[BUTTERFLY63]

I was an LVN for 8 years and have recently finished college for my RN. I have worked med-surg for 8 years and since I am an experienced nurse what should I quote as an expected salary. I am not going to stay on the unit I am currently working. I feel that the place I do get hired on at will be getting an experienced nurse and I should be paid accordingly.

Thanks for your input.

[Tweety]

It varies I think from place to place.

Many facilities here have a forumula for salaries of experienced nursess. For LPNs to RNs some will give 1/2 time for the LPN experience. In your case they will pay you what they would pay an RN with 4 years experience. Best to ask the facility directly how they pay.

Good luck.

[caliotter3]

I also think it is a good idea to look around at other facilities to see what is offered, because sometimes the facility where one is at tends to hold back on improving the pay of someone who is already working there. I have found it is easier to get a new employer to pay me more, than to get my present employer to give me a raise.

[TheCommuter]

In my area, some hospitals will award you with 1 year of RN experience for every 3 years of LVN experience under your belt.

For example, a brand new RN with 15 years of LVN experience would be paid the same as an RN with 5 years of experience (15 divided by 3 = 5).

[rbezemek]

Butterfly,

Congratulations on achieving your RN!!! I know your experience as an LVN was very helpful & you were probably more adept at clinical activities than your fellow students that did not have this advantage.

That being said . . . An LVN is not an RN. These are 2 separate jobs, with 2 separate scopes of practice. (Even the IRS recognizes this, as they don't consider RN school tuition as a legitimate continuing education expense -- because the individual is, in fact, studying to go into a different job). There are many tasks in common - but the underlying approach and level of responsiblity is different. Or - it SHOULD be different & if it is not in your facility, that signals an even bigger problem.

In my organization, a new RN grad is considered a new RN grad no matter how much experience they have had as an LVN, ORT, CNA, etc. However, HR does use a 'conversion factor' to convert yrs of prior experience when they calculate starting salaries.

[llg]

I believe my hospital counts every 2 years as LPN experience as one RN year when calculating new-employee salary. Eg. A new RN grad with 8 years of LPN experience would be on the same pay grade as an RN with 4 years of experience.