FL RN Salaries....yes another salary thread lol

Register Today!

  1. This is a discussion on FL RN Salaries....yes another salary thread lol in Florida Nursing, part of United States Nursing ... I know that salary is discussed on here all the time and ppl get tired of answering...

    by Dec 16, '06
    I know that salary is discussed on here all the time and ppl get tired of answering questions....but my question is more in regards to what one makes as a new grad RN and how their pay increases from that point.

    Does pay increase a certain amount over a certain period of time?IIs it increased by specializing? What is the best way to get the most income potential (besides night and weekend differentials)?

    Also, How does one get a job as a "Pool" nurse and do u still get benefits?

    Im an LPN getting ready to bridge over to RN, but I must say Im a little discouraged by the starting salaries Im seeing. I have only been an LPN for a year, but I got a decent starting salary from day one. The starting RN salary is only 2-3 bucks more from what Im learning around here and from recent RN grads I know. And thats 2-3 bucks more than I make, which isnt the highest paying LPN job available around here. I work in home health and prefer to make a little less and not have to bust my butt than to make a little more, but earn every cent in LTC. I look forward to going into the hospital setting as an RN, only I wrongly expected to be making a lot more.

    Thanks in advance to any info you can give me. Im hoping it doesnt take several years of experience or working tons of overtime to see the nice paychecks.
    Last edit by luv4nursing on Dec 16, '06
    Read Online


    Print and share with friends and family.
    Compliments of allnurses.com.
    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=195649

    by luv4nursing Dec 16, '06 8:01 pm
    ©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved.
  2. 18,985 Views
    Click Tags to Find Similar Topics

  3. 28 Comments so far...

  4. Dec 16, '06 by
    Florida seems to pay nurses on the low end from what I have seen on this board. I am a new grad RN in Mass and will be starting out at 28/hr. I know that this does nothing for you as you are in Florida, but I am curious to know what Florida pays new grads.
  5. Dec 17, '06 by
    OK everyone. New grad RNs in Florida make $18-$20 and hour; and in Massachusetts they make $28?!

    We need to unionize!

    LOL only half kidding here. Sorry for going off topic but I could not resist....!
  6. Dec 17, '06 by
    My hospital is non union. At the union hospital the new grads start out at close to $30/hr not counting shift diff and seasoned nurses top out at $62/hr. But of course there is that cost of living thing that we must deal with in the northeast!
  7. Admin
    Dec 17, '06 by
    In central IL, new grad RN's make $17.40 an hour! And with 12 years experience, I would have only made $26-28/hour. It is pretty cheap to live here though in the sticks!
  8. Dec 18, '06 by
    Quote from luv4nursing
    I know that salary is discussed on here all the time and ppl get tired of answering questions....but my question is more in regards to what one makes as a new grad RN and how their pay increases from that point.

    Does pay increase a certain amount over a certain period of time?IIs it increased by specializing? What is the best way to get the most income potential (besides night and weekend differentials)?

    Also, How does one get a job as a "Pool" nurse and do u still get benefits?

    Im an LPN getting ready to bridge over to RN, but I must say Im a little discouraged by the starting salaries Im seeing. I have only been an LPN for a year, but I got a decent starting salary from day one. The starting RN salary is only 2-3 bucks more from what Im learning around here and from recent RN grads I know. And thats 2-3 bucks more than I make, which isnt the highest paying LPN job available around here. I work in home health and prefer to make a little less and not have to bust my butt than to make a little more, but earn every cent in LTC. I look forward to going into the hospital setting as an RN, only I wrongly expected to be making a lot more.

    Thanks in advance to any info you can give me. Im hoping it doesnt take several years of experience or working tons of overtime to see the nice paychecks.
    Lots of money as a RN but you need some good experience and time. A seasoned Nurse such a myself is as high as $32.77/hr. staff as base pay and with other diffs can climb from there.

    Right now I'm working ICU which is my specialty as local contracted agency. My base is $40.50/hr. That ain't chump change and I also work ot when I want to.

    Right now, look to get that RN, 2 yrs. of experience and then take a critical care course and work in the UNITS!!! That's where the money is and you will be able to handle anywhere including the ER!!! Don't lose your floor skills, it will pay off later on especially if you want to do travel nursing. I never say no. I always say of course I'll work there.
  9. Dec 18, '06 by
    Quote from LadyNASDAQ
    Lots of money as a RN but you need some good experience and time. A seasoned Nurse such a myself is as high as $32.77/hr. staff as base pay and with other diffs can climb from there.
    Thank you for the info.

    Do you mind if I ask.... how many years of experience would you need to be considered a "seasoned nurse"?

    Could someone command that type of salary after, say, five years in the units?
  10. Dec 28, '06 by
    Quote from luv4nursing
    I know that salary is discussed on here all the time and ppl get tired of answering questions....but my question is more in regards to what one makes as a new grad RN and how their pay increases from that point.

    Does pay increase a certain amount over a certain period of time?IIs it increased by specializing? What is the best way to get the most income potential (besides night and weekend differentials)?

    Also, How does one get a job as a "Pool" nurse and do u still get benefits?

    Im an LPN getting ready to bridge over to RN, but I must say Im a little discouraged by the starting salaries Im seeing. I have only been an LPN for a year, but I got a decent starting salary from day one. The starting RN salary is only 2-3 bucks more from what Im learning around here and from recent RN grads I know. And thats 2-3 bucks more than I make, which isnt the highest paying LPN job available around here. I work in home health and prefer to make a little less and not have to bust my butt than to make a little more, but earn every cent in LTC. I look forward to going into the hospital setting as an RN, only I wrongly expected to be making a lot more.

    Thanks in advance to any info you can give me. Im hoping it doesnt take several years of experience or working tons of overtime to see the nice paychecks.
    First of all, you need 2 years of experience on staff as a RN to really be safe with that license. I know this is an odd thing to say but trust me, I was once in your shoes. I graduated Practical Nursing school in 1979 and went back for my RN a few years later. The staff job with my RN plus 2 ICU Courses and experience has done nothing but put lots of $$$ in my pocket and bank accounts and has given me pride to stay and work in Nursing. The advantages of that RN is indescribable and you do get respect. Don't listen to anyone else.... when patients know they have a RN, they relax a lot more. It's very upsetting to think that most pateints and families don't realize that a Practical Nurse is a Nurse but the whole Country thinks like that and will ask you why you didn;t go back for it.

    Anyways, the RN behind your name is paramount in your career and also, the peace of mind it brings because when a job is posted and you want it well, the license is no longer an issue.

    I wish you all the best!
  11. Dec 28, '06 by
    New grads in Mobile, Alabama (similar in pay scale to the Florida Panhandle from my understanding) make $17.xx-18.xx/hr. Most of the hospitals have +$2/hr 3-11p shift diff and a +$2.50/hr 11p-7a shift diff. The hospital I accepted a position with is the only one I am aware of that is offering a weekend differential as well. I think it was $2-3/hr. In all, my new grad friends employed by the same hospital on the same unit will make ~$20.84/hr on nights and $22.50-23.50 on weekend nights. I got "lucky" and got days, so I'll earn $18.84/hr. I think I can manage with the sacrifice.
  12. Dec 28, '06 by
    Quote from LadyNASDAQ
    First of all, you need 2 years of experience on staff as a RN to really be safe with that license. I know this is an odd thing to say but trust me, I was once in your shoes. I graduated Practical Nursing school in 1979 and went back for my RN a few years later. The staff job with my RN plus 2 ICU Courses and experience has done nothing but put lots of $$$ in my pocket and bank accounts and has given me pride to stay and work in Nursing. The advantages of that RN is indescribable and you do get respect. Don't listen to anyone else.... when patients know they have a RN, they relax a lot more. It's very upsetting to think that most pateints and families don't realize that a Practical Nurse is a Nurse but the whole Country thinks like that and will ask you why you didn;t go back for it.

    Anyways, the RN behind your name is paramount in your career and also, the peace of mind it brings because when a job is posted and you want it well, the license is no longer an issue.

    I wish you all the best!

    unfortunately, you are absolutely right about the respect level of RNs. Everytime I mention to someone Im an LPN they are like "oh that nice"...and then when I say Im going back to school for my RN this semester they are like "THAT IS WONDERFUL! YES! GO BACK NOW FOR YOUR RN!"....lol. Thanks for the input, I fully intend to go to BSN and likely beyond that.