LPN pay versus RN pay in AR?

New grad RN pay starts around $17.75 plus diffs for evenings, nights and weekends in NWA and one hospital pays $35/hr for 'tip' days (usually the 7th day working in a 2 week period).

yes that is it. some hospitals offer $2000-3000 sign on bonuses for 1-2 year agreements. one hospital was really short staffed in certain areas and was offering $8000 bonus for two years paid quarterly. weekend diff is $2/hr, nights $3/hr, evenings $2.4 on average. the COL in this area is reasonable though so it all evens out. I have a book that shows COL for major cities in the entire US. A $46,980/year salary in NWA was really like $51,649 compared to the entire US. While other places in the US would be the reverse of that or even worse like NYC or LA or San Francisco where $80,070/yr was only $47,112.

I just had this conversation w/the girls I work w/yesterday. A new grad stated she started out making $19.08/hr +diffs. I have 5 yrs LPN, 1 yr RN and my base is $21, add on diff's ($2/hr for critical care, shift diff's, PRN diff, etc) and my pay is decent. At my facility in the Fayetteville area, we can get offered tip pay for any number of reasons. It doesn't have to be the 7th day worked for the pay period. Also, be leary of any facility offering big sign on bonuses when other facilities aren't. That should be a big red flag!! Trust me on that one. You can PM me about my facility anytime.

K

true. where I work, i have been offered tip to work when they were short staffed on CNAs or RNs even if not my 7th day. it is just automatically tip if it is the 7th day in two weeks. and they offer increases in base pay based on experience as a CNA or LPN. and i've heard some not so great things about the $8000 bonus. It is available, but I didn't take it. Instead I took a position working days. it is so nice not to feel like a zombie. i don't think i could handle nights. my husband was super excited when i was offered days. good luck. any questions just let me know.

Hi cancergirl: I'm an LPN and have only worked in a clinic setting. Correct me if I'm wrong, RNs, but as far as I know, the hospitals in the Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers area are no longer hiring LPNs for the floors or units. They are requiring the current LPN's to bridge to RN and prefer BSN to ADN.

I started back after school at $14.50 an hour, in the same family clinic where I worked as a PCA. I've had one 5% increase in pay since Jan 2007. I've worked as a float for several clinics and am now part-time permanent at a Urology clinic. Most clinics will start new LPN's at around $12 an hour. LTC will pay higher rates more comparable with the hospitals, and the local newspapers will usually advertise rates.

Hope this helps and best wishes in your school year.

Here's information for Northeast AR:
$18.50/hr for brand new RN graduate (days)
Shift differentials are typically $2.75 for 3p-11p shift and $3 for 11p-7a
Cost of living is very reasonable in AR, keep that in mind. RNs are starting out much higher straight out of school than most other degrees.

LPN pay is much lower--$11.75/hr in hospital and doctor office settings, $16 or so in nursing home setting

Hi, I live in central Arkansas. Starting pay here is around 19.10 for new grads no experience. 3.50 shift diff/1.75 wkend where I work. It is ok but cannot wait to have some experience so I can get a better job and actually negotiate pay!