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If it's true that they are going into only for the money, most likely they will have gone bye-bye long before graduating. I'm continually amazed at the disconnect between the realities of nursing and outdated myths of the gold pot at the end of the rainbow. I had a friend tell me that they were informed by a reliable source that nurses can expect to make $170,000 a year!! ![]()
I wonder about people who choose to be a nurse or anything else for that matter seem to a) be clueless about what the job of a nurse is all about, the ones that are shocked to learn that they might have to see poop as a nurse and b) aren't paying any attention to current job outlooks, average salary, etc.
This doesn't mean that the money doesn't matter. It does-- and shouldn't apologize to anyone who tries to lay self-effacing handmaiden guilt trip on you. This particular issue is discussed here quite a bit. Here is a link to one of them. Best wishes! :)
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/getting-into-nursing-389848-page1.html
People have to make enough to pay bills and take care of their family. So I don't mind if someone is concerned whether nursing pays enough. But if your only concern is money and you are not realistic to just what nursing is...you are in for a shocker. You are not going to get rich and as we have seen nursing is not recession proof. I agree that those looking for big money only will probably end up leaving after a certain time.
I'd like to know where a nurse makes 170,000 a year. Not in my unit!
If it does exist, it's either someone working 96 hours a week and is making killer overtime but who has no life outside of work...
Or it's in some big metropolis/upper-class area and they forgot to add that the cost of living is so high there, that though you may be making 170k, after rent, bills and what-not, all you will be able to afford to eat is Kraft macaroni and cheese ![]()
It doesn't make me shudder to know that some people choose nursing because of the pay scale. I always sit back and wait until they are working. I'm a lpn right now and have learned that you will earn every penny working in the nursing field. There are nights where I should be paid much much more for doing what I do. Not only is it the most demanding job I have ever had, but your butt is always on the line legally! Thats the part I wonder if some people get.
My brother (RN with ADN) made over $125K his 4th year.....but he lives in Manhattan AND his RENT on a 2BR place is $3K!I would think that the only nurses making more than that are NPs.
Wow really? I live in the city and I haven't heard anyone making that much after four years and some of my friend have BSN degrees. Is that with overtime? because I know that's how A LOT of people make their money here, my dad made about 20-30K in overtime last year.
Honestly I didn't even know nurses made that much when I first became interested in the job. I'm glad to know that I can at least afford to have my own apartment lol but I definetely won't be rich (especially in NYC)
If it does exist, it's either someone working 96 hours a week and is making killer overtime but who has no life outside of work...Or it's in some big metropolis/upper-class area and they forgot to add that the cost of living is so high there, that though you may be making 170k, after rent, bills and what-not, all you will be able to afford to eat is Kraft macaroni and cheese
Wow, you can afford Kraft?? I only buy the store brand ... ![]()
Coloradogrl
435 Posts
OK, I know everyone goes into nursing for different reasons and I will be the 1st to say with any career you should look at the salary range and job market. With that said I am still shocked with some of the things some people say:uhoh3:
I was looking at a discussion tonight for school where people were introducing themselves and this was the response by someone
'I've heard they make a lot of money. I need a lot of money' in regards to nursing. Also a few days ago I heard someone say they wanted to be upper middle class or rich so that is why they are going into nursing.
I come from a nursing family and definitely think nurses make a good living(but work very hard for it) but I guess if someone wanted to only look at a career for $$$ reasons there are others that you could look at. I just have seen how hard nurses have to work for their salary and for the most part seem underpaid.