I am constantly BomBarDed with ?????s about how much I make a year and if it's worth it.:rolleyes:
I E: I was thinking of going to nursing school, how much do you make?
Most of the time I just want to say: "If you have to ask that question, You will never make it in school."
Not that I want to be mean or anything but those who were going into Nursing because of the "job security, pay and benifits" that were in my LPN class most failed out in the first term and some just walked out of class after about a month never to return.
I believe you have to have "IT" (the desire to help others) in order to make it in nursing, either that or your just blinking streight-jacket MAD.
After all, some of the things we do; well, any person with half a brain wouldn't "WANT" to do them. (and yes, I do remember the first time I got to do a foley ALL BY MY SELF.)
Am I mad or just miffed?:confused:
I get the question pretty often too, and it is a legitimate one. Round here (North East) I'll tell them a LPN starts bout 40K per year, an RN about 60K with benefits.
Also make sure to tell them that they'll work their tails off for the money. Best comparison I can make is to plumbing. You get paid well, it's a trade, and you stick your hands in some pretty smelly places :)
Once that sinks in, it gives them some food for thought.
You can find current pay rates by the way here:
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (United States), Today's Pay Rates, Payscale.com:
http://www.payscale.com/salary-survey/vid-32928/fid-6886
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Registered Nurse (RN) (United States), Today's Pay Rates, Payscale.com:
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate
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I wouldn't get offended at the question. For most jobs, occupations it is one of the first questions they'll ask. Just be sure to answer their questions fully, so they realize it isn't just about the money.
Sincerely,
Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137, AOL “nursefriendly”
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618
150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links
http://www.4nursing.com
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http://www.nursingdiscussions.com
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http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com
http://www.nursingexperts.comHi guys,
I think people have some idea that nursing pays well but nobody outside of the field knows just how much work both physical and mental is involved. Yes, the pay is good but not enough for the responsibility. Gratification plays a key role. Only a nurse can rationalize that and keep going to work. I'm sure there are other professions that the same can be said about, like law enforcement. Thanks for the links, Andrew- very interesting
R
Some people say that nursing isn't about the money. Actually it is. Its a profession, its a job that many, many people won't do. Self-gratification that you're helping save someone's life does help, but that itself won't put bread on the table.
There are plenty of people out there willing to walk all over you for all the hard work you do. Is $60,000 enough to live comfortably? If you're single, yes. But if you've got a wife, kids, house, 2 cars, insurance, utilities... its a stretch. Remember the days when the wife didn't have to work? You don't find that too much anymore.
Get as much as you can. You're worth it, you're a nurse.
THanks all, I guess it is just a pet piev of mine to get asked how much money I make. If I had to liken it to any other question, it would have to be one like this (How capeable are you of supporting your wife and the five kids you still have at home?). Kind of a personal question to ask someone don't you think? Almost as bad as, (please don't anyone be offended by this.) Do you think you can satisfy your partner in the bedroom?:eek:
Now I know it isn't like that at all, but I allmost always feel naked after someone asks me the $$$$ question.
Thanks again for listening to me rant and again for your comments. I do truely value your opinions after all you guy's and gals have to be smart because most of you are nurses.
orionseal wrote:THanks all, I guess it is just a pet piev of mine to get asked how much money I make. If I had to liken it to any other question, it would have to be one like this (How capeable are you of supporting your wife and the five kids you still have at home?). Kind of a personal question to ask someone don't you think? Almost as bad as, (please don't anyone be offended by this.) Do you think you can satisfy your partner in the bedroom?:eek:
Now I know it isn't like that at all, but I allmost always feel naked after someone asks me the $$$$ question.
Thanks again for listening to me rant and again for your comments. I do truely value your opinions after all you guy's and gals have to be smart because most of you are nurses.
I agree- it is an offensive question. I'm an RN, and people rarely ask me what I make. Most assume it's more than it is, though. There are too many nurses where I live and wages are low.
When I'm traveleing, people assume I make
big bucks- most travel positions now days are paying in the upper 20s to mid 30s per hr.
There is a time and place for everything. giving someone who is looking for council an answer to turn them off is not the right way to go. Aren't we looking for more people to come to the profession? So if someone wants to know if they will be able to support themselves and their family by going into nursing, they deserve to know. The
YOUin the question the person ask should not be seen as a personal question but rather as a general one YOU (personal), are a nurse, how much do nurses make?
feel free to visit my blog
The Wealthy Nurse where I discuss such issues
Drum RN wrote:Some people say that nursing isn't about the money. Actually it is. Its a profession, its a job that many, many people won't do. Self-gratification that you're helping save someone's life does help, but that itself won't put bread on the table.
There are plenty of people out there willing to walk all over you for all the hard work you do. Is $60,000 enough to live comfortably? If you're single, yes. But if you've got a wife, kids, house, 2 cars, insurance, utilities... its a stretch. Remember the days when the wife didn't have to work? You don't find that too much anymore.
Get as much as you can. You're worth it, you're a nurse.
I agree with DrumRN this is a profession and we should be proud of who we are and not be ashamed, of course we can always make more money--then again money is not everything right?
subscribe to my blog
The Wealthy NurseIt's me again.
Thanks again for the responces folks.
I recently had my pet pieve ? asked in a way that was not unpleasant (about time).
A young gal I work with is thinking about starting pre-nursing classes at the local community college she has a child and is a widdow at the age of 23, she looked me in the eye and asked if she would be able to afford to raise her daughter and pay back student loans at the same time.
She then asked what she could expect to earn realisticly her first years out of school.
I believe it was the fact that she was cincearly interested in the job for the jobs sake, not so much the paycheck. It almost seemed like the question she wanted to ask was "Is it worth it?". (the job, for the jobs sake)
Call me a sap if you want, all I can say is this girl has passion in her eyes when she talks about becoming a Nurse. This was the first time I felt the $$$$ ? was an after-thaught.
To make a long story short she starts pre-reqs this fall.
Am I a sap? Possibly/probably, but this girl touched my heart with her plea to tell her to GO FOR IT. I didn't even mind telling her what I make.
Where am I going with this?
I don't believe I know.
It's just a relief to see a person with as much passion for this life-commitment (thats how I feel about my job) as I have. I said before that I love my job and I meen it, this is the only JOB I have ever "lived"(yes I said Lived) it still inspires me to be better tomarrow than I was yesterday.
She is going to be a great NURSE.
Thank you...
orionseal, I admire your compassion as a nurse. I hope that it never fades and rubs off others. It was so very, very hard to provide health care to Iraqi detainees [the enemy] for 15 months with any kind of compassion. After all, some were known to have been caught causing harm to US troops.
Now that I'm back at Madigan Army Medical Center I've seen first hand as a patient [L Rotator Cuff Repair surgery] how most of the staff have no real compassion for there patients. I do hope when my wife & I move back to Austin, TX to find other nurses with the same compassion as yourself, and hope that I, too, get back the same compassion. These days I'm kind of just numb... and not just my left shoulder.
MagRedC5 wrote:orionseal, I admire your compassion as a nurse. I hope that it never fades and rubs off others. It was so very, very hard to provide health care to Iraqi detainees [the enemy] for 15 months with any kind of compassion. After all, some were known to have been caught causing harm to US troops.
Now that I'm back at Madigan Army Medical Center I've seen first hand as a patient [L Rotator Cuff Repair surgery] how most of the staff have no real compassion for there patients. I do hope when my wife & I move back to Austin, TX to find other nurses with the same compassion as yourself, and hope that I, too, get back the same compassion. These days I'm kind of just numb... and not just my left shoulder.
Hey Mag,
I'm really glad you're back but wish it were under different circumstances. How's the shoulder? I went through a similar surgery just a year ago and things are great now. I found the weightlifting restrictions more frustrating than the recovery/rehab. Maybe you will too although being back and being numb will take more time to sort out than your gym routine. No doubt you have a lifetime of intense and horrific experiences condensed into that fifteen months away and it will take a long time to unpack. I feel in some way like it's a lame thing to suggest but maybe you could write about some of that here. It may not be the right time yet but I for one, would be honored to read about your experiences. It's really good to hear from you.
R
Thanks...
Ricu, your kind words of support are more valuable than ... well, how about priceless.
MagRedC5 wrote:Ricu, your kind words of support are more valuable than ... well, how about priceless.
Hey again,
My words no matter how heartfelt cannot compare to your service. Thanks for doing it.
R
MagRedC5 wrote:orionseal, I admire your compassion as a nurse. I hope that it never fades and rubs off others. It was so very, very hard to provide health care to Iraqi detainees [the enemy] for 15 months with any kind of compassion. After all, some were known to have been caught causing harm to US troops.
Now that I'm back at Madigan Army Medical Center I've seen first hand as a patient [L Rotator Cuff Repair surgery] how most of the staff have no real compassion for there patients. I do hope when my wife & I move back to Austin, TX to find other nurses with the same compassion as yourself, and hope that I, too, get back the same compassion. These days I'm kind of just numb... and not just my left shoulder.
I can truely feel your pain, shortly after getting my LPN I had an accident that put me in the unit for a while as a patient.
To make a long story short, my mother who is a BSN had to come to my rescue it took 4 hours to get a RN to answer my call light. I know it was that long because my mother drove from her home to the hospital I was in and the drive takes three hours on a good day, Oh did I mention that I was about 6 hours post op neck reconstruction surgery with multiple foramenotamies, and no PCA pump.
The hospital in question had just eliminated all it's LPN positions.
I took an oath with the BIG GUY to never do that to anyone.
My co-workers have stoped telling me so-and-so in room#%$@ is a drug seeker. I guess they have gotten tired of Me asking them "And what if they arn't?"
Just one of the things that drives me.
Let me say "THANK YOU!!!!!!" to you and yours for your service. Thank you dosn't even begin to scratch the serfice of how I feel about the Dr's and Nurses of our Armed forces, let me not forget the Medics and Corpmen, to them I owe my life from my time in service(Deasert Storm).
A gift I will never be able to forget.
A gift I plan on trying to repay for the rest of My life.
Best of luck to you in your recovery.
Hey Mag, when do you think you will be back in Austin?
