PAY RATE ISSUE

U.S.A. Hawaii

Published

Aloha everybody...The administrator from a LTC facility in my place (oahu,hi) offered me RN job, but first they will train me as a CNA, after that LPN and then RN... She told me that I don't have enough experience yet (I'm working as a charge nurse from other facility as needed) and requires lots of training. She told me also that they can't afford to pay me the same rate from my other work which is $28. I asked her how much is the starting rate and told me it's $19.50...should I accept it?please help me decide...big thanks!

Every time that one person accepts low pay it makes it easier for unethical employers to do the same with the rest of us and to expect us to take the insult and like it.

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"Who is making $8?"

I was making exactly $8 as a tech, that was only 5 years ago, I doubt its gone up that much. Actually... I know we pay our aides $14 or so, maybe a dollar less. Compare that to $60 bucks... and you were full time, they were part-time or per-diem. You really want to tell them what to do?... sounds like a case of Marie Antoinette.

"I know techs that make $20"

Let's not exaggerate. We all know "someone" making "alot" of money. I just spoke with a nurse (working in NY) who supposedly hit 260K on her W2 form about 4 years ago... so, maybe I should use her as the norm.

"My gripe is when nurses take these travel jobs paying less than full time positions."

You should get paid less than full time. 1) They give you a housing/transportation allowance. 2) You're not committed to the hospital. 3) For the first few weeks, you're a substandard nurse trying to figure things out. In the past you got paid alot as a function of desperation. Nothing more.

"There are thousands of full time positions available."

Oh boy. I doubt there are thousands of full time, new grad positions in all 50 states COMBINED.

"I travel to make money and see the country."

At least your intentions are honest. Though... you might have to start traveling to less desirable locations because the pickins are a bit thin right now. =)

"It would be cheaper for me to go home."

Seriously. I hate to say this. And with a plenty of Aloha still in my heart. GO HOME.

Go travel somewhere else. Make your money somewhere else. Lecture someone in California about "accept nothing less". Wipe some snowbird's okole in Florida.

Here in Hawaii, we'll just keep, keepin'on. Over 2 years ago I started telling the nursing students passing through my floor one thing:

"Apply everywhere, work anywhere. Just survive, get experience, be patient, and it will get better."

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OMG! It's the nurses that are taking these low paying jobs that are ruining it for everyone. If you want to make such low pay, be a CNA or something. The market is going through some changes, people are getting scared and accepting the rediculously low paying RN jobs. You are only hurting yourselves and everyone else in the field. I am a traveler and have never been so offended by the offers I am getting from companies. Last year, I was making $60hr and had my choice of assignments. Now, people are bidding on jobs which lowers overall pay. Get paid what you are worth and accept nothing less. If ypu have to ask someone else if they think the pay is enough... It's NOT.

True,

Taking a job at such low pay will only hurt everyone else in the long run.

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Seems like everyone got offended with my post on this subject. We all have to pay our dues starting out. My first RN job was 14.85hr, granted, that was 10 years ago, so I can understand taking a full time RN job making $20 something an hour. That is full time and right out of school. What I am saying is don't settle for that. Learn all you can, get all certs you can. Make yourself valuable. Now, on to travel Nursing...I mentioned that I made $60 last year. To clarify, I work as an independent contractor and that is a flat rate. Meaning, no OT, no bonus, no housing, no travel pay. As an employee, at best you can get about 80% of what hospital pays your company. That is very good. Everyone should negotiate for that. When you buy a car, no one has a problem negotiating the price. Well, same applies to RN jobs. Believe me.. they are all negotiable. Do you honestly think that they would offer you the top pay right off the bat? Well, as an independent contractor, I increase my take to 90%, plus many more tax advantages. I misunderstood the original post. I thought that an RN was being asked to work for same pay as a CNA. Never work for less than what you are. be proud, be professional. The life span of an RN is getting shorter all the time, burnout can come quick. Is it so unrealistic to make $60, $70, $80 an hour. If you think it is, you will never get there. If you settle for less...then that is exactly what you'll get. I have turned down several jobs recently. My recruiter says I am nuts, because there is so much competetion and people are lining up for jobs. The job I am on now, there were over 100 applicants, but I got offered the position ( luck of the draw). When they told me the pay, I said no. My recruiter said you can't because there are 99 other people that will say yes. I told them what I wanted to get paid. Guess what, pay was increased. Don't be afraid to demand what you are worth. Our choices not only affect us, but others as well.

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I literally cannot believe that there are people out here licensed as RNs agreeing to work as CNAs or whatever at 14-19/hr. Is going somewhere else for a few months a possibility? I don't think starting somewhere as a ward clerk or something gets your foot in the door effectively as an RN, and you would be better suited to go somewhere else and get 6 months of nursing experience and then come back to the island. Admittedly, when I moved here I had 2 years of nursing experience under my belt, but I had my pick of 3 jobs without a great deal of effort expended. Although I do not think Tripler has an established new grad "program," I know for a fact that my unit at least hires new grads, because we have trained 3 in the last year, and I work in a specialty area.

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thank you folks for all the replies...well, I declined...that's really too low... I do have 2 as needed jobs right now, at least they pay me good compared to that 19.50...Mahalo!

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I don't think it's legal for an RN to work as a CNA is it?

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It may not seem like a big thing, just please remember that no matter what position (CNA, LPN) you accept, you will be liable under your RN license.

Just food for thought.

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Snobgob: You should change your name to "Debbie Downer"

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"Snobgob: You should change your name to "Debbie Downer""

I'm usually a pleasant guy... quite chipper actually. But I didn't think I'd have to candy-coat the situation.

Its a rough world... you want a hug and "it'll be okay". =P~

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Hmmm...reminds me of that classic... something about Debbie and Dallas.

It's not snob gob. It's SLOB gob. And it's kane, NOT wahine.

I would suggest names like:

tell-it-like-it-is Tom

or no-need-to-sugar-coat-it Nick

realistic Robert (Can't write realistic Randy. Not when I just wrote a post about Debbie and Dallas. Oh my, I'm in a scarcastic mood tonight!)

*laughing* You think his posts are depressing? Try reading mind sometime. I make him look like happy. Lisa ;-)

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Dont take it, sorry to say but thats almost my rate as CNA before...

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