Do registered nurses REALLY make a lot? Also, why do they say there's a shortage when there IS NOT SHORTAGE?

Registered nurses rarely ever make enough to compensate them for what they do. First of all, it takes a special person to become a nurse and you would have to be very sure this is the field you want because the best nurses "burn out" with overtime, short-staffing, paperwork, etc. It is possible to make a lot of money, but not when you first get out of school. The places offering the money are high tech fields like cardiac, Neonatal ICU, travel nursing. All require you to work in a hospital or related area in a medical-surgical area for at least a year to get experience. You will making a good hourly salary, and most likely less than $50,000 depending on where you live. I was a secretary and went back to school when I was almost 40 to become an RN. It was the best decision I made in m y life. I would highly suggest that you start in a hospital if you can because it is easy to go from a hospital to a nursing home, hospice, etc. but hard to go to a hospital from a nursing home. And Lulu is correct - you don't think $50,000 is a decent starting salary? You can apply college courses to nursing school and you might be happy to know that basic chemistry taken in high school is required! I know you excel in that. The shortages come and go and I would not let that discourage me if that is what you have really decided to do.

There is a shortage...maybe excess in some areas. There is a shortage of teachers for them also.

Depends on the part of the country you're talking about... There is NO SHORTAGE of trained nurses.. Just a shortage that are willing to work cheap.. Get a nursing job in an assisted living center in Florida, for $7.00 per hour..

I got mine for http://salary.com. for california, they make $50,000 or more per year. Why do nurses not make much money?

You are aware the California has one of the highest costs of living, don't you? People in California in skilled or degreed trades start at a higher salary because it cosst so much more to live there. I looked at the salary website. It is way off base. It is based on want ads - what people are hiring for, and what they start at. This site is not a valid indicator of what actual salaries are. |As for the other comment about nurses who barely speak English - well, that's corporate America. They could hire American born and English speaking nurses, but they would have to pay them more, and so, being greedy corporations that are running the country, they hire immigrants and pay them less. Sadly, hospitals have become a for profit business. It's a shame. People do not become nurses to get rich - they become nurses out of a real desire to help others. And then they get overworked and crappy pay, so some corporation can get even more profit.

My friend moved to an expensive neighborhood after she changed from LPN to RN>

Salarydepends what part of country for that start out salary. Also you mentioned can make a lot in private Nurising. what do you consider a lot? I am From NJ and Know the medical field jobs for past 15 years been shortage and nurses are in demand bigtime. NJ, CT NY all need medical saff nurses,doctors techs etc. hospital E.R. over crowded, thank the 30 40 million ilegal Mexicans, and others ilegally in this country but we must treat there medical needs. This country is going down hill, If we dont put a stop to many things across the broad at once!!

You don't think $50,000 starting salary is good? Not many jobs today outside of nursing start with that much. Nurses also can get pretty much all the overtime they want, can earn a lot doing private nursing in their spare time not to mention night differential if they agree to work the night shift. My son is a nurse and he tells me where he works they have nurses from other countries who barely speak English working with him. The Hospital he works at even put them up in an apartment complex. most places are begging for experieced nurses. One point I will agree with you on. When my son graduated it took him ten months until he got his first job. Every interview he went on they would tell him the same thing, Get some experience and we will gladly hire you. It is the same old story get experience and they will hire you but no one wants to be that person to hire you so you can get experiece. Finally he got job in a nursing home that was desperate for a nurse that would agree to work the night shift. With six years experience he could now go anywhere in the country and get employment if he wanted to.