Who's gonna admit it that they went into Nursing b/c of the salary?

anonymurse · Dec 27, 2007

Hmmm, it took me 20 years to get topped out at what my daughters boy friend makes in his first year after graduation with a 4 year degree in computer engenieering.

Yeah, but when the economy tanks, which it's already started to do, and companies realize they can get by just fine without fancy new software, the computer market will dry up whereas people will still be willing to spend their last dime on health care for themselves and family.

Athenas83 · Dec 27, 2007

I admit I chose nursing because I will most likely always have a job. There will always be sick people, and soon will come the time when I need taking care of.

henryswife · Dec 27, 2007

The pay isn't BAD, but there are plenty of other jobs out there that pay the same or better (both in and out of healthcare) with less responsibility and stress.

like what?

crysobrn · Dec 27, 2007

I think that for me it boils down to the paycheck lol... When I was a freshman in college I got pregnant and came home after that year not knowing what to do... I decided to go to our community college for a year and sort of fell into the nursing program... my mom was a nurse but I never thought I'd be... I just wanted to be able to do something to support myself and my baby. I met my husband while in clinicals... so I guess I ended up in the right place at the right time.

Honestly I'd like to stay home but worry about losing my skills etc... so I continue to work part time and still get to be a mommy. I will say though that in the area I work I bring home working 1-12 hr shift a week than I could make full time at a minimum wage job... so to me it's worth it!

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

I never gave salary a thought, I never gave being a nurse a thought. I was 18 y/o living at home, nothing to spend money on. My parents paid for my car, my school and everything else because they didn't want to me work while I was in school. I actually didn't want to go to school but knew my parents expected me to and they wanted me to try nursing so I did. It turned out to be a perfect fit for me.

I do, however, stay in nursing for the salary.

shodobe · Dec 27, 2007

The pay isn't BAD, but there are plenty of other jobs out there that pay the same or better (both in and out of healthcare) with less responsibility and stress.

I would like a list of what you percieve as the same or better. I see the same answer from many people on this subject and have yet see a list from anyone that we can equate with. I like what I do and everytime I get my paycheck I laugh at how easy it is sometimes. Not every job is without it's stress and responsibilities but I find mine is far less than what it was 25 years ago. I come to work everyday without a care in the world. I just wished it was this easy when I started 30 years ago, by the way I have worked in the OR 95% of those years. So, lets see the list.

Plus, for the poster about her boyfriend and his computer engineering job. That will be outsourced one day so his job isn't that secure. You can't outsource nursing!

davb · Dec 27, 2007

Plus, for the poster about her boyfriend and his computer engineering job. That will be outsourced one day so his job isn't that secure. You can't outsource nursing!

They can't outsource to another country, they just bypass normal imigration and bring them here several hundred thousand a year from other countries to keep the wages low. Supply and demand of workers you know.

:uhoh3:

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

You can't outsource nursing!

That statement is what brought me to nursing. I had a good job in middle management in the telecommunications industry which afforded me to buy a nice home and a car...typical American life. Around 2003-2004 my employees jobs started to get outsourced to India and the Philippines. I'm no rocket surgeon, but it was pretty obvious that my job wouldn't be around if I had no one to manage. Sure enough, in 2006 that employer shut its doors here. Luckily, I had started my schooling in the summer of 2004 and was getting ready to enter nursing school that fall and had penny pinched and saved so I could make it through without having to work.

Job security and the many opportunities that are available to a RN is what brought me here. I wouldn't wish the stress of suddenly trying to figure out what you're going to have to do about your livelihood to anybody!

Of course, the money is a consideration!! I doubt I'd have gone through 3.5 years of school to make less than what I was before. In fact, I'll be making a healthy amount more.

Yet, I think people in general really need to learn how to live within their means. To be honest, I imagine I'd be quite content working my three 12's per week and making a respectable salary in comparison to what I have to put out each month in bills. If I went into this thinking "I'm going to get a new car, a new home, go on holidays often, and stick all my extra money in my ears," I'd find myself overworked and miserable to try to maintain such a lifestyle. I work with some nurses who work 6 days per week...two full-time jobs, because the salary of a nurse has allowed them debt up to their nose. That's no life. But I guess we can't always do what we want to do, but we always do what we have to do.

Do what you love and be responsible with your $$$. :lol2:

bekindtokittens · Dec 27, 2007

When I decided to go back to college, I had a hard time deciding on a major. I wanted an education geared towards a specific career, not the Liberal Arts degrees I'd seen so many of my friends graduate with. I wanted a career in which I could change fields if I got bored or needed a change. I needed a career that could move with me because my husband is in the military. And I love learning about the disease process and became interested in health care. So that is how I chose nursing, and now I'm working towards an Associates at my community college, and will eventually work towards a BSN.

As far as the salary goes...the salary I received at my last job, my highest pay ever got, and the salary my friends with those Lib Arts degrees were getting...is about 2/3 of the going salary for new nurses in my area. I may never be rich, but I will definitely be able to pay my bills and then some.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 27, 2007

i won't say i got into it for the money -- i remember being thrilled when that raise gave me more than $6/hour. but i can definitely say i went into it for the job security. the newspaper want ads were full of ads for nurses -- page after page of them!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

There have been similar discussions on this forum over the years on this topic, and I've noticed the overwhelming majority of us are in nursing for many reasons, not just the money. But the money, job security and opportunities are a consideration in going in and staying in.

I've found that those who only do it becaused they care "called" and have a passion for helping people but care nothing about money are few. The same can be said for those who are in nursing only for a paycheck and loathe people and nursing.

The rest of us are on a curve in between.

I honestly had no idea what nurses made and that there was a shortage when I started taking co-reqs for nursing. After I heard the salary, the job opportunities, etc. I was more motivated to put up with the stress and strain of nursing school because I was dirt poor making just above minimum wage. If nursing wasn't going to quadruple my salary, I might not have stuck with it.

MiaKeaRN · Dec 27, 2007

I currently make a little more than I will make as a graduate nurse, so I can honestly say that I am fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

Now, I also have to admit that I would definitely NOT fullfil this dream if I had to take a huge cut in pay. We all need to pay bills and no matter how much I have always wanted to be a nurse, if I couldn't keep up with my bills I just wouldn't be able to do it.