Do Nurses Get Paid Enough? - Research Paper

Introduction

Nursing is a delicate profession, one that needs a good balance between passion and professionalism. If being a career nurse was easy everybody would do it. According to the 2017 survey done by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2017, nurses like many other professionals in the medical and healthcare field were among the best-paid professionals in the country (Dunn, Grosse and Zuvekas 176). The pay for nurses in the United States varies from state to state across the fifty states. According to Dunn, Grosse and Zuvekas, Registered Nurses (RN) in South Dakota were ranked number 51 (last on the list) with an RN earning $57,010 annually (176).

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The best state to work as a nurse in 2017 was California where nurses were paid an astounding $102,700 per year. Even more astonishing was the fact that California had more 282,000 Registered Nurses on their payroll. Using those, statistics to calculate the total budget for registered nurses in California may make one dizzy with numbers. Compared to other professions, nurses are paid fairly well enough, but the actual figures differ from state to state which seems unfair (Brough 19). The pay for nurses in the United States hence depends first and foremost on where somebody works. RNs are paid by their respective states, as are all the nurses, case managers, and other specializations.

A nurse in South Dakota with a colleague in California felt that "she was underpaid" when they exchanged details of their pay slips (Dunn, Grosse and Zuvekas 178). Research from as far back as 1998 and 2006 showed that nursing outcomes especially passion for the job increased markedly when the salaries of nurses were increased. Money is the biggest motivator after gratitude and appreciation; this is true for most professions and more especially for nurses. Of all healthcare professionals, nurses are needed the most. One study interviewing nurses, a case manager intimated that "one in four of all medics is a nurse" (Brough 21). Hence, the professional importance of nurses in the field of medicine and general health cannot be overstated (Dunn, Grosse and Zuvekas 195).

From the statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, one might get the impression that nurses are paid well enough (Dunn, Grosse and Zuvekas 175). However, concluding using only raw figures, percentages and dollar signs is a less than effective approach. What do the nurses themselves have to say about their pay? The salaries of nurses have been on the rise from 2014 by an average of 2.6% per month (Dunn, Grosse and Zuvekas 180). Economically speaking, this is a big number considering that ten or so years back the pay for nurses had been stagnant for several years. The federal government, the states and private corporates such as the pharmaceutical industry understand the worth of nurses.

In places such as Scotland, the United Kingdom and countries in Africa, Asia, and South America nurses have gone on go-slows and strikes several times because of poor pay (Brough 23). In conclusion, it seems nurses are paid well enough in the United States; though it seems unfair from state to state. Other countries though have nurses making complaints. Perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is this: Is monetary compensation enough for nurses? There are problems that nurses have identified with the profession such as working long shifts. Maybe the relevant agencies, government, and other stakeholders can address these.

Works Cited

Brough, Sean. "Nurse pay unfair." Nursing Standard (2014+)31.30 (2017): 32. 17-24.

Dunn, Abe, Scott D. Grosse, and Samuel H. Zuvekas. "Adjusting health expenditures for inflation: a review of measures for health services research in the United States." Health services research 53.1 (2018): 175-196.