Why are nurses not paid more?

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I just finished 3 consecutive 12-hour shifts and was doing a bit of reflecting this morning. I work on a med-surg floor in San Antonio, TX. The hospital is in an economically deprived area of town, and serves that demographic. It makes for some challenging days. Patients who are more sick, non-funded, uneducated, and may seek hospitalization for refuge. Also, me not speaking Spanish is proving to be an obstacle.

Then there's the typical community hospital politics and staffing issues. Here the maximum patients they can legally give us is 7. However, they utilize team nursing with an LPN and give up to 14. Then you constantly have admin asking you "when are you discharging your patients," only so that they may have that extra bed to fill. This makes for some exhausting days, with multiple discharges and admissions. Most days I'm on my feet for the duration of the shift.

I make $23/ hour, with some differentials for weekends and such. This comes out to about $42k a year before taxes. I understand that salaries vary in different areas based on the cost of living. I know there are nurses making 45-50/ hour in places like LA, NYC or Honolulu. So say on the high end a nurse takes in 80k a year before taxes.

Are nurses really compensated for what they're worth. I think that is a very important question and should be addressed on a higher level. Personally, for what we do and what we're responsible for, I do not think we should make less than 80k a year. A physician makes from 170k to 400k+ a year. I understand they have more invested to be able to make the decisions they do, but when you really look at the numbers, I don't think it quite makes sense.

What do you guys think?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.

Of course we are not paid what we are worth. But, I would never compare my salary to that of a physician. You will always make a huge mistake if you compare your skill set with a physicians skills.

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I'm pretty sure I know where you work, and there is not a legal limit of 7. They used to give 8 (16 total when you include the LVN's patients). I don't think anybody doing any job makes what they think they should make.

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

suprising to me and I am in SETexas....I never started a RN less than $25/hr......I even had an ADON who was a LVN, she got, and trust me deserved 26/hr.... :shy:

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Keep in mind that states that pay the highest are also the states with the highest cost-of-living.

It's simple economics. Nurses are paid high enough to keep enough of them around*, and low enough to keep the entire company solvent.

*Whether they are happy with the pay or stick around for long is out of the question, usually.

Tough noogies but the sooner one can come to terms with this, the better.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I work on a med-surg floor in San Antonio, TX.
I make $23/ hour, with some differentials for weekends and such. This comes out to about $42k a year before taxes. I understand that salaries vary in different areas based on the cost of living?
I am in the same state as you but farther north, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and I earn a little over $34 hourly with no shift differentials. There's no way I'd work for $23 as an RN. Heck, my highest LVN pay rate was $27 per hour in the same metro area in 2010 right before I earned my RN license.

If you want more money in the area where you reside, look for a job outside the exalted acute care hospital. Areas such as hospice, home care, private duty, public health, and SNF will pay you what you feel you are worth. Hospitals in your area can get away with uncompetitive pay because that is where all the new grads dream of working.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

SA (& So TX) have very low salaries across the board compared to other areas of the state. It's not just in nursing.

It is an immutable fact - employers will never pay more than they have to. As long as they can continue to hire and maintain staff who are willing to work for those wages, the situation will not change. In 2006, multiple SA hospital systems were sued for violation of Federal anti-trust laws re: conspiracy to fix nursing wages http://www.mwe.com/info/news/wp0310a.pdf . There was clear evidence that this was occurring. Although the culprits may have cleaned up their acts somewhat, the effect is still there.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

Blame the NFL. Look how much football players are paid -- and how much they contribute to society compared to teachers and nurses.

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Whoooeeee, I ain't gonna touch this one with a ten-foot pole. I imagine some of you know what I think.

But if you all will hang on a minute, I'll got get the popcorn and get comfy-cozy to watch the show.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Whoooeeee, I ain't gonna touch this one with a ten-foot pole. I imagine some of you know what I think.

But if you all will hang on a minute, I'll got get the popcorn and get comfy-cozy to watch the show.

Getting my bowl ready as well ;)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

I make decent money working in the tristate. More money is to be made in NYC but the cost to commute isnt worth it in my eyes for a few bucks more an hour. Working nights is a plus too. Hopefully I get a decent pay increase for my yearly review.

What I DO hate though is my non nursing friends who comment on my salary...I'm in my mid twenties so all of my friends are recent college grads generally in entry level positions. They make comments like I'm rich or something. It really irks me because I run around in a busy ER for 12+ hours, sometimes not getting a break. I bust my hump for my money and my job is very stressful. Of course I feel I should make better money than someone who sits at a desk spending half their day on facebook! Do people's lives depend on you? Do you have to deal with death everyday at work? Try one shift in my shoes and you'll see why I get paid what I do. I'm not a super hero, and of course other jobs are important.. but don't act like I'm over paid, please.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

As long as nursing care is considered part of the room-and-board charge, nurses will never be paid what they are worth.

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