Would you like your job more if you were paid more?

[proud nurse]

I was wondering, would any of you be more satisfied with your jobs and the stuff that comes along with it if you were paid more? I feel appreciated by my employer once a year when I get a raise, and that's about it. The rest of the time, I get the impression they feel we should just be satisfied with having steady income. I really do like my job and my unit, but I think I'd be more tolerant of things I was paid about $3.00-$5.00 more an hour. Would getting a $5.00 increase make you less frustrated with high nurse to patient ratios? Or would you feel better about being charge nurse if the pay was more than, what...$1.00 more?

[MedChica]

Nope.

I honestly wish that I were one of those people who could work for money. It would make nursing so much easier to deal with.

I could earn more NOW, far as thats concerned. Money just isnt a strong enough motivator. Wish it were.

[perfexion, ASN, RN]

I love what I do but I think getting paid more would probably improve my feelings about my job. I work two full time nursing jobs and do a ridiculous amount of overtime; some days I work both jobs back to back. But then again I'm the only breadwinner in a house with 3 people in college and a baby so I think I'd always need more money regardless of what I'm getting paid!

[caliotter3]

Three to five dollars an hour more to bring me to the bottom of the pay scale that someone with my license, education, experience, and abilities should be getting? No. I already know that none of my employers have ever respected me enough to pay me what I am worth, or what a professional with my license should be paid; nor have they ever treated me with respect in their day to day dealings. Too little, too late.

[newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

More money makes it more tolerable for me. I was working more or less at the bottom of the pay scale at my hospital since I'd only been a nurse 2.5 years when I decided to bump myself to the top of the pay scale by going to per diem because I didn't need/use the benefits anyway. It amounted to about $17/hr raise. This is exactly what I said to my husband, "my job sucks so it might as well suck at the top of the pay scale, right?" That being said I think all nurses should be making more because of the responsibility we have.

I would probably accept considerably less pay for a job I loved if I could just find one. I was close with a recent job simply because I worked with the best group of people I've ever worked with--naturally the rest of the job was totally nutty but I loved going to work to see my friends every day--only time my job has been like that in my life--it was good while it lasted.

[laKrugRN]

I surely would! I feel underpaid as is!

[Journey_On, BSN, RN]

I no longer work at the hospital, but I was per diem at my last job, and the pay was really decent. I took quite a big pay cut when I left my hospital job, but looking back, it was still the right decision. I don't think I would have enjoyed that last hospital job even if it paid more, unfortunately.

[klone, MSN, RN]

No, not really. I feel I'm very well compensated.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

No amount of money is worth my health or my sanity.

[Delicate Flower]

I do think pay affects my attitude. I am willing to deal with more BS if I know I am being well compensated. That being said, $3-$5 an hour is not enough to tip the scales for me, unless it were part of an ongoing path to higher compensation (climbing the ladder).

[mtngrl, ASN, RN]

A raise wouldn't make me like my job more. The stress would be the same. Would not make me any less miserable nor make my job more tolerable.

[Nola009]

Yes & being treated with more empathy and respect wouldn't hurt either.

[2011RN]

Hehe! I would like my job more if it was not my job!