do physical therapists make more money than RNs?

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I was just curious...thanks!

Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

Jen - just wondering what you signature means:

"A degree may not be the same as an education - but they run hand in hand."

I think that until nursing can charge hospitals for our services and totally govern itself and not allow the profession to be walked all over by those who write our paychecks it doesn't matter what degree one has because SOMEONE ELSE will determine our fate. And usually that someone else will not have our best interests in mind.

We need to write our own rules in all areas of practice from salaries to staffing, and we don't. Nursing does not have the leadership to to do this. While the organizations and associations that represent us talk talk talk, they haven't the backbone to stand up and say enough is enough.

There needs to be solid nationwide movement to unite all of nursing for one single cause...ourselves. But while we advocate until we're blue in the face or to the point of getting fired for our patients, we sorely let our own selves and each other down by strongly and passionately butting heads, for example, about who has a more worthy education!

We're demanding respect when we don't even respect each other.

Ridiculous.

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what about PTA's? Does anyone know what they make?

I am not sure what PTA's make, but COTA's (which is what I am in school studying to be) in my area make around $20- $25 an hour.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.
I think if nurses want to be valued for their higher education then they need to take harder classes in the sciences instead of survey classes or science for allied health.

What program did you graduate from? I took hard sciences. I have two associate degrees, one in math and one in Biology. Most ADNs have to take Micro, Anatomy and Physilogy, and at a minimum Chemistry and Algebra.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.
well then, that's funny bc i also agree.

imagine for a minute every rn having a bachelor's degree. every single rn. no, really imagine it. imagine...... imagine rn's united in their education.

imagine wat pts would think. how they might see us. imagine physicians knowing that we all have college degrees.... bachelor's degrees in science....JUST LIKE THEY have! imagine our managers approaching us intelligently knowing we have the SAME degree as they do.

imagine..... educational unity among registered nurses. a basic bachelor's degree.

will we EVER get there? every one else is.

and i will say this on my death bed, there is NO shortage of nurses...check your state's licensing board for the numbers.

Continue to imagine what you are proposing... that would be the equivalent of imagining world peace.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
But while we advocate until we're blue in the face or to the point of getting fired for our patients, we sorely let our own selves and each other down by strongly and passionately butting heads, for example, about who has a more worthy education!

We're demanding respect when we don't even respect each other.

Ridiculous.

This is really well written. You really hit the nail on the head. We do more damage to our profession because of this than any educational requirements. I have never been as disrespected by a doctor as I have by another nurse. Sad..

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Then why do nurses who earn BSNs not deserve more money than nurses who only have Associates Degrees and Diplomas? Why does nursing still have Associates Degree and Diplomas as an entry into practice? All other health care professionals have increased their entry into practice except nursing Nurses still fight for their God Given Right to remain under- educated.

In the REAL WORLD WITH A REAL JOB, individuals who have extended themselves to earn a higher degree, and higher work specialty qualifications,(ex. CCRN), are rewarded with higher pay, regardless what the entry into practice is.

Unfortunately, in the REAL WORLD OF NURSING, there are still too many nurses who do not value higher education, only want to do the minimum time in school, and are threatened by nurses who achieve above what "the average bear" achieves". The only way to validate their self worth and self importance, is to deny higher pay to nurses who earn the higher college degrees and the specialty certifications. Why do nurses remain with such a low entry into practice? It is because it is easier for the hospitals to control us, and continue to deskill, and de professionize nursing. And the more that nurses fight the change to increase the entry into a practice to a BSN, the harder it is to make it a reality. And the ANA is only to happy to accomodate them, and make the hospitals, the hospital associations, MDs and the AMA, happy. They pay the ANA more than nurses do anyway.

$$$, by the way, is the reason that nurses who earn BSNs don't stay in bedside nursing. Why should they? When they can go outside of the hospital

and earn more money and have better working conditions and more respect. That is why I left and went into Legal Nursing.

It is really a shame that nurses can agree, respect, and accept, that Physical Therapists earn more money than they do. "because they went to school longer than we do". I went to school with these people. They are not geniuses. They have the same pre- requisites for their program that nurses do, as well as PE Majors. I was told point blank by these people, that the reason that Physical Therapists decided to increase their entry into practice, was to keep their numbers low, keep themselves in demand. And maintain control of their profession. And of course, earn more money.

Nursing programs are difficult as well. They are nothing to be taken lightly, and have a high drop out rate. And lets not forget, who is at the patient's bedside 24 and 7? It is not the Physical Therapists. Here in low paying Spokane, Physical Therapist make over $80,000 a year in a hospital, as do Occupational Therapists. Nurses average about $45,000. Does anyone really believe that the work that a hospital nurse does is not worth at least what a Physical Therapist earns? If you really believe that, than I know why nursing is such a low paying profession. Our own peers think even think that we are not worth far more than we are paid, and should, by virtue of the low entry into practice, should remain underpaid. Unbelievable. JMHO.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

ITA. Nurses simply do not realize their worth. If we did, we would also upgrade to requiring a PHD to keep our numbers low, thus be in demand. However, the politicians would probably start importing even more nurses from foreign countries. The fact that we have to compete with these imported nurses should tell you our worth.

I had to laugh about the part that we bring comfort. We do inflict a lot of pain, however unwillingly.

Also, you don't see anyone but nurses cleaning stool, etc., or hear families screaming at anyone but nurses.

And who is there 24 hours a day (and night)? Not to mention, have you ever seen PT or OT or ST done on a Sunday, a holiday, or even a Saturday afternoon? Not even after 5 pm Monday through Friday.

No. This thread has really opened my eyes. If I have the chance to influence Nursing to appreciate our value, I will do so. And until we are paid what these other professionals are paid, I cannot in good conscience suggest Nursing to anyone.

Also, I graduated from a 2 year school, went back for a BSN, then became an NP. That's a dang lot of school to make only about what an BSN makes. I know there those NP's who make more but they will never make what an MD makes, despite doing as good a job as MD's do and doing just about everything MD's do. We are limited only by the law, not by our unwillingness or inability.

I hope you younger nurses will see the light

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Specializes in L&D.
I think if nurses want to be valued for their higher education then they need to take harder classes in the sciences instead of survey classes or science for allied health.

What are survey classes? I don't know what world you live in, but I certainly took hard classes in sciences. Microbiology, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Cadaver Lab, Pathophysiology... etc.:wakeneo:

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What are survey classes? I don't know what world you live in, but I certainly took hard classes in sciences. Microbiology, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Cadaver Lab, Pathophysiology... etc.:wakeneo:

Just because you may have taken these courses doesn't mean that is the norm for BSN programs. In fact, I know it isn't.

I've taken all the prerequisites required for a BSN at the colleges in my state and online, and in general, the prerequisites are the same across the board at the schools I have checked into (which is about 10).

In my opinion, unless a person who has an ASN is wanting to go to graduate school, in terms of practicality, it doesn't make a lot of sense to get a BSN for the sake of getting a BSN. I see where BSN's in my area are careerwise compared to ASN's and there ain't a dimes worth of difference. It would be like spinning my wheels to get a BSN at this point.

But now, physical therapy, that bachelor's degree might be worth going after, as far as the money goes. It just isn't something that interests me.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
:wakeneo:

Off topic, but what the heck does this mean?

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
Off topic, but what the heck does this mean?

Thank you for asking that. I've been wondering too. I think it could be short for "wake up neocon" but I'm not sure. That definately would not fit it's common usage in the forum.

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where I work you get more per hour for starting pay if you have a BSN.

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where I work you get more per hour for starting pay if you have a BSN.

Oh yea, they do that here, too...something like .25...that's enough to make me want to go back to school for sure (not)...:uhoh3:

I don't know what this means, but since it's probably something sassy here it is...:wakeneo:

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