Ricky Gervais joked at the Golden Globes about Jennifer Lawrence surviving on $52 million a year. He mentioned nurses, and recognized that not everyone gets that kind of paycheck. I had some thoughts this morning I wanted to share.
It's 5 a.m. and the alarm clock is blaring. Here we go again. I really hope I have coffee. I haven't been to the grocery store in five days. Oh well, my pets have food and that's all that matters. I check my purse for some cash. If I'm lucky I might get a 30 min lunch break and the cafeteria doesn't take IOU's. Three bucks, that'll do.
Nursing is a hard job. Helping others during their worst times, their darkest days, takes a toll. My patients cry and so do their families. I cry for them too but not here. Here I have too much to do; my feelings need to be compartmentalized.
A patient down the hall needs water, another needs morphine. A doctor is paging me to the desk, I've got chemotherapy running on two patients, and my 98 year old lady with dementia is trying to climb out of bed for the 3rd time this morning.
The mental exhaustion from trying to stay on task while not daring to make a mistake kicks in about six hours into my shift. Right about the time I think I might have time for a bathroom break. Nope, not now. Sometimes I get scared I'll run out of compassion. Is there a finite amount we're all issued? I'm burning through mine at a rapid rate.
Nine hours on my feet and three and a half more to go. Keep it all in perspective, I remind myself. Keep it together. They need you a little while longer.
On the way home I roll down the window to keep myself awake. I feel like I could cry now but I don't. Maybe I am jaded after all. The gas light dings, focusing my attention again. I'll have to fill up on a credit card; pay day isn't until next week.
I decline a friend's invitation to go out. I need a shower and my bed. I have to do it all again tomorrow. Perhaps I've forgotten how to socialize. I'll try again on my day off. My next day off finally rolls around and I daydream of a maid service while I scrub my toilet. Guiltily I take my dogs to the park; we could all use some fresh air. They're my equivalent of latch-key kids.
Later, as I mend a whole in my scrub pants I imagine what it would be like to have fancy clothes. A beautiful gown to wear to a party. A vacation. Vacation…it's been years since I've had one. Difficult to do living paycheck to paycheck, with two jobs and a 50k student loan debt. Someday.
I get a call from the daughter of an old woman I'm a hospice volunteer for. She wants to know if I have time to come read to her mother this week. Of course I do. I'll go when I'm finished at the clinic where I donate time helping the underserved in my community. Performing wound care on the feet of a homeless man is a humbling experience.
You see, it's important for me to give back because I have been given so much. There are people who work harder and longer hours than I do. I understand there are some who only dream of having the fortune and opportunities I've had. I am a grateful person. It's embarrassing to complain.
Still, I wonder what it would be like to have millions of dollars. I daydream of a life outside of this daily grind. The peace of mind that comes with financial security eludes me. They say money doesn't buy happiness, but I'd sure be a little cheerier if I could have a house of my own and a working dishwasher, you know?
Nevertheless, we must all play the roles we've been given. This is my life. I have been called to be a nurse. I may struggle now but I work toward a better future, just like everyone else. Mine would make an interesting story, maybe even a movie. I hope they get Jennifer Lawrence to play me. She rocks.
I honestly don't understand this. My knee jerk reaction is that you carry a lot of debt but that would be presumptive of me.
As a single parent, I cover my daughter's COL while she's in school which in itself is close to your housing costs, on top of my own, on top of a teen boy still at home, a generous grocery budget, keeping a horse, spend too much on indulgences. We have every necessity and several luxuries (see horse). I'm not rolling in it by any means but I'm sure not broke either and I haven't had to rush to the bank to deposit a paycheck in a long time.
If I had a two income home, I'd be adding big vacations.
I guess I should have explained a little better, or at least more. I'm honestly not that irresponsible with my money, but I help out my sister quite a lot financially and I have 2 kids in college I also help out a bit by covering a few bills. So not all the bills I pay are mine. While it's my choice to be that broke, it is none the less frustrating.
I guess I should have explained a little better, or at least more. I'm honestly not that irresponsible with my money, but I help out my sister quite a lot financially and I have 2 kids in college I also help out a bit by covering a few bills. So not all the bills I pay are mine. While it's my choice to be that broke, it is none the less frustrating.
That's understandable. Both ideally and realistically, a nursing salary should cover a secure lifestyle and ability to put a kid through school.
Back in the day, let's say our fathers (not mine, he's was a depression era blue collar worker, but the best none the less) went to school and got a 4 year degree and could support a family in a decent life style. We did the same thing but the wages aren't as high or don't go as far.
I have an ongoing fantasy about living in a society where people are paid according to the actual worth of their contribution to the common good--in which (I think, anyway) people like nurses and teachers should be paid much, much more.
However, one of the side effects of a capitalist society is that you are paid according to what you can produce; star actors and athletes make their studios and teams loads of money, so they are paid accordingly.
this, and also the people who get paid millions of dollars are rare and unique. Nurses (teachers, firefighters, etc.) are not - they're a dime a dozen.
Because people who go into jobs just for the money are probably not the best people for our jobs, anyway.
have to say this is true for me, but it's not fair or accurate to put an entire category of people in the same box. there are plenty of people on this board who went into nursing for the money and are also great at what they do.
Purple_roses
1,763 Posts
We'll have to fight against NOADLS' CNAs, who are undoubtedly shuffling him to the front as he reaches new levels in candy crush.