Office Nurses' Salaries

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

I am an RN working for a family practicioner. I would like to know how my hourly rate compares with other nurses doing similar work. What are the typical hourly rates that other nurses are making in physicians offices? Please include geographical area, education, type of practice, years of experience and service, duties, and any other info that would be helpful.

[This message has been edited by KarenS (edited May 08, 2000).]

I have been an RN (BS) for 5 years. When I graduated from school and started at my first Family Practice job I made $10/hr! Staying at that payrate for almost 2 years and having a full time OP nursing job plus a part time home care nursing job, my payrate went up to a little over $13/hr. It gradually went up over the past 2 years. We recently got pay for performance reviews and I was bumped up to almost $17.

I wish it was more for sure, but I am not entirely dissatisfied with it.

Hi- I used to work for a physican office and made $18/hr (RN). The MA's and LPN's made $11/hr but we all had same job duties and responsibilities- go figure!

Well, I cant believe some of those good salaries! As a PHN, in 2000, I made 16 hr after 8 years. I worked at Pediatric Associates in 1994 and started at 14hr.

I am going for office jobs now and the pay is 13, 14, 15 an hr. I recently was turned down for two medical assistants positions!!! but I will never be a hospital nurse and have loved nursing only as an office/PHN nurse. I get so sick of telling other nurses how little I make because they, usually hospital or nursinghome nurses, think "I couldnt live on that wage!' well, I cant either but if it is not office nursing (or even lower paying school nursing) than it is not nursing at all for me. I never wanted to be a hospital nurse and nursing school did not support ambulatory care ideas or clinicals.I was stupid. I should of been an LPN but back then the schools were closing.The hospital school of nursing had closed too and we were all forced to go to the university for a BSN. There was no such thing as a medical assitant.

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Specializes in Gen Surg, Peds, family med, geriatrics.

I work in a pediatrician's office. Been there for 2 years. I've been a nurse for 15 years and the last 7 have been in pediatric clinic/office. I earn $15.00 an hour (Canadian). A nurse in the hospital with my level of experience would be earning about $30/hour. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't go back to the hospital. But then again, I would end up missing my little patients too much.

Laura

Greetings,

i worked for a Fast paced Family Practice doctors office for 12.50/hour. My duties included writing up clients/assessments during the exam, putting doen a impression to get reimbursed, supervising the front and back office staff, and basic nursing skills/testing/autoclave/physical medicine treatments, client education, referal consultation, inj's, telephone triage, and all that I expected the MA's to do. I also did the purchasing for the office locations (2). We had a high volume number of client visits about 100 per day (1) Doc, 3 MA's, 1 phelbotomist, one exray tech, and a rec/scheduling clerk. This was about 3 years ago Lots of work, low pay,

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Office nursing has really evolved over the years, with shortened hospital stays and many procedures being done on an outpatient basis. Many office nurses tell me they use their nursing expertise and skills much more than they did in the hospital setting.

Therefore, pay is slowly catching-up to what hospital nurses make. Office nurses will probably always make slightly less than a hospital nurse, because the 8-5, M-F hours are a big plus! Most office nurses in my area are making $20-25/hr.

In the past 3 months I had been looking into other employment because of problems in our hospital. I was shocked at the wage they were "offering" for office nurses. The office nurses I have seen and talked to..work their tails off the entire day..long days too.I don't mind working hard but not for a wage I was paid 25 yrs ago when I graduated from LPN school. In our area the wages ranged from $8-$9...geesh!! Secretaries in our area get paid $12-$14 hr with no additional schooling from high school. Why do our skills get such low value? I would like the hours but my pride would not let me accept such a slap in the face. I have worked in hospitals for 25 yrs and looks like that is where I will stay..God Bless you office nurses...DRs should be ashamed of being a part of managements cheap behavior. Office would not be able to run without you.

Well,I also made less in the office than when I was at the hospital...and it took 4 years of raises to get back to what I left the hospital for.

Guess thats the price you have to pay for not working week-ends and holidays and it's well worth it! Of course it also helps to work for the best boss in the world that appreciates me, and he thanks me every day for a job well done....J

I too left the hospital in search of the Monday thru Friday, 8:00 to 5:00 job that would let me spend more time with my child. It's been 3 months since I started at a small family practice medical center and I must say that I made the right decision. I have learned so many new things that I never did in the hospital. I am about to take my Basic Xray Exam, I draw labs, I assist during procedures, do alot of teaching and actually get to know my patients. Yes, I too had to take a major pay cut, but I no longer have to drive for an hour to get to work, I always have a parking place, no more bedpans, weekends, holidays or mandatory overtime! I love and I'm glad that I did it.

Hi JenniferRn..where did you take instruction for basic x-ray? I will at times have to do occ one at my new job in office...have no idea of how. Any tips you can give on office work appreciated. What was suppose to be 8-5 job is really 8-7:30 or later. Office manager just hired more secretarial staff. The nurses have been bogged down with secretarial duties (filing...getting charts..etc)..hopefully will get better with more organization. I have only been in an office a week. Have worked 25yrs in hospital. Glad I had a good bit of emergency room experience cause it is very similar. The referrals..fax machine...tons of phone numbers i am always on search for is mind boggling so far ha ha ha..everyone says will get better once i have them memorized. I was not able to get "orientation" since they waited to hire me after the other nurses 2 wks notice was over. Have been kind of thrown into all of it so paperwork got a little overwelming at first and still it on a lot of it. Luckily doc I work for has patience of a saint. He is very laid back and loves to teach thank God!:eek:

Hello cann42! Thanks for the reply. You can contact The American Registry Of Radiologic Technologists at 1255 Northland Drive, St. Paul, MN 55120-1155. Sorry I don't have a phone number. They will send you the Limited Scope of Practice in Radiography Handbook and get you in touch with your State Department of Health. All you have to do is pass the exam and your licensed. I'm not sure of the cost (employer paid).

I know what you mean about the hours, but fortunately, the nurses stand in for each other thru out the day, so we can the phone calls, refills and labs off our desks. We also each have one late day a week. The don't like overtime so we try our best to get it done during the day.

I can't believe that it's been 3 months! I don't feel like the "new girl" anymore and my evaluation was great. Best decision I ever made.

Hang in there, it'll come together.

JenniferRN Many thanks for the information. I will sure write them this week. Thanks again...Canna

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