Would you take a $3 hr pay decrease for better ratios and working conditions?

[Emergent]

I'm really curious, would you take a cut in pay in exchange for excellent nurse/patient ratios, ensure adequate staffing, a float nurse to always cover breaks, and a safer healthcare delivery environment?

[StayLost, BSN, RN]

I much rather get paid less and have a better work environment. I was just talking about this last night with a coworker. My last job was amazing- New equipment, higher quality supplies, more staff, fast turn around with labs and medications from pharmacy - but these things came at a cost. I now get paid significantly more at my current job, but I believe having less stress and enjoying the 40+ hours I spend a week more important than the money. shouldn't have left :)

[SmilingBluEyes]

Yes, I would And yes I have.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I would, but I would have to get a second job prn

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Can you think of another profession that would consider, even for a moment, such an agreement?

A nurse who works hard for her shift is going to work hard regardless of the number of patients. Taking a reduction in pay just means working hard for less money.....NOT a good career plan.

[caliotter3]

Would take a job paying $3 less than the prevailing wage in order to have a job, any job. But for better working conditions? Not that fast. They can provide the good working conditions without punishing my livelihood as I see it.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I don't get paid near my worth as it is.

Critical care is where it is at, as far as ratios go. Of course, it can still suck when there are patients that should be singled, but are not due to staffing, etc.

If I wanted to work for that little, I would get out of nursing altogether. I like being a nurse, but it surely isn't worth the money I get paid.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Some things are worth more than money. It's a matter of figuring out your own work-life balance.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

$3/hr is over $6000 a year... or 3 mortgage payments, 2 years of car payments or a year of student loan payments. So, NO, I most definitely would not.

[Aurora77]

$3/hr is over $6000 a year... or 3 mortgage payments, 2 years of car payments or a year of student loan payments. So, NO, I most definitely would not.

It's a year's worth of mortgage payments for me. There's no way I'd take a pay cut on my current floor in order to get better ratios. Would I consider a job that pays less but makes me happy--yes, but a pay cut where I'm at? No way.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm in the camp for both.

I have taken a SERIOUS pay cut in the past for a flexible schedule, pretty good ratios, even as an Independent Contractor, which had it's perks; I'm just starting to recoup, and I think we shouldn't have to give up my compensation to have better staffing.

But that's me.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

My initial instinct is yes, but what's preventing management from slowly inching back to the (sub) standard conditions?

This. Exactly.

I'd require guarantees before I willingly fell for the so-called promise of better conditions.

Of course, there's nothing these days stopping management from just cutting our pay without the promise of better conditions to go with it. So I'm sure that will happen soon enough.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

There needs to be a guarantee of keeping the increased staff levels for three years and a replacement of staff within two months.