areas of the country where an annual income of $50K means renting an apartment with 2 or more other roommates. I have been a stay-at-home mom for several years, so when I graduate and am working, my household income (even when you factor in the tax implications) will increase about 35%. Not too shabby. But that's just my situation, and has absolutely no meaning to anyone else.
For those of you who are young and just starting out, rest assured, there's always "sticker shock" over just how much life costs, no matter what field you choose.
The other issue is whether nurses get paid enough for the level of responsibility that the profession demands. Everyone can name a far less skilled position that doesn't involve life & death responsibility that pays more than a nursing position. There's an absurdity to that that would be funny if it weren't so tragic. But that's something that we need to all work together on - increasing the education and professionalism of our field.
Let's not beat each other up over something that's indefinable.
Just my two cents ...