"Big Money"

Published

I just read a thread on here in which a member who claims to be a student says that after she finishes school, she will be making "big money" to pay for loans.

I personally wen to nursing, because I love and respect the career, and to get a job to pay for my expenses (I have a baby)........ and so I would better myself in the world, and not stay a CNA forever!

I get paid $22.53/hr and if I work weekeneds they add $0.50Cents/hr

I tell people to go into nursing because of the love of helping people, not because of money.

I think that in the first semester that is why only 50% make it (well in my school at least), because only half of us had the heart & soul to put up with sadness our instructors made us go thru, and because we knew in our hearts that, THAT is what we wanted to do for a living.

People have no common sense, and think that nursing is so "glamorous"..... when we have to change big people diapers, bathe big people, have butts in our faces, vomit on our arms & not to mention being up on our feet for 12 hours of a day/night, following "orders" ............ and all of this headache for $22 per hour???

I LOVE WHAT I DO........ and I love it not for my $22 per hour, but I love it because I know that I am helping a human being in their time of need, I am part of a team that helps people get better... now that is what I love.

:typing

Specializes in Utilization Management.
I never, in any other profession, heard people talking so much about how they did not go to school because of the money, than in nursing. What's up with that?

Way back in the days of the dinosaurs, when nursing was a young profession, nurses were nun-like and claimed only to have a vocation to serve. Had very little to do with money.

That "Martyr Mary" stereotype is yet another myth that persists to the detriment of our profession. After all, why pay a decent wage to nurses? It'll only attract those who are only in it for the money. :rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

I agree with those that said its all relative. The most I ever made an hour before nursing school was $7 bucks an hour, so the thought of being able to bring home a paycheck that actually pays the bills was a huge motivating factor in going to college. If I could find a job that paid as much as nursing, with the same job availability and security, that kept me as interested and busy everyday, I'd probably have saved the 5 years in school and $18,000 I spent on my education!!

That being said, I don't think ANYONE should go into ANY career just for the money. Money fades away but job satisfaction is what really makes you happy at the end of the day.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).
Way back in the days of the dinosaurs, when nursing was a young profession, nurses were nun-like and claimed only to have a vocation to serve. Had very little to do with money.

That "Martyr Mary" stereotype is yet another myth that persists to the detriment of our profession. After all, why pay a decent wage to nurses? It'll only attract those who are only in it for the money. :rolleyes:

There are times when I sort of almost think it might be a little sad to win a big lottery jackpot and have to give up all of this. Mostly, though, adjusting to newfound wealth is a challenge I would be willing to undertake.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Money and Caring are BOTH important to me. This is why I chose nursing. My husband and I are self-employed and pay over $1,000 per month for health insurance....this is with a $5,000 deductable!

We have 3 kids and one of them has epilepsy. No health insurance is NOT an option. This is what propelled me into the desperate search for a new career. But along with choosing a job for the money & insurance I personally needed to choose a job that included making a difference in the lives of others....where my natural tendancies to nurture and care can shine. I'm only about to start school....so I'm a tad horrified at this point....but determined and ready for the storm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

well when the median income in your city is $32k, and your looking at making at least $45-55k... thats big money.

Minimum wage is $6.25.... when I graduate I will make AT LEAST $18.50 an hour... thats HUGE money.

Grannit, thats not the primary reason I choose this career path... but there ought to be some incidentive for doing this work? Don't you think?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, "Big Money" is indeed relative...ironically, since I'm in the field of corporate real estate, many people around me are under the impression that I will be taking a big pay cut to be a nurse, but, no so...the pay, in dollars and cents will be about the same. I'm not a big wig in the industry, nor do I own anything...so no big bucks for me. The range and flexibility of career options, plus the opportunity to work shifts and with people is what draws me to nursing.

I find it intriguing that there are certain professions where it is "socially undesirable" to be in it for the money or other perks. What would these be? Nurses, teachers, religious leaders and servers...etc. Now, if we were to flip things around and place ourselves as the recipients of such services, what would our priority be? The reasons behind a person's entry to a profession? Or, perhaps, their level of competence, integrity and professionalism? I'm willing to say that the two are generally unrelated...As a patient or student, the latter is my priority. And really, to attract competent and engaged individuals...you need to pay them well!

I'm going to be a nurse, I will be a competent professional...and I expect to be compensated for my skills, knowledge and service.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

Nursing is a tough job with an exteme amount of responsibility and I truly believe that nurses should be compensated as the professionals that they are and they should not consider is the least bit wrong to demand appropriate compensation. After all Nightingale nursed in a much simpler time in many respects.

I have been admitted to a BSN program and although I enjoy nursing most of the time, I am furthering my education to increase my opportunities and paycheque. I have children and a spouse who has a progressive disease so money has to be a priority.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursing is a tough job with an exteme amount of responsibility and I truly believe that nurses should be compensated as the professionals that they are and they should not consider is the least bit wrong to demand appropriate compensation. After all Nightingale nursed in a much simpler time in many respects.

I have been admitted to a BSN program and although I enjoy nursing most of the time, I am furthering my education to increase my opportunities and paycheque. I have children and a spouse who has a progressive disease so money has to be a priority.

You're exactly right. Nurses should be compensated for their services appropriately. In Pensacola, Florida there are 3 hospitals - Baptist, Sacred Heart, and West Florida Regional Medical Center. All 3 work with each other at keeping pay low so that neither hospital pays out significant dollars. One reason theya re able to do that is because of the Navy Base here. Many of the wives of Navy personnel don't have to work but do it to get out of the house or just be productive. Nursing is one of the few jobs where they can up and relocate on the spur of a moment, as a military member must do, so it's perfect for them. Since they usually work PRN, benefits and normal hours don't bother them, because they get all that with their significant other. The people who live in town get screwed though, because the Hospitals use this fact to their advantage, continuing to pay peanuts for hourly pay.

My wife was getting $18.29 hourly working in the NICU with a BSN. I was working as a Surgical Tech at a veterinarian while she was in school, making $15.75 hourly, with no degree. We're looking very forward to when I finally finish the nursing program, get my bsn, then we're moving the hell out of this place where pay is at least halfway decent. It's not possible to live on that kind of salary with a 4 member household.

Dallas here we come? kididng :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My husband and I agreed that I would be a stay-at-home mom. After my youngest started kindergarten, I decided to work for the school system (in the special education department) so I could continue to be home with them when they did not have school. Then I decided to pursue a dream of mine - to be a nurse. One reason was to have a rewarding job and second for a descent income. After struggling for almost 15 years, my family can finally breath and enjoy the advantages of a two person income. In my situation, the money helps but you also have to have the right heart to be an RN!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Author/Business Coach.

Why would you even consider going into a career after all that schooling and student loan debt WITHOUT caring what you made? Do you know that gas will more than likely hit $4.00 a gallon soon? I don't consider myself greedy for wanting to get compenstated well for what I do. I have bills to pay. A mortgage AND an apt, school, ect....How else am I going to pay this? With the smiles and thanks I get from my patients on an occasional basis?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/ER.

I went into nursing for purely selfish reasons. We had 4 kids and were doing OK on one income, but as they children got older so did their expenses. Where else could I work part time, nights and weekend and make 20 some bucks an hour??? FYI I am not stripper material!!!

I didnt go into nursing lightly, I became a CNA before I started nursing school just to make sure this is what I wanted to do before I subjected myself and my family into the commitment of me going back to school.

I love what I do, I love being a nurse. I didn't join the profession because I had an overwhelming calling to save a life--I think I am as good of a nurse as someone who did have a "calling" into the profession.

I also love being able to work just 3 nights a week and basically still be a stay at home mom. I also love getting a decent pay check.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

FLA illustrates the fallacy of right to work for less. I make 22 something an hour now (not as a nurse) in MN.

The average starting pay for rural RNs is over 25/hr in Southern MN. 27 in MPLS.

Nurses deserve premium pay because we need a license to work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion