New Grad Salary 2017, Arizona

Nurses New Nurse

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Yep, it's that question again!

I was just wondering on what is the current base pay (w/o differential or weekend pluses) for new grad nurses in AZ, specifically Phoenix metro area (west/east valley, central).

I got offered an RN position at Banner Health for $27.24 + 18% night differential pay + benefits.

I feel like this is low. I was just told that this is "standard" new grad pay. I'm currently a PRN nurse working for about 2 months. It's not a lot of experience but it means that I've been using my nursing skills for some amount of time.

I have 2+ years experience working as a CNA or PCT

Master's degree

Short but sweet 2-3 months experience as a PRN RN

I feel like I can already hear the "entitled" squad coming to get me.

Having a "standard" new grad pay seems like a slap to those who have worked a lot as a CNA/PCT or earned a higher level nursing degree. I mean, I get paid the same as someone who literally just has nursing school experience.

During nursing school, I've worked with new nurse grads who are confused on how to proceed with bed baths or use a gait belt because they never really utilized it and only used it during that one lab time in nursing school. It's true that CNA experience is NOT RN experience, but RNs should be able to do everything that a CNA can do.

Just curious on what the current base pay for new grad RNs in a hospital setting. Thanks.

Specializes in ICU.

I know Phoenix COL is low but super duper HOT. You're from New Jersey which has a high COL, mediocre pay and crazy state laws. I think you're coming ahead in Phoenix.

What is COL?

Specializes in ICU.

cost of living.

I think that's pretty standard. I had a friend hired on at Banner, she made $28 starting and then a dollar increase after 6 months (or a year?).

Thanks for the input. Just thinking that having some experience as a CNA/PCT and a few months as an RN would bump up the pay 0.50-1.00 more.

Specializes in Neuro, Telemetry.
Thanks for the input. Just thinking that having some experience as a CNA/PCT and a few months as an RN would bump up the pay 0.50-1.00 more.

2-3 months experience is almost nothing. It's barely getting your feet wet and fresh out of orientation. You also don't say if it was Hospital,LTC, what experience.

I am barely a year into nursing so a far cry from super experienced or trying to judge. However, it is very e titled to think you deserve more money because you know how to give bed baths and use gait belts more so then an new grad who was not a CNA. (I was a CNA for a touch over a year BRW). You are not being laid as an RN for your CNA skill ability. That can be taught to literally anybody and doesn't cost much to teach. You are being paid as an RN for your nursing knowledge, critical thinking, and nursing skill set. Of which you have almost none still. Banner is going to orient you just as any other new grad, which costs them a lot of money. And entry level masters in nursing RN still has the same base nursing knowledge as a ADN or BSN new grad. You really have no additional valuable skill or knowledge to have earned makes that $0.50-1.00 more you think you are entitled too becaue you are going to cost the same amount of money to train as the person who did not work as a CNA.

Be happy you were able to get a hospital job at all as a new grad with no connects in AZ. There are many out here who have trouble for months to find any job. Let alone a hospital one.

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Granted there is a difference with pay in ADN vs BSN (yes I checked and was confirmed by the recruiter and HR personnel and relatives who went through the ADN route), I do not see why a more relevant experience such as having a CNA and MS-RN would not qualify for better pay.

ADN do what BSN nurses do. The difference is just a lot of 300-400 level classes and a couple of upper division nursing classes that can probably be taken online. There is really no attraction to work for a facility that offers no competition to its new grad population if new grads with ADN, BSN, or MSRN have the same starting pay.

If this is just how the nursing works, there is really no justification for ADN to obtain BSN nor even aim for higher degrees if there is no proper compensation.

I have over 10 years of phlebotomy experience, and I would never demand a higher rn salary for being able to draw blood. You have hardly any rn experience which is what they are looking at, not everything you did before you became an rn.

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