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

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

You can't outsource nursing!

You cannot outsource nursing, but corporations can definitely 'import' nurses from developing countries to work for reduced wages. In fact, they've already started.

Don't be fooled. Nurses can be imported to flood the job market.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 27, 2007

Currently there is retrogression with nurses which has been on board since last October 06, no nurses have been processed from their own country and apart from a very small window in July/Aug 07 have not been able to adjust their status and stay in the US. Also foreign nurses are supposed to be paid the same as US nurses to fulfill US immigration rules.

Back to topic, I did not come into nursing for the money as in the UK back when I trained 1986 nurses was definitely not paid well (still not compared to a lot of other public health sectors) Yes money does help a bit but I like the variety in nursing with the different diagnosis and symptons and meeting of other people of different ages

Sailingshoes · Dec 27, 2007

I got into nursing because I knew I could always find a job and make an okay living. I don't think I could do it just for the money though because we really deserve to make a lot more in relation to our responsibilities. I am grateful for my nursing degree but I can't say I "love" nursing. I am grateful to have a flexible job and to make a difference in the lives of others but "love" is reserved for my family, friends and skiing! I couldn't be a nurse without these boundries....gotta have them or I get sucked dry.

lvnandmomx3 · Dec 27, 2007

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.

This is so true. I have seen alot of this. I know I won't make a million $$ from nursing. I believe in living within your means, other jobs I have worked I have had to live pay check to pay check.Still basically doing that a little with being an LVN but I know when I get my RN even though I make make alot more money than I am used to it won't mean running out and spend it all. What it will mean is a faminly vaction ( we have never taken one) and college educations for my 3 kids.

shodobe · Dec 29, 2007

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.

So true!

shodobe · Dec 29, 2007

You cannot outsource nursing, but corporations can definitely 'import' nurses from developing countries to work for reduced wages. In fact, they've already started.
Don't be fooled. Nurses can be imported to flood the job market.

I'm no fool and believe me I see it everyday where I work. Almost the whole staff in PACU are from the Phillipines, most are very good and a few ? I know this is how healthcare is going to address the shortage and there isn't much we can do. I just wish they would tighten up the requirements for imported nurses. Like I said, most are very competent and do a very good job. Unfortunately there are many who struggle with the English language and are very hard to understand. These should not be allowed to work because of the danger of a misunderstanding in patient care.

imenid37 · Dec 29, 2007

I made less than $10/hr in 1987 as a new grad. I now make well over $30/hr. It seems like a lot of $. My own daughter is in a two year program and will be done in June 2008 and is awed by the salary. I love my job, but it is very demanding and very stressful. Nurses have so much responsibility and take so much flack, that you will definitely have many days when you could NEVER be paid what you are worth. I get so sick of hospitals and other facilities who bemoan having to pay us what we should make, while erecting new buildings to rival hotels on the Vegas strip or Club Med resorts. Patients come to the hospital for nursing care When they feel better, then they can visit a resort! The hospitals should be spending money looking for more staff and making work environments better. I do like caring for people, most of the time, but get so stressed by all of the paperwork and liability issues we deal w/ every day. To me, all of the BS makes nursing difficult and often not worth the $$$!

elcue · Dec 31, 2007

I sure didn't go into it for the money. But now, many years on, I stay for the money, not because it's a grand amount (though it's not bad), but because I couldn't just hop into something else for the same salary . At my age I couldn't take a huge cut and start over in the salary game.

weirdRN, RN · Dec 31, 2007

As I said earlier: Let them come for the $$ they will earn every cent of it.

Nursing is hard. Not just physically but psychologically, mentally, emotionally. It is hard on your family, on everything really.

Digging a ditch might be hard physically, but mentally it can't be as bad as nursing.

Scrubbing toilets doesn't pay much but how physically demanding, how emotionally demanding is it?

If I worked at McDonald's I would have way less stress... and way less pay. There is a reason Nurses are well paid and most of it has to do with lawsuit prevention.

danissa, LPN, LVN · Dec 31, 2007

I once worked at mickey d's for a whole HOUR!!! OMG! (had to walk out)

Nursing..for a whole big chunk of my life. Yes, its hard, and at times we dont get paid enough, but generally, pay is ok. I enjoy the money I earn, which is far far better than the McD's money.

I didn't specifically go into nursing for the money, but it's one of the factors in making me stay with it, could do a "glam" job , where I could be dollied up to the nines, but for half the pay!

And overall, I love what I do, love the babies, would be bored out of my mind doing a "dolly" job!

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2007

when I went into nursing money wasnt good at all