Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck: A Nurse’s Story
Mackenzie Moan was one day feeling very frustrated. She is a wife and mother of two kids and studying for her PhD. Her feelings were heightened because of financial struggles. She and her husband both work in Pennsylvania, he as a security guard and she as a Registered Nurse. Even though they both make good money, she feels like they’re living paycheck to paycheck and that should not be the way it is. More so with her being degreed.
Ms. Moan discussed how they would pay their mortgage, buy some groceries, put gas in the car and they would have only $299 to $300 on which to live over the next week. She went on Tik Tok
It’s sad that nurses who are the only reason that hospitals exist are unable to make a decent living. According to Indeed.com, the average salary for nurses in Pennsylvania is $31.49 per hour. My assumption probably what is getting in Ms. Moan’s way is her student loans. But even so, inflation last year was 7.75%. Did you get a raise of 7.75%? It is unlikely.
Yet, every hospital I drive by has construction in progress. Money is being used to put back into the facility through improvements in the physical structure, but not in the workforce.
The current rate of inflation is 3.2%. Hmmm . . . did you get a get that kind of a raise?
Many nurses are looking for greener pastures. The only way to make more money as nurses is to simply work more. It takes a toll on your health and your body.
Other options include getting another job and at a higher salary. It’s sad that they pay travelers more money than their regular loyal staff.
It used to be in our society that you would go to college, get a good job and you worked until you could retire with a good pension.
Well, that’s no longer the norm in society. People change jobs for all kinds of reasons now and loyalty seems to have been tossed out the window. There are no more pensions for the most part, and it’s making it harder and harder to survive in this environment.
I don’t have any answers! My heart goes out to Ms. Moan and all the other nurses who are in this situation. My only suggestion is that nurses need to stick together and demand higher pay so that we can reap the benefits of having a degree and having a good life. No one should struggle, no one should go to a university and become one of the most needed professionals in the hospital yet not be able to make a living.
Comments? If you have any, and I feel you may, certainly I would love to hear them below.
