How much $ do RNs start out at?

jsn43210 · Dec 18, 2004

I'm thinking about being an RN due to the shortage of them. Was wondering how much money they start at. Thanks

Doug, depends on the area. Check out: salary.com

Jason

nanali · Dec 18, 2004

Wow 80k a year? Can I ask what u specialized in, was just wondering? :)

MSMCnurse2004 · Dec 18, 2004

I am a new grad (May 2004) who just accepted a position. The starting pay for me is around 25 per hour with a 15% differential for nights. So my night shifts will make close to 30 per hour. I also applied at other hospitals that range in salary from $19- $28 per hour in my area.

This will be my first time working. Wish me luck!:rotfl:

Harmony213 · Dec 18, 2004

Why is it that Catholic hospitals pay less?

Nurse831 · Dec 18, 2004

It's great that you want to be an RN due to the shortage, but being a nurse is not just a job. Don't do it for the money. It is who you are...I don't know about everyone else, but my life revolves around being a nurse. You have to want dedicate your life to helping people. That means working 14 hour days/nights, working holidays, getting hit/screamed at by patients. It is a very demanding career not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Good luck. Hope you make the right decision. :)

I'm thinking about being an RN due to the shortage of them. Was wondering how much money they start at. Thanks

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2004

Why is it that Catholic hospitals pay less?

Not true here. We're within a few miles of a Catholic hospital and we've always kept pace with each other, when one rasies, the other one follows.

There's are large Catholic hospital in the area as well that pays the best wages. I guess it's regional.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2004

It's great that you want to be an RN due to the shortage, but being a nurse is not just a job. Don't do it for the money. It is who you are...I don't know about everyone else, but my life revolves around being a nurse. You have to want dedicate your life to helping people. That means working 14 hour days/nights, working holidays, getting hit/screamed at by patients. It is a very demanding career not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Good luck. Hope you make the right decision. :)

I have a rich and full life that includes nursing, but my life doesn't revolve around nursing. My life revolves around my home and family. To each his own. There's millions of nurses and different ways to approach it. The desire to make a decent living is a valid one. But as you state you must go into it wanting to be a nurse as well, because all the stress and demands make it tough. If money is all you want, there's better ways to earn a living, IMO. :)

angel337, MSN, RN · Dec 19, 2004

I have a rich and full life that includes nursing, but my life doesn't revolve around nursing. My life revolves around my home and family. To each his own. There's millions of nurses and different ways to approach it. The desire to make a decent living is a valid one. But as you state you must go into it wanting to be a nurse as well, because all the stress and demands make it tough. If money is all you want, there's better ways to earn a living, IMO. :)

thank you tweety. i agree with you. having a balance in all aspects of your life is healthy for the soul and heart.

jaimealmostRN · Dec 19, 2004

That means working 14 hour days/nights, working holidays, getting hit/screamed at by patients.

I respect what you are trying to communicate to the OP, and I do agree that one must truly love nursing to be successful....but no one will ever assualt me and get away with it...VIOLENCE IS NOT PART OF NURSING. We are professionals and if some one is verbally or physically abusive to you then you must protect yourself (proper documentation about verbal threats or notifying securtiy/police).

To the OP-nursing is a great career that involves science and helping people in need. I can't imagine doing anything else. In central and north NJ new grads start out from $26-32/hr. Working nights gets a great differential (usually the $30-32/hr range). A lot of places have sign on bonuses of $1000-$3000, but don't choose a hospital just for that reason. You may not be the next Donald Trump, but you'll earn a fair living, have a GREAT job helping people and be able to travel all over the country if you want. Good luck! :)

youngRNstudent · Dec 19, 2004

new grad pay in california (LA area) is $27 w/full benefits and around $35 w/o benefits.

I agree with the previous poster....WATCH OUT for the sign on bonuses! There is a reason that hospitals offer them (hmmm....maybe b/c nobody WANTS to work there!) I was offered a $10,000 sign on bonus if I signed on for 2 years but the hospital/staff totally sucked. (we did our clinical rotation at a couple different floors in that hospital). There definately is FINE print...that 10k turns into 5k real fast after taxes, and of course you get stuck working the crappy shifts/floors, etc....look into it.

Doug85 · Dec 19, 2004

Thank you all for the advice.:)

PennyLane, RN · Dec 20, 2004

I agree with the previous poster....WATCH OUT for the sign on bonuses! There is a reason that hospitals offer them (hmmm....maybe b/c nobody WANTS to work there!) I was offered a $10,000 sign on bonus if I signed on for 2 years but the hospital/staff totally sucked. (we did our clinical rotation at a couple different floors in that hospital). There definately is FINE print...that 10k turns into 5k real fast after taxes, and of course you get stuck working the crappy shifts/floors, etc....look into it.

I don't think that's necessarily true. Almost all hospitals in my city offer sign-on bonuses to stay competitive. I accepted one at my new job with no commitment required. From what I've heard from MANY nurses out there, it's a good hospital and a great department. Also where I currently work as a tech offers up to $15K for a 3 year commitment, and while it's not the highest paying hospital around, it's a great place to work, my manager is fantastic, and everyone seems to love working there.