Why is it that many laypeople think nurses make a ton of money? It's kind of annoying that just about every other time I say to someone what I do professionally, they say "oh, there's a lot of money in nursing because of the shortage" or "oh, my aunt Sally is a nurse- she works for XYZ medical center and makes, like, $90,000 a year." I'm not venting because I expected there to be a lot of money when I got out of school (I just recently graduated); I worked as a CNA and know that many nurses don't make nearly as much as the public thinks they do. Hence, I certainly didn't get into nursing for the money- I chose to be a nurse because I thought it would be a great way to help others while working with people who value learning and intellectual challenges. But seriously, I don't take home much more than other people who are in the helping or public service professions. It just blows my mind when people I've met who are in business/law/finance talk so casually about how they're expecting $10-20,000 performance bonuses or how much vacation time they have coming up. I'm sure they work 60-70 hours/week for their salaries and are scared fudgeless about the prospect of layoffs. However, it's still mind-boggling how people who don't help others in their daily work lives get away with that much cash. So here's to hoping that enough future nursing students who want to quit their investment banking jobs do their homework and go to nursing school for the right reasons (not just the money). And here's to hoping that we as nurses can further educate the public about what we do and the fact that many of us don't get paid a lot for doing it.
That is you find a job,market is very hard for nurses these days unless you dont mind moving to some rural,god-forsaken middle of nowhere-but there you most likely wont be making big bucks since pay in remote areas tends to be less. Making 75,000 per year? Where in California maybe???? Because most new grads dont make this kind of money,unless you work both hospital and homehealth,but most likely you wont be able to get a job in home health right after nursing school,so that leaves you with one job only...People need to stop promoting this false high salaries for new grads,seriously.
Ps.Do you seriously believe you are entitled to this kind of money with zero nursing experience and just starting your career? What do you bring to the table except enthusiasm? Before jumping to a conclusion I'm a new grad but I know my limitation..Rome wasnt built in one day.
Actually, in NYC this salary can be made by a new grad. One hospital that I know of offers $74k base pay to start. (And yes, there are apartments more affordable than a $2000 studio. There are many people living in NYC who made a fraction of what nurses make and do quite well)
And yes, in NYC a new graduate CAN get a job in home health right out of nursing school.
So no, Guiltysins was not displaying any sense of entitlement.
And how much is that,do you mind to share? Nurses who make good money also have tons of experience.They dont pay you for nothing,and they shouldnt.
Um, no, I don't mind sharing. Sarcasm much? I meant you should take into consideration starting pay and what the average nurse gets if they look for new jobs after a few years experience. Then you should consider whether or not you would be willing to do graduate work later on and take into consideration what that would pay in the future. Some people go into nursing with the intent to do graduate work in the future and others don't. Do whatever you want, but consider your future pay.
Well... I am RN, and yes I do it for the money. I make close to $40 per hour, and to many of my friends, that *is* good money.....nursing is a field where the reality is, there is always work, and overtime is available often. In this economy, that is pretty good....
There are a number of nurses who make $40-$50/ hr. Maybe that's not everybody, but compared to minimum wage, that is a "ton" of money. Of course, an AP nurse could definitely make more than that. I'm sure the average person doesn't really know that many nurses don't work full time, only work per diem, etc, and so the annual amount may not be a ton of money, but then again, the rest of the world works at least 40 hrs/wk, so they just assume... ($2000/ wk is not too shabby).
the fact that you took 5 years to get a 2 year degree is not exactly something to boast about, now is it? do you understand what your saying?
I understand what you are trying to imply with your statement:uhoh3:
However when someone gets their BSN it can take some people 5 years for that 4 year degree. Some colleges are set up to where some BSN students start some nursing classes their freshman year, but for the majority of colleges the core nursing classes are started at the junior level with the pre-reqs taking up the freshman and sophmore years.
Because I went to a community college and not a university I did 3 years of pre-reqs, resulting in 2 associate degrees and allowing me to transfer to a univeristy at a junior level, if I wanted to. I do not feel that I am lacking any education because the degree I happen to have is a 2 year degree, since when did writting more research papers make you a better nurse?
This thread was not opened up to start a BSN vs ADN, they are different routes for becoming a RN, as a traditional univeristy would not have worked for me, but in the end we all sit for the same NCLEX.
I brought up the fact that the public assumes that those who have a ADN ONLY have 2 years of education behind them and that is simply not true, there is a lot of ground work layed before getting into a program
However my nursing program was through a community college therefore because it is a community college I got yet a 3rd assoicate degree. In the end I will be a RN the same as someone who went to a university and graduates with a BSN, however I only have $5,000 in student loans, where some of those BSN have close to $100,000 in student loans:eek: and that my firend is something to to boast about
"There are ones that went to school for it because of the money, work their 3 12 hour shifts a week, come home and live their lives. Then their [sic] are the others that went into nursing because it's something they're passionate about because something about it challenges and intrigues them." Hunh? Because I work my shifts and come home to live my life(apparently as opposed to staying over to demonstrate my passion), I'm not as good of a nurse?
Where does one get a 40/hr job clerking at a supermarket?? It would take years and years of raises for someone at our supermarkets to get up to maybe 14/hr. Perhaps someone in the "office" (accountant, HR, etc) do okay but I doubt they even make that much.
I'm not saying that having a life outside your job makes you a bad nurse. My point is that those who actually enjoy their job and are passionate about it are happier at work & in their outside life because they feel fulfilled to be doing something they love. Having a job you're happy with is hard to come by, look at the world outside.
Calixan
140 Posts
whoops sorry, my above comment was in reference to what cteacherclark said.