Social Class and Nursing

[AllOfMyWat]

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.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

You know it's always something with nursing. This cliquish profession with it's women. And it's crap. I can't wait to get out of this profession. I'm counting down the days. To answer your stupid question, not necessarily. It depends on how long you've been a nurse; if you're PRN or full time. if you work night shift or not determines your pay. What's up with stepford wife crap???? I haven't seen one yet maybe they work in psych where they don't do anything but sit on their butt and medicate people. the nursing profession is a waste of time. if you're in it now get out. i told this 16 year old girl to not go into nursing. it'll be the best decision she'll ever make. she'll be thanking me 20 years down the line when she's my age. i'm glad that i didn't become a nurse.

If you are not a nurse why is RN in your user name?

What is your role in the profession you can't wait to get out of?

[RiskManager]

Nursing has to be the worst paying career for a bachelor's degree holder. If the entry level was a master's like for teaching or social work, it would be even more insulting.[/quote']

My wife has been an elementary school teacher for 25 years. In this area (Seattle), a bachelor's is still entry-level for teaching. New teachers in this area are paid considerably less than new inpatient nurses.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I'm always interested in the topic of social class and equality. Social hierarchies are reinforced by those in power to maintain the status quo.

The cycle of poverty can be very difficult to break and leads to many other negative outcomes in health.

I was raised by a single parent and we often went without food. I remember drinking sugar water sometimes as a child when I wanted something sweet. It wasn't until later when I moved to Dad's house that those basic needs were met, because he was upper class.

I am the only family member on my mother's side to have obtained a degree. I decided early that I would end the cycle of poverty and avoid having children. Instead, I've traveled.

[Cat365]

I guess that I'm a true American. I never really thought about class. My parents were working class. Neither had a degree beyond high school, but we always had what we needed. I grew up speaking proper English and proceeded to get several college degrees. As a nurse I make more than I did before, have a retirement account, and continue to invest. I also drive a hatchback, but mostly because I like them. You can fit a large dog in a hatchback. I've never joined a country club, but I also wouldn't want to. I have friends that are high paid lawyers, GM executives, and people on Medicaid that budget every penny.

I guess I'm in the middle. I've never felt out of place or looked down on in either group. I've enjoyed dressing up for charity dinners and wearing cut offs around a bonfire in a trailer park.

Im still me in both places and people are people. I like some, dislike some, and ignore others.

Im happy if I can pay the bills, support the dogs, save some money, and splurge occasionally.

[Cat365]

Interesting thread. I always wonder where I fall. As an ICU nurse in California I made 127k last year before taxes. Solidly middle to upper middle income for my area since I live in an area where household income average is 60k per household. While I do feel that my job requires an extensive knowledge base, the things we're required to do as bedside nurses (wiping excrement, following orders, being required to fulfill the requests of homeless people that nobody would ever give a second look to) are not upper middle class traits. CRNA or NP are a little more white collar, but I think that as bedside RNs we are pink collar, and are grouped in with firefighters and cops.

I grew up in a very working class household. However, My wife is from a VERY upper middle class background (father worked on wall street, and mother was an administrator for multiple hospitals and had multiple income properties). Whenever I go to some of their social events which includes bankers, physicians, lawyers, business owners, and let it be known I'm a nurse, I usually get that "why in the world would you do that" eyes glazed over stare. Conversely, another individual who's an engineer and make less $$ than I do is generally viewed in higher regard.

Interesting world that we live in. Anyways, I guess I consider myself slightly upper middle based on income alone since the gap between upper class and lower class has widened so much. I don't group myself in with lawyers, executives, and physicians who make 400k+ though. Nursing has been good to me.

I had the same thought about the butt wiping. I doubt that most upper class people deal with poop on a regular basis.

[Harveyslake]

Sooooo, Stepford nurses are a real thing. Several years ago, my hospital system opened a brand new facility. It needed staff. Several of the experienced, well trained, seasoned OR nurses applied for the jobs,.....but first they had to pass a "personality" test that was now required by the hospital. They all failed and were deemed unsuitable to work in the new hospital. The new hospital hired a bunch of brand new, young and attractive nurses,...who, by the way, could be easily manipulated, and who "passed" the personality test. Well,....these new nurses where incompetent in the OR. They had to be sent to the older hospital to be,...wait for it,...trained by the experienced nurses who were deemed unsuitable for the new facility. How well do you think that went over?!!? Not well!!! We called all the nurses at the new facility "Stepford Nurses"

[RNBSN1000]

I grew up with white collar professional father who was unemployed over 1/3 of my childhood and a minimal-wage part-time working mother. We technically lived below the poverty line on many occasions but never drew public assistance. I was without health insurance for many years as a child and thank god I was healthy. Filling out a scholarship application for graduate school recently, it really got my goat that applicants received "extra points" if their families drew public assistance any time during the applicant's childhood, but that's another story..

I currently consider myself solid middle to upper class, based on my dual income household and good saving habits. As someone had previously mentioned, nursing can be a very good supplemental income in a dual income household. As a breadwinner, not so much, but it depends on where you live.

On another note, last weekend at a party, someone new in town struck up a conversation with me about world events and politics. A few minutes into the conversation, the newcomer interrupted me and asked "excuse me, what do you do for a living?" I told him I was an RN, "why do you ask?" He responded, "you sound too intelligent to be an RN". Honestly, my heart sank. I had just completed a nearly 14 hour shift that day and didn't have the energy to defend the profession, especially after being treated so poorly that day (cutting down to 1 nurse tech on a 30-bed step-down unit mid-shift for no apparent reason other than to save $ for the hospital).

[cherryelle07]

I find this topic interesting. My cousin grew up upper class and she's getting ready to start nursing school once she finished her Psychology Degree. I remember her first car being a little BMW convertible and carrying around designer purses. She's always boasted about her high end taste. My family often comments on her strong personality and the way she carries herself. I think she will be a confident and competent nurse, but I wonder how she will handle the more emotionally exhausting aspects of nursing when it comes to difficult patients who are rude just for the sake of being rude. She's not known for her patience with people. And with nursing tending to be clique-y profession and her not being a fan of clique-y, passive aggressive people... This could either be a disaster or success for her. lol

[llg, PhD, RN]

I find this topic interesting. My cousin grew up upper class and she's getting ready to start nursing school once she finished her Psychology Degree. I remember her first car being a little BMW convertible and carrying around designer purses. She's always boasted about her high end taste. My family often comments on her strong personality and the way she carries herself. I think she will be a confident and competent nurse, but I wonder how she will handle the more emotionally exhausting aspects of nursing when it comes to difficult patients who are rude just for the sake of being rude. She's not known for her patience with people. And with nursing tending to be clique-y profession and her not being a fan of clique-y, passive aggressive people... This could either be a disaster or success for her. lol

It can be done, but she'll have to learn to hide some aspects of herself from some of her colleagues. That has been my experience (as I said in a previous post on page 3).

Florence Nightingale was upper class -- and she had a successful career in nursing. But I doubt she was ever "just one of the girls" with her colleagues.

[Hygiene Queen]

Why so bitter?

You know it's always something with nursing. This cliquish profession with it's women. And it's crap. I can't wait to get out of this profession. I'm counting down the days. To answer your stupid question, not necessarily. It depends on how long you've been a nurse; if you're PRN or full time. if you work night shift or not determines your pay. What's up with stepford wife crap???? I haven't seen one yet maybe they work in psych where they don't do anything but sit on their butt and medicate people. the nursing profession is a waste of time. if you're in it now get out. i told this 16 year old girl to not go into nursing. it'll be the best decision she'll ever make. she'll be thanking me 20 years down the line when she's my age. i'm glad that i didn't become a nurse.

I work geripsych. I can assure you, I don't do anything but sit on my butt and medicate people. You aren't a nurse and you don't know what you're talking about.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I told him I was an RN, "why do you ask?" He responded, "you sound too intelligent to be an RN".

This does not surprise me. Many members of the public view nursing as a career that does not usually attract the best and the brightest of society.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

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....

You must be in the far south. In the northern climes, folks love those heated steering wheels.