Salary question??

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Ive been doing a lot of reading on this site and noticed that alot of people complain about pay. However, I read classifieds, sallary.com, and testimonials on here as well that are saying 50-60 grand a year. While your not getting rich, this seems like a pretty decent salary, espically when it only requires 2 years of school to become an RN.Anyone explain?

Why do you think nursing offers such great job security? There are a lot of nursing positions out there that are vacant simply because no one wants them. Of course there is going to be security if you are willing to fill that slot, because there is no one else who will fill it. Nursing is secure largely because of turnover and nurses leaving the bedside. That leaves not enough nurses left to go around, which creates a "shortage".

It's for that reason. For instance, when I was a computer operator, I tried so hard to find a job that paid a decent amount. But everyone and their brother knows this is a generation of technology and they all went into computers. There are no job openings. And then there are people like my uncle he got a degree in computers got laid off now he is a mechanic! The jobs may be "crappy bedside" jobs, but at least there are jobs! That is called job security. Not to mention I moved to DC to get a job in computers. In nursing I don't have to stay in a big city to have a decent job. I'm tired of explaining myslef especially since most of you believe that I have no right to talk since I am not a nurse yet. Just google for the top careers. You will see nursing at the top.

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No worries, thank you for the kind reply:) Sometimes I CAN come off as negative. I try NEVER to vent at work and do use this message board for that release. I suppose I should thank you for the perspective. I NEED TO MEDITATE MORE; I LOVE MY JOB, I LOVE MY JOB------BUT SERIOUSLY, I DO LOVE MY JOB. I just wish my work was more facilitated by the powers that be. I am strong, don't get me wrong. I do try to be that pillar at work; but sometimes I fall down. You feel me?

OMG Yes! I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect job. There are always times you will need to vent. It's one of those grass is greener on the other side type of things. I don't know though. I am so excited and can't wait to start my career. I know there will be times when I will hate it but right now I'm ready to finish school and start working.

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The issue of how much one makes is not really that important.So many people make a lot less money yet they have more savings and live comfortable lives. As the others have said,we need to keenly look at the cost of living in different parts of the country before we make any conclusions. Also,most people report salaries of $ 50-60 thousand because of the shift diffs, incentives or they work with certain agencies that pays a lot more . There is always room for improvement. Either, someone can go back to school and become a NP,CRNA,or step up to administration where there is slightly more pay than being a staff nurse.

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I have yet to see a program that requires nothing in the way of pre-requisites. For my program, I had to take:

Biology

A&P 1 and 2

Microbiology

Speech

English comp 1 and 2

Nutrition for healthcare workers

Human Growth and Development

Marriage and Family

Psychology

College Algebra

That's 40 hours of coursework before you can enter the program. In all honesty, I think these classes have prepared me for the nursing program. I think each of the pre-requisites are pertinent to the program and I don't see how a nursing program could teach all these classes in addition to the nursing classes. Some students have been able to get into the program without a few of these classes, provided they are all complete by the third of the five semesters in the nursing program, but most students have them all completed by the time they enter. Junior/community colleges can't hand out a 3.5 year degree, and most adult students need these classes as refreshers if they've been out of school for a long period of time.

The only classes I will need in addition to my 2 year ADN degree are economics and chemistry (which I can take during ADN program) in order to do an RN-BSN program. My local 4 year university has a wretched NCLEX pass rate due to the poor instruction. I would not have considered going there. I wouldn't think a student should automatically go for a BSN over an ADN without first considering the quality of the education first. The program I am in has a 98% NCLEX pass rate whereas the 4 year university has a 74% pass rate. For me it was a no brainer. BSN does not always equate to a better education. For a lot of us ADN program people, we are getting a very comparable education in less time than a 4 year program. In 3 years (including pre-requisites) I will be able to work as an RN, whereas I would have to wait 4 years if I got a BSN. Let's look at the numbers:

4 Year BSN cost of tuition:

10k year (I'm using my local university as an example)=40k

**can't work as a nurse for 4 years**

2 year ADN program (plus 1.5 years of pre-requisites)cost of tuition:

4k per year=14k

Can work as RN after 3 years

Online RN-BSN:

6k per year (using amounts from the program I will be doing)=6k

Total cost of ADN with bridge program=20k but in my first year as RN (year 3 of education) I can make 50k.

Total cost of BSN=40k and has to wait 4 years to earn any of that back.

Summary:

4.5 years = BSN at cost of 20k but offset by 50k you earn after 3.5 years=net profit of 30k

4 years=BSN at cost of 40k, after five years, net profit=10k

Math looks better w/ ADN-BSN in my opinion.

Adri

I strongly agree your opinion. I have the same choose as you. I know the BSN that is required in a long run to get better promotion, but it can be waited until you are ready. study while earning money!! what a perfect plan. haha!!haa!

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Specializes in Policy, Emergency OR, Peds OR, CVOR.
I strongly agree your opinion. I have the same choose as you. I know the BSN that is required in a long run to get better promotion, but it can be waited until you are ready. study while earning money!! what a perfect plan. haha!!haa!

me too! I can finish all my pre-reqs for the ADN & BSN at the local Community College for waaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than the university! After I finish my ADN I can take the RN-BSN courses online form the university and they let you do your clinicals where you work!

I figure either way it will take 4 years to do it.

3 years ADN

1 year RN-BSN

or

4 years BSN

My way I get paid during the last year!

:yeah:

mo

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It's for that reason. For instance, when I was a computer operator, I tried so hard to find a job that paid a decent amount. But everyone and their brother knows this is a generation of technology and they all went into computers. There are no job openings. And then there are people like my uncle he got a degree in computers got laid off now he is a mechanic! The jobs may be "crappy bedside" jobs, but at least there are jobs! That is called job security. Not to mention I moved to DC to get a job in computers. In nursing I don't have to stay in a big city to have a decent job. I'm tired of explaining myslef especially since most of you believe that I have no right to talk since I am not a nurse yet. Just google for the top careers. You will see nursing at the top.

What, you think we don't get tired of people who have never worked as a nurse telling us what nursing is like??? I sure don't need google to tell me what nursing is like. Why? BECAUSE I HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED AS A NURSE! :uhoh3:

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I strongly agree your opinion. I have the same choose as you. I know the BSN that is required in a long run to get better promotion, but it can be waited until you are ready. study while earning money!! what a perfect plan. haha!!haa!

HEY ARE YOU BY ANY CHANCE USING THE EXCELSIOR COLLEGE RN TO BSN PRORAM? That's what I'm doing. I couldn't agree more with the previous postings. In my area the local community college (College of Marin) puts out an OUTSTANDING RN for a mere fraction of the cost. I would like to point out though--if you know a BSN is your ultimate goal, it COULD be cheaper--certainly take less time in the LONG-RUN to go to a 4 year school. All those prerequistes count toward your degree; but you'd really have to look at your choices, quality/cost wise. Excelsior is one of the ONLY programs I've found that will use almost all the coursework a person can bring in. They are nationally ranked/accredited and since they are using so many of my credits--somewhat affordable. Even University of Phoenix has a cap on how many units you can bring into their program. It took me long time to feel comfortable enough to actually start the Excelsior Program because of the cost and the fact that it is self-paced----I THINK I'M ON A ROLL:), and I made the right decision. I would not have been able to afford a BSN from the beginning either. Getting into the job market and gaining experience has proven to be a good move--at least for me.

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What, you think we don't get tired of people who have never worked as a nurse telling us what nursing is like??? I sure don't need google to tell me what nursing is like. Why? BECAUSE I HAVE ACTUALLY WORKED AS A NURSE! :uhoh3:

You may know what nursing is like but you obviously don't know what it's like OUTSIDE of nursing or you wouldn't be so bold with your statements.

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My whole point in this debate is not to say that nursing is the best job and I'm not saying I know what it is like to be a nurse. Nursing has been said time and time again to be one of the best professions to go into, because it is secure and offers decent pay. So it isn't easy, THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED WORK! I suggest that if all of you nurses that hate your job and think other jobs are sooo much easier that you quit and try it out for a while so that you can see how it really is. Take of your rose colored glasses the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
My whole point in this debate is not to say that nursing is the best job and I'm not saying I know what it is like to be a nurse. Nursing has been said time and time again to be one of the best professions to go into, because it is secure and offers decent pay. So it isn't easy, THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED WORK! I suggest that if all of you nurses that hate your job and think other jobs are sooo much easier that you quit and try it out for a while so that you can see how it really is. Take of your rose colored glasses the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

1. I do not recall any of us saying that we hated our jobs.

2. We KNOW it's work.

3. Some of us have done other jobs. I personally know of two nurses who took a pay cut to become nurses.

4. Most of us are not in it for the money OR the "job security". We're in it because we enjoy taking care of people. There's no other explanation for how we give so much and get so little back, relatively speaking.

5. Rose-colored glasses? Greener on the other side? :lol2: None of us ever said we were going anywhere, so relax. We'll be there to teach you what you won't learn in school.

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You may know what nursing is like but you obviously don't know what it's like OUTSIDE of nursing or you wouldn't be so bold with your statements.

I HAVE worked OUTSIDE of nursing. I do know both sides of the equation. YOU are the one that does not. I have every right to be bold with my statements because I DO have the first-hand knowledge. It would serve you better to not make assumptions about people you know nothing about.

I'm done here.

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Specializes in Pediatric ER.
pedser-rn:uhoh21: if you aren't making at least 19-20 an hour base pay you need a raise. that is average for new grads in the houston, dallas, austin areas.

i'll say, lol. our yearly raise is 4% (max) of our base pay. i've always gotten the 4%, but it really doesn't add up to much when the base is low to begin with. i've been looking at other hospitals in the area and they're about $2 higher, although there is a specialty hosp. (cardiac-not my forte) in the area that's about $4 higher base. and col is also lower here than dallas/fw. but yeah, i think $16.25 is crappy.

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