would you be a RN for $11.00/hr?

romansten9 · Mar 9, 2007

romansten, I too WAS a paramedic -back in the '90s. A BIG reason why we made such paltry pay was "supply vs demand" -a SINGLE opening in Tampa, FL (for instance) would command more than 300 applicants. When you have THAT MUCH of an overabundance of qualified people looking for work in a particular field, you don't have to offer much by way of compensation.
In nursing, there is no excuse for the pay to start decreasing -and if it continues to do so, it will be because we allow it to happen. We are still in demand, we need to act like it.
My last facility tried to keep me when I graduated nursing (RN) school -I was a tech there. They paid the lowest wages around for nurses (RNs or LPNs) -no way was I sticking around for that. Too many facilities around here are willing to pay far better than they were.

I agree that in your area it may be supply vs. demand but after 17 years in the business I have seen low pay even with a demand for Paramedics. Our state is composed of over 80% rural ambulances, and Medics are a RARE commodity. I currently commute 150 miles one way to help one town for $8.50/hr. and I help in another small town 75 miles away for $6.25/hr. where Medics are rare. I get no benefits, no sick pay, no mileage re-imbursement, I do it out of the goodness of my heart I guess.......

ben123 · Mar 9, 2007

Gosh my dear celeste7767, you gave me fear! I am a graduate of Medical technology but I plan to study Nursing to get out of here... (I am from the philippines by the way....) Are you that cynical? any suggestions before I dip in my feet in Nursing?

Hello, Do NOT listen to celeste7767. Nursing is an outstanding profession. Name one job that you can get with an AA degree making $70,000 a year with full benefits and 6 weeks of vacation( including paid holidays and sick leave etc...) the first year. Yes that is what i just hired on at. In 5 years I will get 8 weeks of vacation. Name a job that pays that well. By the way when she said she goes 26 years on her feet with no breaks is crap. You need to do the best you can at work but you need to take care of yourself first. Just do the best you can and if someone does not get a bed bat or a linen change, oh well it is not life or death. I am not saying that during a code you go on break. You need to take care of yourself which means getting all your breaks and lunches. If your charge nurse don't like it you tell them to call the labor board. I am sick and tired of all these nurses saying they don't get lunches and breaks. Trust me, you won't save the world in 12 hours. Nursing is physically demanding so make sure you use proper lifting techniques and always get help if needed. Good luck to you.

Ben

PickyRN · Mar 9, 2007

Just a little more info about my personal experience:

Living in Iowa, I made anywhere from $8 to $11 as a CNA. When I became an LPN, I made $13 ($15 an hour if I gave up my insurance). I graduated from RN school and moved to Indianapolis, where I got a med-surg job making $19 to start (plus shift diff of 17%, so $22.23 per hour for nights). A year after I started, we got an across the board raise of $1.50, and then I got an $0.82 raise last fall. So now, about 21 months after graduation, I make $21.32 base, with shift differential for nights, which brings me up to $24.94. New grads here are starting at $20.50, I believe.

When I graduated LPN school, I did have one nursing home that offered me $0.25 more per hour than what I was making as a CNA at the time. Didn't waste any time getting out of there.

ohiorn_78 · Mar 9, 2007

I worked at a factory job quite a few years ago, where I made about the same amount of money as I do now but I knew less skills. All that worrying and struggling through nursing school to only make $11/hr. I would loudly say "NO WAY, JOSE!!" :angryfire

mytoon38 · Mar 9, 2007

H*LL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol2: :lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

galapcp · Mar 9, 2007

Hello, Do NOT listen to celeste7767. Nursing is an outstanding profession. Name one job that you can get with an AA degree making $70,000 a year with full benefits and 6 weeks of vacation( including paid holidays and sick leave etc...) the first year. Yes that is what i just hired on at. In 5 years I will get 8 weeks of vacation. Name a job that pays that well. By the way when she said she goes 26 years on her feet with no breaks is crap. You need to do the best you can at work but you need to take care of yourself first. Just do the best you can and if someone does not get a bed bat or a linen change, oh well it is not life or death. I am not saying that during a code you go on break. You need to take care of yourself which means getting all your breaks and lunches. If your charge nurse don't like it you tell them to call the labor board. I am sick and tired of all these nurses saying they don't get lunches and breaks. Trust me, you won't save the world in 12 hours. Nursing is physically demanding so make sure you use proper lifting techniques and always get help if needed. Good luck to you.
Ben

Hi ben123, thank you very much for a quick reply. you just saved me from too much worry.

bluiis923 · Mar 9, 2007

I'm thinking no .................:monkeydance:

Larry in Florida · Mar 9, 2007

Don't even go there. No way. I make over 17 as an LPN. Just got my ASN and will be taking NCLEX for RN in May. Looking for over 22 then.

SpaceshuttleRN · Mar 9, 2007

$11.00 per hour is an insult in any state even for a new grad. Factory workers in the automotive industry are making double that. Toll takers on our local turnpike are making more than that. Nurses make life and death decisions every day. Patients rely on our being able to recognize a problem and act on promptly and correctly. Doctors rely on our expertise to alert them to problems. Nurses are responsible for saving lives every day, we help the new Mom bring a new life into the world, we help the elderly adjust to the many physical changes they are going through and we sit with the dying and their families to comfort them and support them through this trying time in their life. We also help the post op patient pull through the post op period, and teach health and wellness to all ages. I love nursing but no I would not do it for $11.00 per hour.

1bigmedicRN · Mar 9, 2007

Wow that is kind of sad that many people would not be a nurse if they didn't make the money they do. I can honestly say when I worked full time as a paramedic I was busier and had more responsibility than I do as an ICU nurse (RN) in a busy Neuro Trauma ICU. I have to say I did make a $11.00/hr and still do when I work as paramedic and turn down double time overtime to go work in the field. I enjoy being a nurse and being a paramedic. Would I do nursing for $11.00/hr you bet because in the end it is about what you love to do and if you don't love your job maybe its time for a change, life is short, live it to the fullest. Because you could be here today and gone tomorrow and no $ amount per hour is worth unhappiness. :nono:

By the way Michigan is looking at helping people who took a buyout from Delphi and help them become nurses to help with the nursing shortage. It looks like nursing could become the next automaker worker?!

mknight · Mar 9, 2007

I would not work for $11/hour with all of the responsibility. I am graduating in May and I live in Missouri. We have had 3 major hospitals come to recruit us and all of them are 16.50 per/hour. I think that is bad enough for all the schooling and responsibility. Maybe we will eventually catch up with the rest of the nation's salaries. Here hopeing.

Have a great day!

cappuccino · Mar 9, 2007

No. First off I probably wouldn't be able to afford to live in New Jersey. Secondly the amount of work that keeps getting pushed off on us is unbelievable. I truly don't think we get compensated enough. We end up doing everyone elses job. I think the general public has absolutely no idea what our jobs really entail. Sometimes I leave work extremely and thoroughly drained. Both physically and mentally. I would never want to do anything else though. I find nursing to be challenging but rewarding. It would be nice to be appropriately compensated.