What RNs REALLY earn $$

[Hellllllo Nurse]

I have been reading that many feel most RNs make about $60,000. a year, or $25-$30/hr.

Here are the stats on what nurses really earn from The U.S. Dept of Labor:

Earnings [About this section] Back to Top

Median annual earnings of registered nurses were $44,840 in 2000. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,870 and $54,000. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,890, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $64,360. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of registered nurses in 2000 were as follows:

Personnel supply services $46,860

Hospitals 45,780

Home health care services 43,640

Offices and clinics of medical doctors 43,480

Nursing and personal care facilities 41,330

Here's alink to the site:

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos083.htm#earnings

[ShelleyERgirl, LPN]

Originally posted by caroladybelle

Money shouldn't be the main motivator. But given the current deteriorating conditions in hospitals and the abusive working conditions, it may be.

I would like to know the difference that I make in my patients' lives. I would like to see the progress that they make. With current HIPPA regulations, we cannot find out their progress, with floating we have little continuity of care. I enjoy collegial friendships with my coworkers. Due to floating, shortstaffing, and nurse having to be better than each other to be promoted, there is little collegiality. I like a stable working situation and with "flex" staffing, that it hardly possible. I like to separate my work life and my home life - How many phone calls did I get for required meetings on my day off, and to work OT?????? I like to have patients that want to get well - How many junkies did I have to act as legal drug dealer for last week? When you see your patient on his smoke break meeting with the local drug dealer at the corner of the hospital - or he mugs you on the way to your car - or the dying pt whose family breaks in to cars in the parking lot -then begs to not be arrested, because "Daddy's Dying!", you tend to lose some faith in making things better.

And in some cases, the money provides a nice "save" for the days that you feel beaten up by the system. Especially, when the fractured ribs from the mugging hurt so much that they keep you from sleeping.

Sad but all to true.

((((((Caroladybelle)))), I am so sorry all that happened to you. You are one hell of a nurse to still be in this field even after all that awful stuff happened. Obviously, it's not all about the money for you although, I think you deserve a BIG fat juicy raise girl! Take care.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by navynurse29

((((((Caroladybelle)))), I am so sorry all that happened to you. You are one hell of a nurse to still be in this field even after all that awful stuff happened. Obviously, it's not all about the money for you although, I think you deserve a BIG fat juicy raise girl! Take care.

Thanks,

I work as a travelor these days. No mandatory meetings, people expect less OT from us and actually Thank us if we work OT. I have worked no holidays in the last year and 1/2, as agency charges extra for them. I play tourist on my days off and make decent money (more than I did but not as much as could if I really worked my derriere off). And I take things less personally at work these days.

As far as the mugging, well I should have just given up my bag - it had little of value in it. Instead, I fought and argued, and got dragged on the street. The med bill probably cost more than the loss from the bag would have.

Just too stubborn for my good.