top dollars

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jul 25, 2008

If you're in nursing solely for the money, you're not really in it for the right reasons. Yes, with overtime and all that you may make some extra as you've pointed out yourself. But is it really worth it to be so worn out at the end?

If you are looking for an easy job that will net you a lot of money, I'm afraid nursing is not the place!

Moving this to general nursing discussion.

thinkin' about it · Jul 25, 2008

"If you're in nursing solely for the money, you're not really in it for the right reasons. Yes, with overtime and all that you may make some extra as you've pointed out yourself. But is it really worth it to be so worn out at the end?

If you are looking for an easy job that will net you a lot of money, I'm afraid nursing is not the place!"

Is the above for real??? Seriously? Why so hostile toward one of our own for wanting to make money? :argue:

The op's profile states RN-diploma, so I'm going to assume that this person is not asking if nursing is the way to make tons of money easily but rather is already a nurse wondering how to make as much money as possible quickly....like the post said. Also, a nurse wanting to max out the money he/she receives has not necessarily gone into nursing for the wrong reasons. If you're already going to be doing quality patient care, what's wrong with wanting to be paid well for it? I, for one, am sick of this whole image of the self-sacrificing nurse who dare not ask to be well paid for his/her professional services, lest she/he not care enough for the patients. Everyone else tries to get paid well for their jobs; why shouldn't we? This does not take away from patient care.

Sorry for the rant. Anyway, to answer the question at hand, I think doing some agency nursing might be a way to pick up more money. Also, travel nursing generally pays very well, and it's possible to do this for a short time, if you wish. Or you could try picking up overtime or getting a prn job at a secondary facility besides your main job, so that you can get more hours. As long as your life allows it, and you're well-rested enough to perform your job well, I say go for it!

tankar · Jul 25, 2008

Thank you "thinkin about it". I have been a nurse almost as long as the first response has been living. I give better pt care now then when I was young and have more energy now that my kids are grown. I have more than paid my dues giving beside care and still love what I do. We(I) pay taxes at a rate the rest of the world cannot relate. In remote Northern Canada the taxes were a flat rate of 53% off the cheque. We also have an additional 7%(just now reduced to 5%) on EVERYTHING we buy or service we use.

My question to my fellow nurses was simply as it stated. I am looking for a means to maximize my efforts and benefit from the hard efforts I put in.

Furthermore.....we ALL work for $$$

amjowens · Jul 25, 2008

I have noticed that there's a group of nurses who seem to feel that they are to be servants for all, and just keep giving without the kind of reimbursement that other professions offer.

Imagine physicians being judged as effective, caring individuals according to whether or not they accept a poor income level and poor living conditions. No way! Quite the contrary-because of their high expecatations for themselves, they invite the best and brightest, have the power to make decisions that affect patients, and have the power to provide a good work environment for themselves.

I'm a proponent of empowerment for nurses. The concept covers a lot-speaking with a sure and strong voice, being unified and powerful as a group for betterment for all, and, yes, having options with money.

Money is a tool. I admire anyone who creates tools for themselves (there's much more than money) because you are the people who will have the option to be truly generous with yourself and time because YOU are full. Go for it! Good luck!

momandstudent · Jul 25, 2008

I am currently a NS and have been reading so many replies from nurses who want "to be paid what they're worth". Before I continue this post-I agree with EACH and EVERY one-we should be paid for what we are worth. That being said, what would constitute a decent (deserving) wage for a nurse? I had read a post (possibly from a different site) which pointed out that computer programmers can make 6 figures within the 1st few years of starting out whereas a registered nurse makes roughly about $50,000 and we are the ones caring for human lives. I am just curious as to what others think?

husker_rn, RN · Jul 25, 2008

I see no problem with wanting to be paid well for the job we all do. And yes, momandstudent, it amazes me that athletes and actors who sole purpose is to entertain make tons of $$$ whole we save lives are made to feel guilty for wanting a good wage.

John20 · Jul 25, 2008

I see no problem with wanting to be paid well for the job we all do. And yes, momandstudent, it amazes me that athletes and actors who sole purpose is to entertain make tons of $$$ whole we save lives are made to feel guilty for wanting a good wage.

I Agree with the other posters about wanting to find the best paying opportunities out there does not make you a bad nurse. I like my job but also like making things as easy as possible for my immediate family. No one in nursing is looking to get rich, but seeking middle class comfort is very fair.

I agree that actors are WAY overpaid. To me it's a pointless profession that lots of people could do effectively if trained. Athletes on the otherhand deserve to get paid what they do. It's all about supply and demand. There are a lot more people out there that can be effective nurses than people who can hit a 95mph fastball or takle a 230 pound who trains year round to run you over. I know I would dump nursing (or anything else for that matter) in an instant if I could play pro sports even if it paid half what nursing does.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Jul 25, 2008

Hey tankar,

I recently posted an email I'd received some months ago. You can check it here...

Good luck with your search :)

nickola · Jul 26, 2008

per diem & agency nurses do quite well. A friend as a fulltime staff RN in CA a yr ago was making $45/hr (days) on an oncology floor. (RN for 20 yrs- she has since moved to the east coast & found the wages quite a bit less, even as per diem!!)

november17, ASN, RN · Jul 26, 2008

I feel you, I'm starting up university for my BSN in the fall and I have to have my school $$$ paid by july 29th (sucks not qualifying for tuition assistance anymore, and I'm definitely not letting my employer pay for it because I don't wanna be stuck there forever). If you get any ideas on top dollars to be made in a month let me know, because my august is open and I'm gonna need them.

Nacki, MSN, NP · Jul 26, 2008

LOL! I went into nursing for the MONEY and have no problem saying it...I knew I could get a job in any of the 50 states without a problem. I also knew that I would work hard taking care of people and their lives, so why shouldn't I get paid a decent wage??? Please, after all the schooling and money I paid for school I deserve it. Why would you go into a profession without considering how much you make? I'm so sick of people like you who think nurses are "holier than thou" and should work for pennies....As a fellow nurse you should be ashamed. How would you like it if someone NOT in the nursing field told you what you just told the OP?