Why do some RNs hate this?

BrandonLPN, LPN · Jul 7, 2012

Oh, and as a Michigander, I feel I must point out the day of auto workers making big bucks are long gone. These days there are fewer and fewer jobs where an unskilled and uneducated worker can make a living wage. After I was laid off, I turned to nursing precisely for the money and the job security and I'm not a bit ashamed to say so. It's naive and childish to say that those of us who did so are "shallow" or degrading some sacred calling or something. I know I'm a good nurse. It's not fair to call me greedy or callous. I could turn it around on some people, and say all the "Florence Nightengales" out there are melodramatic and narcisstic. When some people go on about how much passion they have and how it was such a sacred calling for them, what they are really saying is "look at me! Look at me! Look at meeeee!"

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

Personally, I'm quite content in my little area of the world. I made $72k last year working full-time on nightshift in southeast WA state. On occasion, I pick up an extra shift if I feel like it, but I do not work a lot of overtime. Cost of living is low where I live. I don't make the "big bucks" in comparison to some others, but I'm definitely much more fortunate than plenty of people in the workforce.

tokmom, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

Our CNA's think we are overpaid until they become nurses themselves....

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 8, 2012

I'll just say this. I've been a nurse for 2 years...and while some may think nurses make a lot, some do. And some think nurses don't make a lot, and some don't. Many nurses make 100k or more a year and don't live where the cost of living is high. I live in TN where the cost of living is low and I know many nurses who make 80k/year or more working at the bedside. I know a couple who are in middle management making 100k a year. I won't say where I am in that spectrum, but I definitely make more than most ppl I know because of the leadership and opportunities I've sought out. And here's what I'll tell you, there are nurses who work weekdays at the bedside and earn HALF, yes HALF, what the night/weekend ppl make at the same hospital. Many nurses say "I hate working weekends, or nights, don't wanna do it". My night/weekend diff $12/hr extra. The opportunity to make a lot of money working at the bedside is there, some ppl just don't seek it out... :twocents:

Brekka, ADN, RN · Jul 8, 2012

I agree, money isnt the reason we do this, but there's another reason for some. It's not so much about what is being said, but what's behind it. People who ask usually just look at the money aspect, and some even think nurses are overpaid. They don't see the blood, sweat, and tears that went into it. They don't realize the sacrifices made, the enormous responsibilities, and all of the hard work. The thought behind it is usually, "hey, wipe someone's butt, make bank!"Some nurses get paid well, but for a lot of us we are not paid for what we're worth. I get just over $22 working night shift at a rehab/LTC center where I am responsible for all care provided to up to 50 patients/residents. I arrive early and hit the ground running, and never stop moving until just before it's time for shift change. I get maybe 20 minutes for a break halfway through. Basically hearing that sometimes brings to mind the thought that what we are paid isn't earned.

arte_suave · Jul 8, 2012

Considering that the median wage in the United States is $16.75 and I personally have spent the past 10 years with a college degree never making anything over $17, I would, say, yes nurses do make decent money. In the healthcare area I came from, dental, most office managers don't even make what a starting nurse makes despite years of experience in both front and back and an assistant is making big bucks if she pushes the $15.00 mark while dealing with the same kind of disrespect and under-appreciation (if not more) that I hear all these nurses gripe about over on the the boards. Oh and forget about healthcare although we may get free to discounted dental if you want to have the dentist you work for work on you.

I think for a lot of nurses who have been in nursing, they have only seen what has happened to nursing in the past few years but the whole country has gone to pot! They have no idea how the whole economy is busted and despite all the hell they go through, they are one of the better paying professions for people who lack the money and access to acquire better paying jobs but have gumption and fortitude anyway.

Seas · Jul 8, 2012

Lol. I am an exception I guess. Because, I don't hate it. I admit the fact that I make pretty good money for myself, and I am proud of it.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2012

25+ years ago my sister graduated from an ADN program at around 21 years old. Her starting pay was about $4000 less a year than my dad was making at his job of 13 years. For a kid with two years education what was pretty darn successful way of starting your adult life.

Now days, even with starting pay close to double what it was then, it doesn't make up for the intense increased cost of living/inflation.

For a community college degree, it's still not a bad way to make a living--- but the money isn't nearly as 'good' as it once was considered.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2012

I remember in the early 90's, my base pay was $25 thousand per year. But the physical therapy ASSISTANTS made $42 thousand per year base! Actually, I remember taking a job in an ICU in 1996 for 15 bucks per hour, dayshift. Money sure went a lot farther back then, tho. As far as skilled vs. unskilled labor goes, at least I work in an air-conditioned hospital with major medical insurance benefits, at a fairly cheap rate. I think of that when I see construction workers, who usually make at least what I do, but they are in the hot sun all day, and usually have NO benefits. When I was growing up, my father worked in a cotton mill here in the south, with no air-conditioning. He still built us a new house, bought a bunch of land, my mother never had to work, we got cars for our 16th birthdays, and we had everything we wanted. Gas was 30 something cents per gallon, and I could fill-up for 5 bucks! So yeah, if the cost of living weren't so astronomical, I might consider what I make as good; but it takes all I make now just to pay the bills and eat.

citylights89, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2012

I remember in the early 90's, my base pay was $25 thousand per year. But the physical therapy ASSISTANTS made $42 thousand per year base! Actually, I remember taking a job in an ICU in 1996 for 15 bucks per hour, dayshift. Money sure went a lot farther back then, tho. As far as skilled vs. unskilled labor goes, at least I work in an air-conditioned hospital with major medical insurance benefits, at a fairly cheap rate. I think of that when I see construction workers, who usually make at least what I do, but they are in the hot sun all day, and usually have NO benefits. When I was growing up, my father worked in a cotton mill here in the south, with no air-conditioning. He still built us a new house, bought a bunch of land, my mother never had to work, we got cars for our 16th birthdays, and we had everything we wanted. Gas was 30 something cents per gallon, and I could fill-up for 5 bucks! So yeah, if the cost of living weren't so astronomical, I might consider what I make as good; but it takes all I make now just to pay the bills and eat.

I'm not sure what you make now, but here in TX construction workers/industrial workers don't make a lot AT ALL. Maybe somewhere between $10-15/hr. Considering all their risks for bodily injury, that is not a lot money, especially with the cost of living these days,

decembergrad2011, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2012

Decembergrad, you can calculate your full-time yearly salary equivalent by multiplying your hourly rate by 2080. At least that's how they do it in HR/payroll. :)

Well, in that case I'm looking at $46,000. :yeah:

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 12, 2012

I hate it because people think that my income is totally disposable. I haven't been in the field long and so far the money is great to me. Also pay for my own tuition for my RN bridge program on top of my other bills. Here in the south and being single some guys think that when they hear the word "nurse" that I am a guaranteed breadwinner and they can just spend, spend spend!