Do Nurses Earn Big Money? You Decide.

I completely agree with this! I do not understand students who say they went into nursing for the money. I have always understood nursing is a solid middle class career and we all know where the middle class stand in this country. =]

I'm probably make the most in my circle of friends, including those with non-nursing degrees/diplomas. I make $50K a year part time. And I work hard for every last penny.I may make more than they do but they have a better quality of life. They finish their shifts and leave, no hanging around for narcotic counts to be straightened out, no waiting for the world's longest report to finish. They don't get screamed at by patients or visitors, nobody's ever spilt an ostomy bag on them, vomited on them or assaulted them.I've always said I'd work fast food before I returned to LTC and I dream of working in a bookstore or library.

That totally grates my nerves. I'm not rolling in money. Just because I make more than "you" doesn't make it big bucks and I agree with the comment of we earn every single cent of our checks and then some.That ranks up there close with the comments of how we will always have jobs.Of those in upper management and with advanced degrees are doing well salary wise but the general public thinks staff nurses are making fat checks.

I work FT, I am on 24/7 call and make far less than 70,000/yr. I am grateful for the job, however, as so many don't have one. I am struggling with burnout, but know it could be much worse.

She did not have "dispoable income" as a CNA. She was getting handouts from the govenment. Now she has a job that gives her enough to pay her own bills so I don't have too. Sorry, but that whole paragraph with the income breakdown is a big fat welcome to the real world and grow up.

Have just one word - AMEN.Couldn't say anything better. Again, kudos to Commuter for spot-on commentary.

Quote from DSkelton711I work FT, I am on 24/7 call and make far less than 70,000/yr. I am grateful for the job, however, as so many don't have one. I am struggling with burnout, but know it could be much worse.

Thanks Commuter for an excellent article. I've made decent middle class income in my 6 years of nursing - but after all the co-pays for anti depressants, talk therapy, psychiatrists and chiropractors due to work related stress, culmulatively I'm probably just above the poverty line. Ha.

Quote from deann52She did not have "dispoable income" as a CNA. She was getting handouts from the govenment. Now she has a job that gives her enough to pay her own bills so I don't have too. Sorry, but that whole paragraph with the income breakdown is a big fat welcome to the real world and grow up.

I walked past a resident's room one morning and heard her crying. I went in to ask her what was wrong. There she sat with the newspaper in hands, reading the sports page with an article about the latest guy signed to a Patriots' contract. I asked her why that upset her so much. She looked at me and said, "It just isn't right. He's a big, stupid man who can knock people down. YOU are smart and save lives every day and he makes way more money than you." Amen sister.

Folks who enter nursing for no other reason than financial security usually make lousy nurses.

Quote from RNFionaFolks who enter nursing for no other reason than financial security usually make lousy nurses.