[finola]

I am just starting pre reqs at WCCC but i was wondering if anyone could let me know what pay is when just out of school. I know it will be different when i am done but it would be nice to know ball park figure. From what I have been reading it seems that a friend of mine that just got hired in as a postal carrier, no college, earns more then an RN just starting off. Thanks.

[MySimplePlan]

Nice to know postal workers are getting $23/hour these days. How much was his signing bonus? Will your friend be taking advantage of the USPS's Bachelor degree programs?

You, on the other hand, will be immune to layoffs, and can almost pick and choose what you want to do and where you're going to do it. YOU will be in charge of your career, and for the most part, you won't be at the mercy of a bad economy, cutbacks, and sleet.

I am not diminishing your friend's job. It's a difficult job, and they work very hard. You'll have so many more options, though. Keep your eye on the prize and do well on those pre-reqs.

[DAMomma]

That is so true simple plan. It took me a second to figure this out..."YOU will be in charge of your career, and for the most part, you won't be at the mercy of a bad economy, cutbacks, and sleet." They do have to deliver, rain. sleet, and/or snow.

[HairCanada]

hello, i am currently in the WCCC nursing program ,.in the OB/med surg II, semester. I am also one of the motivational speakers for the nursing orientations there. PM me if you want to talk some specific issues regarding the school or the program. Also to answer your first question, in detroit, new nurses can expect to make between 21-23 an hour to start. Top end for an acute care specialty is at St. John's maxing out at 38 an hour. And of course agancy is a whole other game.

first of all, congrats to your friend on getting the post office gig, consider unemployment in detroit metro is hovering around 12%,[that equals 100,00 grown people out of work!] he or she is lucky to have a job at all!

Nursing, in my opinion most nurses are grossly underpaid, and there are a number of reasons, but that is a topic for another thread.

The main advantages that nursing as a career has are

1] job security---healthcare is resiliant against many of the economic forces that devestate other industry sectors. I always say, people will always be sick and dyin',....if they ever find a cure for that..then don't worry, you will have eternity to do something else!

2]Mobility--This is a very importnt aspect IMO, becuase it enables you to work at a variety of settings. If you get bored at the post office,or hate your co-workers you are stuck...but as a medical professional you will have the opportunity to find employment that meets your lifestyle. Granted not every job is perfect, but this is assuming that you are not born a millionare and will be working for a living like the rest of us

3]Career advancment--this I beleive is the most important aspect. In this feild, you will have the opportunity for advancment. Most other industries when you get in on the ground floor,...that is where you will stay! Or if you do become somebodys "boss," you make barely more than you did before, and just have more paperwork! With perks such as tuition reimbursement, in house service, ect...you will have the opportunity to climb the ladder as far as you want to go. how far you go is up to you!

good luck

also a peice of advice I always tell the new group, if you still have a semester to wait around until the program starts, take some chemistry. chem 136/chem 155. It is not a pre-req at wccc, but it is extremly useful especially with pharmacology, and electrolytes, and ABG sections of med surg. The students that have a chem background always do better on these sections.

[justjenny]

Originally Posted by HairCanada

consider unemployment in detroit metro is hovering around 12%,[that equals 100,00 grown people out of work!] he or she is lucky to have a job at all!

Yup, on the news a couple of weeks ago a "Big 3" supplier held interviews for a $10/hr job with NO benefits and 4,000 people applied!

Jenny

[Studyinhard]

I am currently in the Nursing Program at MCCC and I know that Mercy pays very well especially contigent nurses. It really depends on where you want to take your career but I believe step in the door is just about $22/hr.
I think I will work for Mercy for about a year and let them help me mold where I want to take my education. I'm really thinking PA and if that is the case they can help me pay for it. Considering all the $$$$$$ I've given them over the past few decades I'm thinking it's due

[justjenny]

Beaumont is $23 and change for a new grad

[PedsNurse322]

From what I've heard, Beaumont pays the best in Metro Detroit - I know that's true for Unit Sec'ys, too!

[changingcareer]

I asked this same question earlier this year, and right out of school I was told RN's were going to get roughly 22-25 and hour, and depending on which hospital you go to, say St Johns for example, there might even be a signing bonus. St Johns, at least earlier this year, had a $10K signing bonus to new RN's. at least that is what I heard from a friend who knows people in the HR dept for St Johns.

granted at first i thought this whole changing careers was going to be a bad thing since I would be taking a pay cut. but, as a nurse, you get OT, which I do not get now, so... if I were to work even close to what the hours I currently work, I would end up making more money, plus the whole outsourcing thing wouldn't always be looming over my shoulder

[AfloydRN]

Please be careful of Hospitals offering large sign on bonuses. There is usually a reason they cannot fill and retain staff for those positions. Do your homework on a facility before signing on. I recently left a hospital w/out receiving the rest of my bonus due to patient safety issues.