The future of nursing salaries?

Published

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, of all U.S. jobs registered nurses will have the second highest number of numerical increases in employment projected thru 2014 (more than 725,000):

http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm

In recent years nursing salaries have seen some decent gains as demand for nurses has increased and (willing) supplies have dwindled. Economics dictate that as future demand for nurses increases even more we should enter a period here of equal or even greater salary increases. However, I don't think this will be the case.

I just read the thread discussing the bill moving through the Senate on letting unlimited numbers of foreign nurses into the country. An act which I personally think will depress wages (but let's not argue about that on this thread). I'm also quite a bit worried about the rocketing cost of healthcare to U.S. workers and companies. As costs become prohibitively expensive socialized medicine (read: "Healthcare rationing") will gain increasing support from both the public and U.S. lawmakers (read: U.S. corporations). The end effect will be a healthcare system run like the current public school system.. with similar salary controls as well..

What do people think about our future prospects and the possible things to come?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I think that as long as the hospitals can get away with paying crappy salaries, they will. They will use every excuse in the book, decreased reimbursment, charity care, high cost of utilities...anything at all to not give raises. Believe me, I am not counting on one this year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

What did nurses make back in the past few decades? I mean, when did it go from a pink-collor assistant job to the career it is now?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CIC, CVICU, MSICU, NeuroICU.

What did nurses make back in the past few decades? I mean, when did it go from a pink-collor assistant job to the career it is now?

What are you implying exactly? Nurses have a lot of responsibility now more than ever before. Certain hospital pay their MRI tech more than nurses and the responsibility doesn't even equate to that of nurses. Plummer, electrician and 911 dispatcher get paid more than nurses with little or no education required.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What did nurses make back in the past few decades? I mean, when did it go from a pink-collor assistant job to the career it is now?

Ouch. I have never considered myself or any other nurse a pink-collar assistant. I don't know which is more insulting, to be called pink-collar or to be assumed to have been an assistant. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I didn't graduate from the Handmaiden School of Nursing.

I'm sorry, but I saw a lot more professionalism in "the past few decades" than I see now. I see quite a few people who've now joined the profession for some very wrong reasons.

I made $9.06/hr as a new grad. What do you think we were doing back then, or earlier?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What did nurses make back in the past few decades? I mean, when did it go from a pink-collor assistant job to the career it is now?

What are you implying exactly? Nurses have a lot of responsibility now more than ever before. Certain hospital pay their MRI tech more than nurses and the responsibility doesn’t even equate to that of nurses. Plummer, electrician and 911 dispatcher get paid more than nurses with little or no education required.

Hold the phone! Plumbers and electricians have little or no education? It takes about 4 years to become a licensed plumber or electrician through union measures. Can you do what these people do? Are these blue collar folks less educated in their trade than you are as a nurse? Like a lot of things, there is more to it than meets the eye.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I make a good salary. Even if things just stayed the same, I'd be happy, but I really don't see that happening. CNA has successfully defended the ratio laws a few times already and as long as they are in place, California hospitals will need a good number of nurses to do business. The demand won't change.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home health, Med/Surg.

I agree with Fergus51. My job and wages are protected under my union. And for the record my non-native co-workers make the same amount as I do and are protected by the same union. I personally like the diversity, the pot-lucks at work are more fun in California! By the way, what is a classical Canadian dish??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Poutine is great:) It's technically french-Canadian, but it's sold all over the country. It's french fries, a gravy-like sauce (that you can actually order on line and cheese curds). Sounds gross, but it's soooooo good. It's the first thing I eat when I go home:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Transgender Medicine.
What did nurses make back in the past few decades? I mean, when did it go from a pink-collor assistant job to the career it is now?

For those who got offended by this poster, don't be. I'm sure they didn't mean it the way you took it. I interpret it as meaning, when did our career become seen as a little more laden with responsibility and autonomy? I've heard that back in the day, nurses had to be extremeley deferential to doctors and such, almost like a secretary servant type. I understand that they were not such, but that many held this belief and still do. It's hard to dispell something that has been around a long time. At any rate, I think the poster just wanted to know when nurses became (don't laugh) elevated in people's minds. They surely weren't trying to start a flame fest. :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with the OP. Conumers are not willing to pay much more for healthcare than they are now ... but we don't know exactly where the top will be. That lack of willingness to pay will filter through the insurance companies and have an impact on employer's budgets. Employers will deal with that by substituting lesser-educated "nurse-substitutes" of some kind to meet many of the needs now provided (or once provided) by nurses. With that need filled, the pressure to wage RN wages will ease.

Some nurses -- those who are well-positioned to be leaders under the new models -- will be very well-paid. The ability to supervise, train, etc. the workforce of mixed-level personel and get the care provided within budget will be highly valued. The RN's who can do that will be well-compensated. But those who can't will either continue on as now or possibly even experience a slight decline in their relative status.

That's just my opinion -- but it is a well-informed opinion.

llg

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hold the phone! Plumbers and electricians have little or no education? It takes about 4 years to become a licensed plumber or electrician through union measures. Can you do what these people do? Are these blue collar folks less educated in their trade than you are as a nurse? Like a lot of things, there is more to it than meets the eye.

Well, we definitely deal with the same type of plumbing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion