Social Class and Nursing

allnurses Guide · Oct 2, 2016

Interesting question. I'm pretty middle of the road, I guess.

It really doesn't matter how much money you make. The culture you were raised in will

impact your behavior, usually. Well... or the culture that you choose to adopt.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2016

Social class is a touchy subject in the US...people act as if it does not exist and will become offended if someone brings up the topic. While I love good discussions on social class, they are often derailed by the "Everyone is middle class" crowd.

As for me, I was born into the working class. Here in the US, the working class is defined as "the population of blue collar workers, particularly skilled and semiskilled laborers, who differ in values, but not necessarily in income, from the middle class." My parents were educated at the high school level and worked manual labor jobs during a time period (80s and 90s) when economic fortunes were dwindling for those in their situations.

Due to educational attainment (baccalaureate degree), income (high five figures), assets and savings, I am solidly middle class. My life today looks nothing like the precarious existence of my parents during my growing-up years.

nutella, MSN, RN · Oct 2, 2016

What your question and poll does not address is the fact that the social class of nurses who live in a partnership/married is also determined by their partner.

Your income, upbringing, and behavior as a nurse could perhaps indicate you are middle class but actually you are moving within the upper social class because the partner is high earning, educated and pursues social life in high end locations (country clubs, high end restaurants and so on).

Or you could be middle class and your partner makes good money but your partner is a gambler who is throwing the money out of the window, leaving you with foreclosure and lower class (real life scenario - has happened to nurses I know).

It is also important what determines the social class and who makes that decision? What is contributing. And it also is important to know that just because it looks that your income is $$$ it does not mean that you have the cash flow or reserves to pay for much because lifestyle could lead to prioritizing buying and maintaining a giant house and expensive car but now you do not have money to pay for your child's college education (who does not qualify for federal loans because the income is too high). Also real life example from the community I live in.

Personally, I grew up poor, welfare, way below the average status in all regards. My mother was a single parent for long stretches with no job and only little training after High School - she became pregnant age 17. That alone sets people up to be less likely to rise up.

My husband and I live in a area where the income is above average and most parents/adults seem well educated. I would say we live in an upper middle class area. But both of us do not care for any social circle stuff that is connected to upper middle class here. My child played hockey for 10 or so years for example, but I never got into "the circle". I am a member of a spiritual community that is associated with "money" and surely people seem to be mostly affluent, but I also do not spend a lot of time in that circle.

I have clothes that would identify me as upper middle class but I do not wear them all the time. I could buy a prestige car if I wanted to but I choose to buy a 10 year old low mile used car because I care more about the functionality/price thing and less about what other people think about my car (and I do not need a heated steering wheel or a gazillion of choices in my car). I can use language in a way that identifies me as educated but I also use language that is more associated with the working class...

I guess while in terms of finances, place and such I am upper middle class, it means to me that I am grateful that I can pay for my children's college education, and that I am able to buy the things I and my familiy needs (food, clothes, this and that) without worries (granted I do not need much luxury or desire expensive stuff) and can pay all my bills, I have s small but sufficient house, and we have cars that are old but driving. That is more than most people can hope for these days.

Just being a nurse does not guarantees that you will be able to move into the middle class area where you can live comfortably without too many worries. With school loans and less job security and the trend to pay less you could end up working 2 jobs to be able to pay off loans, pay bills, pay for your life - and perhaps still do not save for retirement....

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 2, 2016

This IS a very interesting question, but being asked in the USA, where we have many immigrants from countries where caste systems are strong. In some countries nurses are respectable, even in upper middle class. But I have run into some folks who treated me as a servant, and come to understand that in their native land, nurses are definitely in a lower rung of their caste system. I used to feel offended, but came to understand this is what they knew growing up, right or wrong.

I myself am very interested to see the varying responses here. Would love to hear from folks not native to the USA/Canada.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2016

With my wages, and the taxes taken out of my paycheck every year, I fall into lower middle class. If I lived in a higher paying state with taxes not being so high, then I might fall into middle or upper middle class. Kind of depressing.

I am looking to get into an informatics job, and would take a significant pay cut if I am successful in getting one. That's even worse.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2016

With my wages and the taxes taken out of my paycheck every year, I fall into lower middle class. If I lived in a higher paying state with taxes not being so high, then I might fall into middle or upper middle class. Kind of depressing. [/quote']Social class is a controversial issue that results in eye-rolling because it is not strictly about income...it is a combination of income, education, and occupational status.
For instance, a man with a GED who earns $30 hourly ($75,000 annually with overtime) as a unionized machine operator is not truly middle class...although he has the right income level, the other markers of true middle class status include a college education and a job that entails knowledge work.
A machine operator without a college education who loses his/her job is in a far more precarious situation in the employment market than those with similar incomes, but more educational attainment.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2016

I have a BSN, and am currently working on getting a DNP in informatics. Although I have a bachelors, I feel more working class than middle class. Nursing does not truly feel like knowledge work. So my wages puts me on par with a tradesman and feels blue collar, just like with a tradesman. This aspect, as well as the low wages, gets at me. I actually came from an upper middle class family. My dad worked for a big tech company until 5 years ago. We lived in a very well to do neighborhood. Then my parents divorced and my mother suggested I go into nursing, because in her mind it provided a stable income. She didn't want me to stay in a financially precarious situation by remaining in school. I wish I didn't listen to her, and I wish I obtained a degree in another field, which would lead to a higher paying career. Even if it took longer. She was also thinking about who would support her, so that's why she suggested nursing for me.

I hope with an advanced degree I can get a knowledge based job, complete with an increase in social status and pay as well. The job I applied for recently is for a clinical analyst position, and it calls for a clinician of some sort. No preference for associates or bachelors. But if I can get this job, and it doesn't hurt me too much financially, I can get some experience to apply for a more advanced job. By the end of 2 years, I hope to have the DNP degree.

caliotter3 · Oct 2, 2016

The social class of my nursing workplaces have always mirrored the social class of the predominant import employee ethnic origin.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Oct 2, 2016

This is not a question about ECONOMIC class/how much you make. I've noticed a fair number of nurses who make the same amount of money are varied in their social class. This isn't a value judgment, but it is visible in the food nurses eat, clothing choices, recreation, and behavior. (My prepatory school educated, Latin and Greek speaking, fair trade, organic eating husband readily points out my lower socioeconomic habits, which I enjoy and am unlikely to change.)
Does social class impact where you work? I've heard nurses complain you won't survive at the major hospital here if you're not a Stepford wife. I've also looked at facilities and thought I wouldn't fit into the predominant culture.

One must also consider do these things get paid for with current funds, or are these individuals mortgaging their future and living on borrowed money??

Mr. MaryJean and I have always lived debt-free except for our mortgage. We've paid cash for all four kids college educations, plus our own, and have well over six figures in our retirement accounts. At the time, we drove ancient cars, never ate in restaurants, and seldom vacationed.

So- for all APPEARANCES we were lower class. But in reality- it's not about what you can see, now is it?

Kitiger, RN · Oct 2, 2016

My Dad was a high-school educated, skilled worker, and my Mom was a BSN RN. We grew up in a nice neighborhood. It wasn't fancy. I remember Dad paid off the mortgage when I was about 10 or so. That was big.

I also remember Dad getting all quiet and worried whenever they went on strike. He was fortunate; he had a friend who would hire Dad as a "Go-For" at his construction company when Dad was on strike. Dad didn't know anything about construction, but he knew how to work and how to make himself useful. He taught those values to me. (Thanks, Dad.)

We spoke correct English, that is, we used correct grammar. And even though Dad didn't have an advanced education, he was a life-long learner.

It was an automatic expectation that I would go to college. I took college prep in high school, and was encouraged to work hard and to get the best grades that I could.

In short, I was a WASP (white Anglo-Saxon protestant) , a SINK (single income, no kids), and a DINK (double income, no kids). I never made it to YUPPY (Young urban professional). So, based on all that, I would say I grew up middle class.

We don't spend everything that we earn. In two years, we will be debt-free including the house. And we do have retirement savings.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 2, 2016

In the Midwest, I was solidly middle class. I grew up poor (no running water or electricity, didn't eat what we didn't shoot, grow or catch for ourselves and wore hand-me-downs from my wealthier aunts). I was the first one on Dad's side of the family to EVER go to college. I met a guy at college from a higher socio-economic class, married him and supported him for years. My salary as a nurse enabled us to have a nice place to live, reliable vehicles and to pay our bills on time. That college education took me from lower class/poor to middle class.

On the west coast, still middle class as were most of my colleagues other than a few who had husbands in high-paying jobs. From the size of their diamonds, the designer clothes and accessories, the fancy cars and the enormous homes, they seemed more upper class. As far as the food we brought in for lunch, the grammar used, the clothing choices, etc. we were a pretty homogenous group.

Here on the east coast, however, I notice that the majority of my colleagues seem lower class, regardless of income. There are a few colleagues whose partners make considerable money, and a few who seem like trash. But the majority are working class, not middle class. I think a great deal depends upon where you live and not what you make.

Social Class and Nursing

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