[Hopefull2009]

I thought we had a salary forum, but I couldn't find it. So mods, if there is one, and I missed it...feel free to move this post.

I am starting to wonder if the hospitals here pay the lowest possible rate.

I am making $11.00 an hour as an extern.

I found out today that the starting salary for a New Grad ADN is $17.50 an hour, and they'll bump you to $18 for a BSN.

I was really surprised the base was that low. I have been looking at their benefits, and they are horrible.

Most of the nurses have to pay on average $1000 out of pocket for medical care per year b/c of deductibles. I have actually never worked a job where I had to pay more than $250 a year, and at most jobs, nothing if you stay in-network.

Am I nuts? Or is this low?

As much as I love California people and NY's...your states are not going to be a good comparison.

[RNgrad2008]

Where do you live? My little po-dunk town of 27,000 starts at $18.25.

[MassED]

ouch - in 2002 in Washington state - new grad $27/hour - per diem rate on a Med/Surg floor. The regular FT employees made about $25 per hour as a new grad. Where do you live??

[MassED]

Originally Posted by Hopefull2009

I thought we had a salary forum, but I couldn't find it. So mods, if there is one, and I missed it...feel free to move this post.

I am starting to wonder if the hospitals here pay the lowest possible rate.

I am making $11.00 an hour as an extern.

I found out today that the starting salary for a New Grad ADN is $17.50 an hour, and they'll bump you to $18 for a BSN.

I was really surprised the base was that low. I have been looking at their benefits, and they are horrible.

Most of the nurses have to pay on average $1000 out of pocket for medical care per year b/c of deductibles. I have actually never worked a job where I had to pay more than $250 a year, and at most jobs, nothing if you stay in-network.

Am I nuts? Or is this low?

As much as I love California people and NY's...your states are not going to be a good comparison.

as a nurse tech during nursing school I made $12/hour doing wound care... and a few other small responsibilities...

[Bx_RN2B]

What state do you live in? What's the cost of living like?

[djc1981]

That's pretty low. The OP must live in the South somewhere.

[hypocaffeinemia]

New grads in Houston get $24-28 hourly (not including differentials) depending on location.

[mpccrn]

benefits to hospital nurses usually suck. i remember the days when health insurance cost full time employees $3/2weeks. appt were free and meds were at cost......it's disgraceful how hospitals treat their nurses.

[Quickbeam]

I haven't been a new grad since the earth cooled so no help there.... but I will tell you the absolute worst benefit packages I've ever gotten have been in my hospital nursing years. My friends in nursing administration tell me that hospitals count on short term seniority so they don't put much into benefit packages.

I've had a few careers and many nursing jobs...the non-hospital ones (insurance carriers, industry, government) always had the best benefits.

[nurseshepherd]

Our hospital system starts new grads at $19/hour (ADN and BSN) with a $3 evening and $4/hr night shift differential, $2/hr weekend diff in the south. My recent outpatient surgery cost me over $3,000 out of pocket and that included my employee discount. I was very disappointed in my hospital benefits which cost a mint.