Are We Paid What We Are Worth?

[nursinghumor]

I may be the minority here when I say I'm satisfied with what I get paid as an RN. I don't lead a lavish lifestyle, get a new car every three years or go to Disney ever summer, but I get by and can save for the future.

Been in nursing for eight years, had steady work and was able to pay my bills and support my growing family.

Would a few dollars more per hour help, of course - it would be nice.

Nursing is very much a profession where if you are lazy, or a conscientous workaholic, you can get paid the same. I know after every shift, that I've pulled my weight, gotten the bulk of my assignment wrapped up and won't have a lot to "dump" on the next shift.

Compared to a large number of people that are living paycheck to paycheck, working for minimum wage and below poverty level, I can't complain too much.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursinga2z.com

[Aaron C.]

Nurses aren't paid enough.

They have degrees. Add that to all of the BS they endure, as well as the health hazards they endure, the legal liability, the sheer amount of responsibility (peoples lives in their hands), putting up with doctors and patients families, sheeesh.


I would agree with you that nurses are NOT underpaid IF there was not a shortage of nurses. Supply and demand. And not only that, nurses are doing the job that should likely take two nurses to safely complete because of the nursing shortage. If the rurse to patient ratio was smaller on average, then I would agree with you that the pay is fair.