Why do some RNs hate this?

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Some RNs hate when people think they make a ton of money. How come? I definitely wouldn't mind if people thought I made big bucks because it seems like that kind of implies that some people think nurses do way more than just wipe butts and give pills, which in fact they do do a lot more! Let me know what you guys think.

It could be worse, you can be a teacher, Since a Bachelor's degree is mandatory. The starting salary for a teacher in AZ is around $35K. If said teacher wants to continue teaching, they must complete 180 hours of CEUs every 7 years which in some cases is out of pocket. Since cutbacks started a teacher must supply materials for their students. If you want to make more money then you have to get a Master's Degree which is not paid for by their employer. You only get an extra $1k for each higher level degree on your base salary. If you are lucky there may be Career Ladder opportunities. Oh, and during the summer when students are on vacation teachers are either getting ready for the new year or working on Staff Development/CEUs. And there's NO OVERTIME! Nurses make much more than teachers and social workers. So when compared to teachers and social workers, you nurses make bank. You of course have to be willing to work hard to get that raise, get certifications to be able to negotiate your pay, be willing to work overtime. My mom has been a nurse since the 70s, she works hard, has stayed in the same hospital since 93, improved her work environment by going from Tele to ATU. She makes close to $100K with overtime pay. I say don't complain, nurses make more than most essential community workers because of the chance for overtime.

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I graduated from nursing school two years ago and found that I was making awesome money (almost twice as much) but only compared to my friends who had just got entry-level jobs with different degrees. There is not a lot of room to make more money, and RN pay pretty much maxes out for the most part. Nursing pay isn't terrible, but I wouldn't consider it to be a high paying job by ANY means!!!! It also depends on where you live. I live in one of the lowest paying states when compared to living expense (South Florida!!!).

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There are few bachelors majors let alone AAS degrees that pay more than nursing. Computer information systems, engineering and dental hygiene maybe? I've herd that Spending increases as salary increases.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Hey, teacher friends in my area make about $42.000 a year starting. I'll probably make about $45,000 a year starting. If everyone can complain about how underpaid teachers are, surely I can complain, too? :) And I won't even get summers off!

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I haven't even gotten into nursing school yet but I do have a bachelors degree in the health field. My starting pay for my job after graduating was $16.83/hr or $35,000/yr, and had it not been for student loan payments, I could have saved up quite a bit of money in this year since graduating. Looking up starting salaries for nurses in my area, it seems to be around $24/hr or ~50,000/yr. I realize many of you feel with all the responsibility it's not enough, but from an outsiders perspective, nursing comes with "big bucks". No, not doctors or CEO "big bucks", but certainly more than a lot of others in the working world are making. Nurses may have the stress of someone's life on their hands but other professions can be stressful in other ways.

I grew up with two parents that have bachelors degrees and back when I lived at home they made around $60,000 COMBINED. I think it's absolutely silly that people on here are saying they aren't making good money, or that their money doesn't go far in this economy. Everyone else's jobs have suffered, too. Nurses do have a lot of responsibility, but considering you make more than others in the workforce, you are "getting paid" for it. Now, CNAs are a different story.

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I don't get upset when people think I make lots of money (although I may correct them). It does irritate me, however, when they assume I became a nurse BECAUSE of the money. It devalues my passion for nursing and makes me seem shallow.

I totally agree. I live in NJ and I make about $50,000 a year. I make more than most of my friends (who work in other fields) and I only have my associates degree. No I don't make 6 figures, but I live comfortably and I have no problem with people thinking I do. What people don't understand is how hard I work for my money. I love nursing and I like my job a lot, but I work hard. Trust me, I could be doing something else, doing less work and possibly making more money but I'm a nurse cuz that's what I wanna do. So I do alright, but I work my ass off and so do a lot of nurses so why shouldn't we be happy to earn what we earn?

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i will start out making gross $38,000 a year. i had to go to school for 6 years in total for my bsn. it's not "big bucks" by any means. of course, for someone like me who worked minimum wage and at most $10/hour throughout school, it's a gold mine of money. i'm looking forward to starting a point in my life where i don't worry constantly about how i will pay my bills or if i can go do something fun with friends. i'm excited to start planning and saving for a big vacation with my fiance. but it's not rich at all.

just curious, why will you start out at only $38,000 as an rn with a bsn??

where do you live?

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Specializes in Oncology.
Just curious, why will you start out at only $38,000 as an RN with a BSN??

Where do you live?

I live in Kentucky. Apparently I was wrong on my calculations and I will be making around $43,000 yearly. I also have a great benefits package, the best by far around here. But still, that's the short of it - I will not be making a ridiculous amount of money, even working in a specialty in a hospital.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Just curious, why will you start out at only $38,000 as an RN with a BSN??

Where do you live?

BSN's and ADN's make the same amount of money. Some facilities will gi maybe a 50 cent an hour differential. The total yearly income is calculated to the surrounding market of the facility.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Our new nurses (ADN/BSN makes no difference) make under 35,000 if they work 40 hours per week; around 30,000 if they work 3 12 hour shifts per week. This is in a hospital that just a few years ago was one of the most profitable hospitals in the NATION. Starting salary same now as it was then. Terribly understaffed, high acuity patients, well compensated shareholders. Does not make me feel like I am pulling in the big bucks.

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This is so bizarre. Here (NYC) even new grad nurses with a BSN will start out with anywhere from 60,000 (on the low end) to 75 or 80k.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

It's location, location, location. How much is the housing? what is the local cost of living? If I owned a house in Ohio for what it is worth in Massachusetts...I'd live in a mansion. When I moved from Indiana I was thrilled with how much I made.....but when it was all said and done I actually had less to spend because everything here is so expensive.

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