You really think nurses make alot of money? Let me give you something to think about

Nurses General Nursing

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So, I am tired of the student nurses that come through our unit saying "Well, nurses make alot of money." I like to gently explain to them that we don't in the following way:

I make $27 an hour. I have 4 or 5 patients with varying acuities (I work in an ER). So, if I have 4 patients, I am making $6.75/hr per patient (with 5 it's $5.40 an hour). I am responsible for assessing, verifying orders, medicating, etc etc. The last time I was in the hospital I asked for an invoice, and if I remember correctly, they charged me around $200/hr for nursing care. (Now this was on a floor, but I am just using it for general comparison).

I have to also take into consideration that hospitals have overhead (housekeeping, techs, etc.), but still that mark-up is huge. In my previous career, I was making considerably more money for less responsibility and less stress and the mark-up on the products was around 13%. I know I am comparing apples to oranges, but it's just something else to think about.

Most students gasp at this when looking at our wages like this, but it's just something I think we should consider. I sometimes think our wages would be better if they were based on acuity and ratios (for hospital nursing). What do you guys think? Am I looking at this all wrong?

i think the reductionist approach ("if i get $25/hour, that's divided by 5 patients so it's really only $5/hr") is silly and related to the "lies, damned lies, and statistics" thing. you get $25/hour. you work hard for it, sure. some days, maybe not so much, but still, $25/hr. and you get that same $25/hour when you're on vacation :D.

:idea:if you worked for a pizza place and got $10/hour, would you be telling trainees that it was less if you served pizza on super bowl sunday than on easter?

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Complaining about nurse wages by citing "per patient" wages is essentially complaining that you have a job that demands that you alternate tasks (ie, patients). If you don't like having a job that requires you to alternate tasks, then find a job that only requires you to do one task the entire shift. That may be a little difficult since almost every job involves more than one task.

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I guess it must just be my tiny little rural neck of the woods, but the $27/hr. the diploma nurses start off at at the local hospital is a small fortune compared to what most (men and women) make in our county.

I will admit, hubby makes a tiny bit more than those nurses, but he also has to be away from home Monday through Friday every week working as an over the road truck driver.

Hey, if anyone wants to spend their whole weeks miles away from home, or snaking tools through people's sh*% clogged toilets be my guest, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

OP obviously is missing the big picture. Do you not realize that one third of all American houses brings less than 50,000 a year on TWO salaries? Or that in the majority places in America, the average household brings in 35000 a year with NO benefits or chance of overtime?

Every job complains that they are underpaid...nursing is no different. But unlike a lot of professions, nurses are only required a two year degree, plenty get full benefits, some can work two twelve hour weekend shifts and be considered full time with Monday through Friday off...face it. Nursing is a great profession that you are only seeing as half empty. If you feel that you are SO underpaid, do yourself and everyone else a favor and leave.

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Specializes in Spinal injury.
i think the reductionist approach ("if i get $25/hour, that's divided by 5 patients so it's really only $5/hr") is silly and related to the "lies, damned lies, and statistics" thing. you get $25/hour. you work hard for it, sure. some days, maybe not so much, but still, $25/hr. and you get that same $25/hour when you're on vacation :D.

:idea:if you worked for a pizza place and got $10/hour, would you be telling trainees that it was less if you served pizza on super bowl sunday than on easter?

i completely agree. :yeah:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

I'll play devil's advocate. You make more than a new teacher. That teacher is responsible for young minds, bodies and lives. Also think of all the people in this country who make minimum wage. Even if they work 40 hours a week, busting their butt at McDonald's or collecting garbage or retail, or whatever, they take home less than 250 dollars a week! Try living on that! I think nurses (myself included) make a good honest wage for a good honest days work. It's a livable salary. I think too many people these days want too much--of everything and are not grateful for what they have. IMHO

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So, I am tired of the student nurses that come through our unit saying "Well, nurses make alot of money." I like to gently explain to them that we don't in the following way:

I make $27 an hour. I have 4 or 5 patients with varying acuities (I work in an ER). So, if I have 4 patients, I am making $6.75/hr per patient (with 5 it's $5.40 an hour). I am responsible for assessing, verifying orders, medicating, etc etc. The last time I was in the hospital I asked for an invoice, and if I remember correctly, they charged me around $200/hr for nursing care. (Now this was on a floor, but I am just using it for general comparison).

I have to also take into consideration that hospitals have overhead (housekeeping, techs, etc.), but still that mark-up is huge. In my previous career, I was making considerably more money for less responsibility and less stress and the mark-up on the products was around 13%. I know I am comparing apples to oranges, but it's just something else to think about.

Most students gasp at this when looking at our wages like this, but it's just something I think we should consider. I sometimes think our wages would be better if they were based on acuity and ratios (for hospital nursing). What do you guys think? Am I looking at this all wrong?

I think for some people any way they look at it $27/hr is a lot of money. What was your previous career? i have no idea what i could do for the same amount of money without going back to school for a while.

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Not to mention all the people that did go back to school, who would kill for $27HR.... Which in actuality is probably closer to $35/HR if the OP gets anything like Health Ins, Vacay, CME's, Etc.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I admit, it *IS* good money and I honestly cannot see myself doing anything else (at all!) and it pays the bills, but it's not like I'm rich or anything like that.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
Not to mention all the people that did go back to school, who would kill for $27HR.... Which in actuality is probably closer to $35/HR if the OP gets anything like Health Ins, Vacay, CME's, Etc.

People always whine about salary but forget about those lovely benefits like paid vacation and health insurance are priceless.

Take dental hygenist for example. Most make about five to seven dollars and hour more than nurses but many do not have benefits because it is hard to find a full time job at a dentist's officers . So they end up having to pay out of pocket for insurance that's expensive and afterwards, their take home income is less than their nursing counterparts.

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I am a second careerer too. I made way more money in my last career but was totally trapped - no advancement, not marketable in other cities, etc. Nursing offered me almost as much with the ability to advance/move. I never thought nursing paid a lot hour. However, it does offer a lot of potential. For instance, we are always short. You can pick up any time which means overtime. Couple that with a PRN job, you can easily make 100,000/yr. The money is out there, you just have to work for it. At the end, I work 3 days a week. I might work my tail off those 3 days, but I have 4 days to recover!! We work less days than teachers!!!

Love it and wouldn't trade it!!!

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I hear ya OP, and totally agree. :up:

I think those that post saying that they "don't care about money" are just too FOS for me.

Y'all be sure to turn down, or even quit if you get a raise now won't ya? Otherwise I'll have no choice but to assume you are not realy true blue nursing martyrs - and, that would be such a bummer for me. Such a huge loss of innocence and all...

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