When did the pay start to get better and why?

It's been increasing steadily over the years. I'm trying to recall what my hourly wage was when I started in 1973. I'm thinking it was around $5 or $7 and hour. I remember working private duty in 1978 and being thrilled to make $11 an hour at that time. That was much higher than what the hospital nurses were making, but we also had to pay our own taxes from that money. When I became a nursing supervisor in an acute hospital my wage went up to $16 an hour and that was in 1987.

I started as a new grad in 1977 at $4.51 per hour with a $.50 differential for nights. I was thrilled when I left there 2 years later and crossed the $6.00 mark when I was in Charge on nights.

llg