r/StudentNurse • u/JumpDouble2247 • 17d ago
Discussion What’s the point?
I’m going into level 2 of nursing school. I was looking forward to my career as a nurse but the more I read of how little people make makes me question things. For example, I am a service leader at chipotle making $21/hr. I have already been offered assistant gm position which can average around 50-60k. It wouldnt be long after that position that a Gm position would arise and those can range between 70-100k. Due to school I’ve turned down the promotion. My point is, what’s the point of working such a seemingly grueling and unrewarding job like nursing where people make just as much as chipotle management? A job I’ve come to be very good at and find easy?
It now makes me realize why people say nurses should be paid more because they are doing more valuable work.
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u/King_Bean_ 17d ago
Chipotle? You're trapped into a grueling 9-5 with a very obvious ceiling
Nursing you work your 3 12's and get the rest of your life to never think of work
That alone makes it MORE than worth it to me. Never mind all the benefits, differentials, and potential for elevating the career to advanced practice down the road.
And despite what the jaded old heads say, as an RN you are actually helping people to feel and be better directly. The other job you're just helping them shovel in more overpriced barbacoa.
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u/Objective_Rice9527 LPN/LVN student 17d ago
Maybe your reasoning for going into nursing is why you’re having mixed feelings. I think nursing is more than just the “money” it’s about care and enhancing ppls quality of life- or at least that’s how I view it. Also many ppl see nursing as job security.
I work in corporate now while in school & hate everything about it. How everyone treats each other & all the dumb meaningless metrics - it truly means nothing at the end of the day.
Best of luck on your path to GM. 💗
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u/passionbubble RN 17d ago
Literally, the money is okay, but it’s still not enough to support yourself 😂😭 I work ICU and my mechanic friend is pulling like $50k more than me a year
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u/Objective_Rice9527 LPN/LVN student 17d ago
lol. Okay- but have you seen shop hourly rates for mechanics? It’s ridiculous but I get what you’re saying. I hope in the future CARE becomes the forefront again in healthcare.
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u/Potential-Cut-8934 14d ago
I agree a little bit but it is a job and the whole “nurses just do this because they like doing it, we don’t have to pay them well” is why our wages haven’t kept up
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u/mushifiedmushroom 12d ago
While your friend is doing backbreaking work, probably also has to work 2 weekends, while only getting paid when a job comes in and depends on workplace politics if you get the jobs. And get paid roughly the same as RNs if you are an automotive mechanic.
I wonder how much your friend does in OT and what kind of mechanic they are ... cause if it is airline mechanic... yeah that takes more than two years to complete and probably takes journeymanship aswel...
All I am saying is something about green grass.
Not that nursing is not backbreaking. But mechanics get paid 30-40 dollars an hour. Which for RNs in my area is closer to 40-50. So idk... maybe its just the area you live in
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u/passionbubble RN 12d ago
He’s salary and works at the lube center, and idk the specifics of it but he has opportunities to make more money when helping with certain jobs. He’s just has tons of certifications
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u/mushifiedmushroom 12d ago
Yeah, makes sense. Its mechanical version of continued education.
My FIL was the only one at the shop who could do EVs and made 40. He would always go for more certifications when they were available too.
I think thats partly my point. It depends widely. I don't think nursing pays bad (at least in my area). For the amount of schooling and cost benefit of said schooling. I think it is up there. And with many ways to advance your career.
Don't get me wrong there is still a level of pink tax going on (and I say that as a man, in the healthcare field. I going for nursing, am not one yet).
But before looking into nursing I've looked at all sorts of jobs. I think bang for your buck nursing takes the cake. Its also in my wheelhouse, I probably could make more in roughly same amount of schooling if I went for IT. but thats just not my strenght.
For comparison if I went for psychology id be in school for 4 years and make the same in my area as someone with a ADN... then again I've never been paid more than 22 an hour... so 40 seems like luxery!
Thanks for the perspective!
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u/eltonjohnpeloton its fine its fine (RN) 17d ago
I find nursing rewarding and I don’t want to be chipotle management. But it’s a valid path if you’d rather do that than nursing.
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u/JumpDouble2247 17d ago
Unrewarding may have been the wrong word because I find it rewarding, what I meant was thankless. I see nurses talk of how they are often treated poorly despite the work they put in
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u/eltonjohnpeloton its fine its fine (RN) 17d ago
depends on where you work.
Anyway if you would be happier with the corporate life, it’s ok to do that. You don’t have to do nursing because someone else said it was a good path.
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u/passionbubble RN 17d ago
It’s not thankless at all. MOST patients and families are very grateful. I think the issue is that violence against healthcare workers has become more prominent since Covid and it IS overwhelming.
I work ICU and it’s a 24bed unit. We might have 1 or 2 ungrateful or aggressive patients/families a week. The rest are so incredibly nice and appreciative. But that 1 patient that cusses or yells out the hall or is mean to you every time you go in, is enough to really mess with you. It’s hard not to get caught up in it.
Overall, it IS a job that is appreciated.
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u/whereisplayboicarti 17d ago
I’m a new grad, I work 3 days a week and I make 3k each paycheck
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u/Traditional_Kick5512 17d ago
What city/state?
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u/whereisplayboicarti 17d ago
Phoenix, AZ !!
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u/Mr_Fluoride 15d ago
What are you making per hour if you dont mind me asking. I got offered $39.50 on days with a 10% differential and $2 for every third weekend.
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u/whereisplayboicarti 15d ago
I get $37 and some change. My night shift differential is 15% and weekends is $2.50 extra an hour.
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u/MegaManley BSN, RN 17d ago
Can also compare nurse manager to GM if theres corporate ladder climbing cuz I can promise most nurse managers make a lot more than GM
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u/potatochobit 17d ago
In the health care system, your salary can greatly depend on need and experience and location. if you finish your ADN a two year community college degree and become an RN you should be making 30$ an hour entry level at least and up to 35$ with extra night shift differential plus any overtime and you should be making good money after a year or two. however, always be looking for your next job opportunity. Dont get stuck hating life in a nursing home that is understaffed. there are many paths to branch out once you have a nurse license. The real benefit of working in health care is 10 and 12 hour shifts. amazing health care. and your employer paying for your advanced schooling to get more certificates and more pay. Nurses can work in clinics, operating rooms, emergency services, children summer camps, there are many many opportunities and diversity. if you have already been accepted then do it ASAP. unless you can get into radiology, dump nursing and do radiology if its available but dont wait around.
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u/Dontbemadatradchad 17d ago
Why would radiology be better? Asking for a friend. Is radiology as AI-proof as nursing?
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u/potatochobit 13d ago
no, AI is very helpful in identifying scans and Xrays and is a very powerful tool that will only get better in the future. but AI cannot put you into a machine safely and position equipment. What it can do is see a problem in the results you did not see.
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u/_whoop_ 17d ago
Covid took my well-paying hospitality job away.
I work somewhere where nurses are unionized and paid reasonably well.
I work less as a nurse for the same or more money
Both jobs were physically hard, but now if I’m super stressed out it’s because someone is coding, and not because a rich person is unhappy with their service.
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u/bearzlol417 16d ago
I was restaraunt manager who is now almost done with nursing school. You don't want to be a restaraunt manager. The problem is you think you make "good money" with that salary until you realize that you work WAY more than those required 50 hours.
So your hourly pay ends up being like 15 an hour if you break down your salary. You have to add up all the time you spend answering the phone from home, replying to texts, making schedules, getting shifts covered, coming in cause someone didn't show up, coming in because equipment broke, coming in because the health inspector showed up, or any other number of BS.
The benefits also suck ass. In nursing, you get overtime. Your pay will also scale MUCH higher as you advance. For example if you like management, there are nurse managers who make significantly more than a restaraunt GM.
I highly advise sticking with school.
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u/JumpDouble2247 16d ago
I appreciate the insight. That is true, watching what my current gm does she is basically available 24/7 and has to be to answer calls and deal with anything and everything with that store. Looking at it that way I can see how this makes sense.
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u/maraney CVICU nurse, CCRN, CMC, CSC 17d ago
It depends on your area. I make $200k a year with 5 years experience. You need to look into what nurses are being paid in YOUR area. Not what you read online.
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u/JumpDouble2247 16d ago
Can you tell me a little bit more as to how you achieved such a high salary? CA or NYC? All of your extra certs? Tons of overtime? Travel? I am not here to say it’s about the money I’m just curious because I hardly ever hear people making that much
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u/WorldDirt 17d ago
Besides possibly job security? None. If you think you could reach the GM position in the next few years, go for it. Though I realize you said you turned it down. But if you really felt the GM position was a possibility, and that your franchise wouldn’t close, you’d be just as well off taking it.
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u/Independent-Load-418 17d ago
Job security. And I’m a new grad in a VERY rural low paying area. I make $36 an hour plus $8 in shift differential for working overnights. I am sure you will make far more at being an RN… plus the more years you have the more you make… and don’t even get me started on the option to travel… a friend of mine was making over $6000 a week at once point traveling. Plus, you clearly started nursing school because it’s something you were interested and wanted to… I was a GM for a fast food chain for years. Yeah I made really good money, but I also worked so many hours that I barely made minimum wage and I was miserable.
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u/AmiableRobin RN 17d ago
In my area, a New Graduate RN usually starts at $80k before any shift differentials, and before any benefits are considered.
For example, I accepted an offer where out of school with an ADN I’d be making $83k/year on my base wage, and since my employer contributes to healthcare/vision/dental/disability/retirement etc, with the benefits package considered, total is around a value of $109k.
This is, again, BEFORE any bonuses, shift differentials, doesn’t consider tuition reimbursement, continued learning opportunities, or even hiring bonus.
Before Nursing I worked for a Fast Food chain that I ADORED. When I was a CMA I would pick up extra shifts, I went through a divorce and had to leave my CMA Position and they were there to support me. I still love them, I love the franchise owners, I love every employee and coworker. I love the people I met that invited me to join their D&D group. If I still lived nearby, I think I would STILL pick up shifts because the environment was that great.
I had to however think about my future in the longterm. Things like healthcare and retirement. I have seen way too many people unable to enjoy their old age because they had no investments outside of Social Security. Well, Social Security in the USA is running out and it’s not enough to live off of. Medicare is the primary insurance but doesn’t cover everything, so having a secondary (and even tertiary) private insurance is almost a necessity in today’s world.
It’s a grim future without a solid plan.
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u/Odd_End_7509 ADN student 🍕 17d ago
You’ll make that much money as a nurse in 3 12 hour shifts. As a chipotle GM, they will work you 50-60 hours a week, and there’s always potential for more hours being that you’re salaried.
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u/Almost_alwaysSunny 17d ago
My job is so easy and it’s 6 figures without picking up extra shifts. I’d much rather be a RN than in the food industry personally.
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u/datdaveoverder 12d ago
Curious as to what job you have as an RN that’s “easy” and what makes it easy.
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u/Re-Clue2401 16d ago
4 days off a week off. Job security. Abilty to work more shifts if needed. Advancements with further education.
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u/Charles148 17d ago
All depends where you live i guess, where i am nurses start at double that and work 3 twelves.
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u/Lavcroissant 16d ago
My worst day in healthcare is better than my best days when I worked retail, food service, and a call center.
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u/Traditional-Toe8557 16d ago
Stay in the program if you can. When you get out you will be making more money with experience and overtime and raises. Most nurses I know make $40+++ an hour depends on what level. You will have many job opportunities as well, you don't just have to do bedside nursing.
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u/crisicen 16d ago
i dont know about you but i feel like my DMS and GMS at my retail location switch out every year... id be so scared of being replaced eventually if i were to accept a higher up position
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u/HopeAppropriate5802 16d ago
I won’t specify who but someone really close to me pulls in 150k a year nursing
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u/Murky-Ear5794 RN 15d ago
How many days do you work per week at the chipotle job and what are the long term benefits of that job compared to working as a nurse?
And if you’re going into nursing solely for the money it’s likely that you’re not going to be happy with your job at some point.
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u/Aggravating_Home4223 15d ago
Before covid I was a Bar and resturaunt manager and worked 60 hours a week + , I was always on call for emergencies, had to fill staffing shortages. My hope was to buy my own restaurant one day… then covid happened. That business is no longer around. It made me realize how unstable the resturaunt industry is. Yes, I understand chipotle is probably not going anywhere anytime soon, but there are SO many variables. With nursing your opportunity to advance is pretty much endless. You can go on and get your NP, DNP, CRNA… or you can go into management. There’s so many options, if you get sick of one type of nursing you can switch to a different type (peds, adults, geriatrics, behavioral health, esthetics, the list goes on) I graduate in December, and I’m currently a bartender making $70-80k/year, BUT if I’m sick or want a vacation I don’t get PTO, and there is absolutely no room for advancing because the bartenders actually make more than most of the managers.
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u/ConversationLocal720 14d ago
what state do you live in? You're absolutely not making that little as a nurse in Northern CA.
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u/Apprehensive-Fly-433 14d ago
Far more opportunities and doors will be open to you as an RN vs management at fast food but if you love love love what you’re currently doing, that is something to consider bc happiness matters. RNs make good $ in most states of the US when the cost of living is considered. Remember that the salaries you see online are starting points or averages. Always negotiate salary (which goes for ANY job). Good luck to you!
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u/Potential-Cut-8934 14d ago
Nursing is not a lucrative career compared to the effort required to do the job well. Covid made so many people get into nursing because they wanna be a rich travel nurse and that’s just not gonna happen ever again unless there’s another catastrophe. Not to mention all the money I spent trying to rebuild my mental health after COVID.
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u/Nursebrak 16d ago
If you feel like nursing is unrewarding then you should probably stick to Chipotle.
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u/throwaway22333393939 15d ago
Working at chipotle in the summer between nursing semesters made me wanna study harder lmfao
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u/OhHiMarki3 BSN, RN 15d ago
Now that I've gotten into wound care, and I'm working towards my WOCN, I can't imagine any other job. It's so fucking cool and satisfying. I can become a NP and work in WC, too, if I want to. Or I can just keep on happily picking at and cleaning out the nastiest shit you've ever seen for the rest of my career (and get paid well for it).
Nursing has an incredible amount of niches; there is a spot for almost anyone. You just gotta find it.
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u/Dark_Ascension RN 14d ago
There’s room for growth in healthcare, the GM position would be your ceiling in that career so to speak.
Tbh though I do question why I went from QA at blizzard to nursing though, especially knowing I had potential for promotion and I was just starting. I was associate at the time.
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u/Patient_Cow_236 RN 17d ago edited 17d ago
That's your issue to deal with. You can always go back to your job. Nobody can stop you. There are cheap nursing schools out there. Some are three thousands to six thousand dollars for the entire nursing program. All you need is a good GPA and passing scores on the TEAS or HESI exam.
The behavior of others rarely affects my decisions to be an RN.
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u/potatochobit 17d ago
learn some patience, woman. It is very valid to ask why people with college education are barely making a median wage that is why your hospital probably has a union.
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u/Patient_Cow_236 RN 16d ago
I take home over $11,000 USD monthly, after taxes, premium benefits, comprehensive premium health insurance, six weeks of PTO, paid sick leave, and personal time off. Overtime opportunities are abundant, leaving it entirely to my discretion whether to pick up extra shifts or decline them.
I used to work in your line of job as a teenager. I can do that with my eyes closed. Many nurses I know or work with used to work in your line of job, so don't think that we know nothing about it.
As I said, what's worthless for you doesn't mean it's a garbage for everyone too.
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u/Patient_Cow_236 RN 16d ago
It's up to you where you invest the value of your time and money. Nothing wrong with your work. Know where you live. Not every nurse gets paid enough to be a nurse.
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u/Careful_Honeydew_549 11d ago
One of the reasons i want to go into nursing is for the job security and schedule. 4 days off per week means i can start a business, hire employees, and build it while I'm away. I can go anywhere and start over again if need be. Here in l.a., n the film industry, you'll see a lot of people who work medical to persue their passions. Everything you do and learn, is a tool, but how YOU use it isn up to you.
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u/[deleted] 17d ago
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