Where are the nursing discounts?

Sour Lemon · Sep 2, 2018

Apple gives discounts to educators. Teachers get discounted computers/ipads.
First responders, police, fire get discounts everywhere.
Amazon gives working teachers discounts.
Teachers, police and fire where I live get pensions, lifetime health benefits- better than what is received in most hospitals today.
I am not against any of those professions given discounts, I wonder why what we do goes unnoticed/non valued.
I guess the person bringing the patient to the E.R. is more valuable than the person who does the work in the E.R. when it comes to saving the patients.
Like to hear others thoughts on this.

I find sanctimonious sentiments somewhat repulsive. A discount for "saving the patients" would be the last thing to cross my mind.

I feel valued every two weeks on Friday when my direct deposit comes through.

Those are my thoughts.

elkpark · Sep 2, 2018

I don't feel I'm entitled to any special discounts for commercial goods or services by virtue of being a nurse, and I'm not concerned or envious about what discounts people in other occupations might be getting.

brownbook · Sep 2, 2018

I don't even like senior citizen discounts......from purely personal knowledge, most older people are waaay better off financially than half of the younguns between 20 and 30, especially those with children. They should get the discounts!

mel2234 · Sep 2, 2018

I agree brownbrook with your statement.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 3, 2018

I don't even like senior citizen discounts......from purely personal knowledge, most older people are waaay better off financially than half of the younguns between 20 and 30, especially those with children. They should get the discounts!

I am well into senior citizen discount-land and intentionally do not seek them out. Ugh- a discount for being old.

Wuzzie · Sep 3, 2018

Well, we did get a free burrito from Chipotle on nurses day. Given their recent issues though not entirely sure that's a benefit. :lol2:

(Before you sue me Chipotle Corp, love your bowls and still eat there on the regular)

unknownjulie · Sep 3, 2018

Nurses deserve discounts and we also deserve pensions and lifetime free healthcare and any number of other things that we are not currently receiving. I did not take a vow of poverty to become a nurse. And you forgot the discounted mortgages that teachers get in certain geographic areas.

DowntheRiver · Sep 3, 2018

If I worked 40 hours a week I'd make $22,000/year more than the starting teacher salary in my area. I work 32 hours a week and still make $10,000/year more than starting teacher salary in my area. The teachers in my area also did not get their promised raises this year; some of them have been counting on this for 3-4 years. Every year I am eligible for a raise as I am not at my cap yet AND I have the option to work on clinical ladder for a 5% pay increase. All of this and I don't have to take my work home with me and I still get 6 weeks PTO a year.

So, that's why teacher, EMS, firefighter, etc. discounts exist and we don't qualify.

New_2_ICU · Sep 3, 2018

OK, So I am new here, and don't generally have much to say...But, really? REALLY?!

I am a paramedic, and have been for almost 20 years. Most people that work in police, fire, and EMS have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Additionally, many of them are volunteers, and are serving their community in their "spare" time.

Yes, no doubt being a nurse is physically, intellectually, and emotionally demanding. However, for the most part, nurses are well compensated and work in a safe environment. Such is not the case for police, fire, or EMS.

unknownjulie · Sep 3, 2018

Wow, so you are doing really well and just assume the rest of us are? I make less per hour than I did 15 years ago. I have worked fulltime as both a teacher and a BSN prepared RN. My best friend is a teacher and she makes more per hour than I do (when calculated, or when she does teacher development stuff)- PLUS a pension, and good medical care and sick time etc. I am currently working 24 hours per week and we qualify for expanded medicaid- which we are on. I suppose a nurse in California or some other high paid state possibly shouldn't qualify -but firemen can retire at 50. I have zero retirement provided by my employer. There are only a few pockets throughout this nation where nurses are compensated anywhere near fairly. I've moved around, but as a teacher, you can take your pension with you in many cases. Anyhow, I need to get off this site and get ready for work- which BTW is on a holiday and I'm getting zero holiday pay for as well.

guest974915 · Sep 3, 2018

Wow, so you are doing really well and just assume the rest of us are? I make less per hour than I did 15 years ago. I have worked fulltime as both a teacher and a BSN prepared RN. My best friend is a teacher and she makes more per hour than I do (when calculated, or when she does teacher development stuff)- PLUS a pension, and good medical care and sick time etc. I am currently working 24 hours per week and we qualify for expanded medicaid- which we are on. I suppose a nurse in California or some other high paid state possibly shouldn't qualify -but firemen can retire at 50. I have zero retirement provided by my employer. There are only a few pockets throughout this nation where nurses are compensated anywhere near fairly. I've moved around, but as a teacher, you can take your pension with you in many cases. Anyhow, I need to get off this site and get ready for work- which BTW is on a holiday and I'm getting zero holiday pay for as well.

In almost 26 years of active nursing (multiple practice areas and states), I have witnessed a near gutting of staff nurses' benefits. Both of my parents were nurses, had much better benefits and retired with pensions (albeit modest). However, pensions, like all of the extra holidays, quality insurance, and cafeteria discounts are long gone. Paired with the wage stagnation, difficult working conditions, and lack of respect, I have ZERO hesitation in dissuading others from considering nursing as a career choice. My advice; become a CPA, engineer, graphic designer...comparable pay, waaaaaay better hours, more respect, and without exposure to infectious body fluids.