Hey Pegg,RN. Thanks for the reply! I don't know whether to jump or stay in the boat for both options! I love taking care of people!
I love Cardiac and I love geriatrics. But I don't love spending 1-2 hours with someone and saying goodbye! I don't like being talked down to by RNs, and other "more highly educated staff" because I'm just a tech.

On the flip side, I was really thinking all this intense school work was going to pay off financially! I keep hearing the field is DESPERATE for registered nurses! Is this not true? Or are they still not willing to pay?

Whether I go back to Echo/Cardiovascular or use my RN degree, I'll find a way to be back in health care. I love it and couldn't stay away for anything, not even money!

Again, thanks and God bless,
Steph

I guess it's all supply and demand. Our mixed ICU is getting ready to raise the pay scale to 28$ for experienced ICU RN's. Weekend nights get 9$ hr shift diff, and we still have about 8 openings for a 16-bed ICU.

As a new grad diploma nurse in 1991 (in Tennessee), my base pay was $13/hr.
I was shocked to find out in my two month Critical care core class that ICU nurses at my hospital made no more money than "floor nurses". After 10 years at the same hospital I now make $23/hr.
Our hospital offers no more money for BSN degreed nurses or ACLS. They only recently started a bonus one time payment for CCRN certification and precepting of new nurses. Honestly, I can't complain about my pay- given that I don't have a 4 year degree. However, it's a shame that plumbers, construction workers and automobile makers make more than us. Most lay people don't have a clue (until they or a family member is in ICU)- the amount of skill and knowledge needed to work in ICU.

ALSO- a major beef of mine is how hospitals (in my experience) do very little to nothing to retain experienced nurses but go to great lengths to recruit new nurses- for which many are gone in 2 years or less. Nurses like me with 10 or more years of experience in ICU are becoming more and more rare which is very, VERY scary!!!

pay scales

Well, I don't have one of those "picnic conveniences" between my legs, so all I can quote is what I am familiar with. In Mid Tenn, 40 mi west of Nash. my base is $20/hr. $1. for charge, $1.50 on call pay (for low census times). Don't know what they pay the new grads, haven't seen any for awhile, so I'm guessing the pay sucks! I know some of the Nash hosp are paying 25+++ for experience. Not worth the drive for me. good luck

I live south of Seattle and commute to a CCU. Not sure what new grads are making but most of us are $18-22/hr base and we're all required to have ACLS and yearly CE's. We're union and just won a pay increase. Cost of living is high here. Gal of gas is $1.40. Most mortgages/rent over $1000/mo. Utilities are HIGH...can match your mortgage/rent. I worked a nursing home briefly for $17/hr and did pediatric home health for 16/hr.
Recently we were discussing our union win at 2am (Have to do nights for that diff. to keep our heads above water) Had a bleary eyed resident comment that he didn't know what they were paying us but it wasn't enough. I love what I do and wouldn't do anything else but the high pay I keep hearing about dosen't seem to be out there unless you work agency. (Agency here is $45-50/hr for CCU)
It occurs to me frequently that if anyone had my life in their hands I would want them to be educated and well payed. Not worrying about paying the electric. This includes firefighters, police, doctors, nurses and I'm sure many more. But I'm just another rug......

Pay Scale

In rural South Carolina we're starting inexperienced RN's around 17.00Hr, and we're getting ready to raise it at our hosp. Cost of living low here. We're recruiting!! We especially need OR and ICU

Hi:
I am an ICU nurse with 12 years experience. I work in La. outside of New Orleans. I am 23.00 base with diffs on top of that. 2.50 for CCRN plus any night shift diff. On the weekends, I make about 33/hr for weekend nights. What a difference from around the country. I wish I lived in Los Angeles though..WOW..40/hr
Chris B

HERE IN TEXAS WAGES ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON AREA YOUR IN. I AM IN CENTRAL TEXAS AND MY BASE PAY IS 18.00 WITH A 7-10$ DIFF. THE DIFF DEPENDS ON NIGHT, WEEKEND, AND UNIT YOU WORK. AS A POOL NURSE (NO BENEFITS) YOU CAN MAKE 25-28$ AN HOUR. IN HOME HEALTH AVERAGE PAY IS 24$ A REGULAR VISIT AND 45$ FOR AN ADMISSION. THEY ARE TOUGH ON EDUCATION AT THE HOSPITAL I WORK, BUT IT IS A GREAT ED DEPT AND WELL WORTH IT. READING ALL THE WAGE DIFFERENCES IS SCARRY, I WISH THEY WOULD PUT A NATION WIDE PAY RAISE. AFTER ALL WE LOVE OUR JOBS BUT BY 40 HAVE BAD BACKS, KNEES, INSOMNIA, HTN, AND DON'T FORGET BAD BLADDERS THAT ARE STRETCHED THE SIZE OF THE RED SEA. WE PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK DEALING WITH INFECTED BODY FLUIDS AND, WELL, BY-GEORGE, WE STILL LOVE ARE CAREERS(I HATE THE WORD JOB). AND WE ARE ALL DEDICATED.

I am a LPN in southern ohio and we just got a raise which puts me at 14.68/hr on the med surg floor where I work. The RN starting pay is now above 16.00/hr

Pay Scale

I feel very lucky.....Here in the Phoenix area, Nurses start around $17 The same for any unit I believe. Shift dif at my facility is $4/hr for nights (12 hr shifts), plus an extra $2/hr for balloon pump experience. All told, is very possible to make close to $30/hr as staff. During the winter months when snowbirds arrive from different (colder) parts of the country shift bonuses are offered of $150 per shift for any "extras" you work. Cost of living seems to be the same as what I see others posting. It's still plenty of pressure and responsibility for the money, but can we really put a dollar amount on the care we give???