Singer/Actor/Athlete Pay vs. NP Pay

Specialties NP

Published

I was hoping some of you could help me out. I'm a high school student that writes articles for our local newspaper. Right now I'm working on an article about athlete, actor/actress pay versus more professions that have more education, require more skill and have more responsibilities.

I would appreciate it if you could answer the below questions. I hate to have to ask for salaries, but they are important so I can accurately display the revolting income disparity between nurse practioners and athletes. I would really love to hear from Nurse Practioners who work in free clinics or clinics for the homeless.

Where do you work? (doesn't have to be the name, but "free clinic", "homeless clinic", "drug abuse center", etc will work).

Where do you live and practice? (example: near Dallas, TX)

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

Including your BSN, any bridge programs (RN-BSN, etc) and MSN, how much was the total cost of your education?

Do you still make payments on your education loans?

If you do, how much do they cost a year?

What are your duties during the course of your day?

Peyton Manning, a player for the Indianapolis Colts, made $35 million dollars in 2004. Do you think he deserves to make that much?

If you had to choose a hero, who would it be?

What was the most rewarding experience you ever had while at work?

Do you feel the income disparity between nurse practioners, social workers, nurses and other similar professions and those of athletes, singers, actors is unfair? Why do you feel that way?

Some people say "you are worth exactly what you make." Do you think that is a true or false statement?

If you had the power to set the national salaries of the following professions, what would it be (annually):

Staff Nurse:

Nurse Practioner:

Medical Doctor:

Teacher:

Football Player:

Actor:

Singer:

Social Worker:

Police Officer:

What are your annual earnings?

Thanks,

Andrew

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
I would appreciate it if you could answer the below questions. I hate to have to ask for salaries, but they are important so I can accurately display the revolting income disparity between nurse practioners and athletes. I would really love to hear from Nurse Practioners who work in free clinics or clinics for the homeless.

Andrew, I'm not knocking your paper or your teacher but I find the comparison between actor/athletes and NP a very odd comparison.

I'm not a NP but am an RN who works with NP's. In TN they make an average of $85,000/year when working in a private practice. Agency nurses have the same yearly salary. I think actors and athletes are woefully overpaid. What can someone do with sooooo much money anyway? If I were lucky enought to win the lottery I promise you I would be giving the majority of it away. I know too many people who need help. Good Luck with your paper and I hope you get the responses that you're looking for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First of all, the topic wasn't assigned to me.

But let me explain the general concept of it to you. Usually, more responsibilities come with more pay. A pay check is usually the way we tell people how valuable they are. For example, the CRNA makes more than the NP who makes more than the RN who makes more than the LPN who makes more than the CNA. This is because each one has more responsibilities and more education than the other.

But, professional athletes have very little education and if they mess up, what happens? No one gets sicker and no one dies. Yet some are making $30 million a year. If a Nurse Practioner messes up, someone could get sicker or die. Not only that, but they spent at least six years on their education. Yet, if we look at the two paychecks, we are saying that the professional athlete/singer/actor is worth 500 times more than the person who spends their life taking care of us.

PS - It would be really nice if this site had a spell checker...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A CRNA is an NP, it is just the specialty that they go into. They both have the MSN after their name.

If the sports person gets injured, then they are out and will never make that money, and most probably will end up on disability.

Because they get more doesn't mean that it is right, and I am going to leave it right there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
A pay check is usually the way we tell people how valuable they are. For example, the CRNA makes more than the NP who makes more than the RN who makes more than the LPN who makes more than the CNA. This is because each one has more responsibilities and more education than the other.

I agree that MSN's make more than RN's who make more than LPN's who makes more than CNA's and yes the difference is the level of education.

I don't think responsibility plays into this equation. I would not want to have the responsibilities of a CNA. They work extremely hard physically. A good CNA alerts the nurse to potential or actual problems. I could not work without them. Any of the above mentioned health care workers could inadvertently cause a patient's death. That's the same responsibility for all of us.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think responsibility plays into this equation. I would not want to have the responsibilities of a CNA. They work extremely hard physically. A good CNA alerts the nurse to potential or actual problems. I could not work without them. Any of the above mentioned health care workers could inadvertently cause a patient's death. That's the same responsibility for all of us.

Sorry. I guess I should have said "wider scope of practice."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It says what we value as a country. Sports heros are valued more than nurses and doctors who can save your life. I work in a college nursing program and the sports programs get more press/money than the nursing program does.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My hero is mother Teresa of Calcutta. I am working on a masters degree in nursing. I practice in rural missouri

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR.
A CRNA is an NP, it is just the specialty that they go into. They both have the MSN after their name.

Hmmmm..I wasnt' aware of that...does this mean a CRNA can opt to teach if they so desire...just like a Nurse with a master's could?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I dont see why not. The state of Missouri just requires a masters in nursing. It doesnt specify what area of nursing. I would think a CRNA would be very qualified to teach in a nursing program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The other side of the coin: People pay athletes/actors to "see" them work. No one pays nurses/physicians, etc. to "see" them work. If athlete pay was decreased that would only mean that the team owners/coaches would get an even bigger piece of the pie. Now if I had to choose between athletes and team owners making money. I would give more to the athlete who is in many cases putting his life on the line. One wrong hit can end a football player's career not to mention his life. Thus ending his earning potential.

I agree that to compare the two is a huge stretch. What about comparing nursing salaries to hospital CEO salaries. That may be a better comparison and may make a little more sense. Just a thought! Either way good luck on your assignment.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree with many of your points. It only takes one wrong "lift" to alter a nurses career as well. In many cases, our back is our earning potential, especially for nurses who choose to remain at bedside.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment