[EarthChild1130]

I am from Alabama originally even though I now live in Oregon (was restationed due to hubby being in the military) and graduated from nursing school in Mobile. I started out in Mobile making $19.50 an hour working nights, 11p-7a, and with my shift differential, etc. totalled $23.50/hour.

I am of course partial to Alabama having grown up there, but the cost of living is really low and I think you could probably afford to live decently on your salary, providing you come up with a workable budget...I'll tell ya one thing...I sure do miss the low cost of housing! The house we bought here in Oregon would've cost us at least half in Alabama what it cost here! I also miss the food LOL...Good luck!

Missing those sugary-white beaches,
Tisha

[healingtouchRN]

HI Atl-John,I worked at Piedmont in 1990 in CCU. Was the highest paying hospital in Atlanta at the time for unit pay for a full timer. I enjoyed it. Had to move back to AL for family reasons. My sister in law was at EAMC & just came back to Montg. for family reasons. She enjoyed EAMC. The commute was rough on a mommy though.

[FroggieLiz]

Does anyone know what salaries in Montgomery are running?

[healingtouchRN]

for what type of job, hospital, RN?
At my hospital I believe new grad RN's are starting at $20/hr. $3 hr evening shift diff. $4 hr night shift diff. With a little experience they offer hospital contracts in needy areas like ED for $35/hr. but limited benefits.

[swartzrn]

Atl John--I'm surprised that EAMC is only 18/hr. I would've thought they would have been higher. I'm down in Columbus, GA but worked in Alabama up until 5 years ago and made more than that in a small town ER. I am just pretty surprised that EAMC is so low. YIKES!

[dollbaby]

HealingtouchRN Thank you, thank you, thank you for pointing out the wonderful things about AL. I have lived here for many years but have never been too fond of AL. Your appraisal gave me a new revelation of the great things about this area. You might ask "If you don't like it why haven't you left?" I had elderly parents and I am the only child that lives near them. I have had to stay near to make sure they were ok. I am not originally from AL. My least favorite parts remain (the bugs and the heat). My favorite parts are the food and the warmth of strangers.

[Atl_John]

EAMC is abysmally low. They have profit sharing, but that scares me especially after I had a nurse tell me not to use gloves when giving a shot because that costs money and they are profit sharing. She was entirely serious. EAMC has such a grip on the local area its unbelievable. There is no local competition for them so why should they pay any higher. They just don't get it, I guess they think because others have accepted such low wages that everyone else will as well. I'm one of the few in the school who when we have someone come and talk to us about jobs I will confront the recruiter on low salary. Its crazy, we are all or will be soon licensed professionals with an increadible responsibility for our patients yet we are not being compensated adequately for it. Its very sad. I love living in the south, AL is great, Huntsville is where my family was stationed been down here for 12 years now, and can't imagine leaving the south, but there is a point at which when your not being paid what your worth that you have to go somewhere where you are. I think some of the hospitals are starting to get a clue, as I know St. Vincents raised their base pay rates just very recently and they are pretty good at giving raises from what I understand. My friend from school just got a raise after finishing up his orientation to the OR. So that is at least a little bit of good news. Its actuallly gotten so bad at EAMC they have started to have to have some Travelers but don't askt hem that they will deny deny deny. I know of four who are travelers working at EAMC right now. . Its just amazing the lengths they will go....corporate greed, this is why I escaped the business world and went into Nursing to get away from it.

But to the poster moving here from out of State. I actually moved to AL from Alaska after living up there for 7 years. It was a culture shock, your not going to be able to understand anyone for 6 months but it really is a great place to live and the people are usually very friendly, there are tons of things to do here, and ATL is very close to most of Alabama. I think you'll enjoy it her very much. You could always do in town traveling.

[magma]

where r u working.in az it starts more than $22/hr on days.

[a21chdchic]

magma1857,
I don't know of anywhere in AZ that starts new RN's out that low. I think the average in AZ starting wage is around 26.00 per hour, unless you wanna work in Dialysis for Fresenius, and they will pay as little as you let them get away with. So, I don't recommend working for them. The hours are frequently 14 hour days, and the money sucks. I only worked for them a few months.

a21chdchic in AZ
p.s. I'm currently in Yuma, and the pay here is better than alot of places in Phoenix.

[lunaPNP]

Atl John...I will just say from being a nurse in Alabama for over 10 years, I would go ahead and pack my bags if you are not planning on staying in AL for less than $26/hr for a new grad! I don't know of any hospital that will pay a NEW grad that kind of money. Yes, nursing is a big responsibility. I know it is "sticker shock" to new grads for what starting pay is. I have recently completed my MSN and passed boards for CRNP. I will tell you the starting pay for a CRNP in AL is not much higher than what you are expecting to make! I hope you will find what you are looking for, but as someone else said it's not all about the money.