Questions about pursuing nursing

[Monroe1]

Hi. Sorry if this is long...I have recently been thinking about pursuing a nursing degree. I enjoy my current career, but I'd like to keep my options open in the future. I've looked into various things, and most careers Im not going to be looking at a pay increase, just putting myself in school debt. I already have a bachelors and am about a semester away from a masters in an unrelated field. I currently make around $57k take home pay after taxes, give or take a bit as a bartender in Texas. Would I really be looking at that much of an increase in pay with a nursing career(I'd be going for a two year degree), or would I be needlessly putting myself in more debt, without much return for a much more stressful job? I could also spend a semester getting a teaching certification, but teaching is also less pay, more stress, etc. Nursing seems to be such a booming field.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

No clue what a nursing degree could end up costing you. 57K slinging drinks is more than you will get with an ADN. I make 6 figures.. but is was a long road to get there, and not usual for that degree.

I see nothing in your post regarding your ability to gain entry to a nursing program.. or your desire to do anything other than make money. Nursing takes heart, brains and soul.

Now.. can I have a Margarita.. with twist of lime and a lightly salted rim?

[Monroe1]

Hmm. I spoke with a 2yr college, and was told I can be licensed as an Rn after completion of the two year program, after passing the nclex, and that the 4 yr program would be to get a Bsn. A Lpn certification was not mentioned. The two year program costs approximately $9k. I have all the general education classes, with the exception of one biology course, and must pass the hesi a2 exam. Those are the only requirements for this program. Nursing is something I have been interested in for awhile, but I do not want to pursue it if it will not also be smart financially.

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

Oh my, 57 K for bartending! I had no idea bartending payed so well. Nursing salaries vary by state, sometimes by specialty. In the midwest, with a ADN, you may start at 60K so your increase in pay would not be much. There are nurses who make much more, but then it depends on experience and how badly the employer wants it, how long you work with your employer, working odd hours like nights gets you more $$$ Working without benefits gets you more pay and working two jobs or lots of overtime gets more pay. It's been awhile, but I think I read somewhere average salary in the US is about $40,000/year so if you compare this to nursing salaries, yes nursing pays better. But if we compare it to your bartending salary, not much more.

I'm a day dreamer so I like to think one should choose a career based on what you like doing and the money will follow. If nothing else, your hapiness will follow. There is nothing worse than being confined to a space for 40 hours, doing something you don't enjoy.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Oh gosh, I wish those 'advisors' would be more truthful with prospective nursing students, particularly for anyone who is primarily attracted to nursing for financial reasons. For instance, OP needs to be informed that hospitals in major metro areas are only employing BSN nurses. The settings that employ ADN nurses do not offer salaries as high as hospital jobs. It's not unusual for new grads (even BSNs) to struggle for quite a while to get their first nursing jobs.

The "average salaries" for nurses quoted in the media reflect a wide range of nursing tenure. It would be more accurate to report median salaries thereby removing the effect of the few "bell end" nurses at higher ranges of income. New grads may begin with salaries that seem to be higher than other entry-level professionals, but there is severe salary compression afterward. Average annual increases for nurses are around 2% nationwide - this does not keep pace with cost of living increases.

We AN'ers can be counted on to provide true, factual information. Here's the data

[Monroe1]

Thank yall for your input. I Still like the idea of nursing, even though it doesn't seem like it will give me much of a jump in salary. I know I could make a lot more bartending if I worked at the right place, I know some who make six figures. However, I'm content with where I work, and I'm all about having a job that makes me happy. I just like to look to the future, and a nursing degree seems to be a good thing to fall back on if I get burnt out. I also might attend nursing school, and realize I absolutely love it and that it is truly the career for me! Thank for the realistic salary info, the statistics I have been reading seemed to be all over the place.