Beginning RN Salary in Louisiana

U.S.A. Louisiana

Published

Hi everyone,

I am just starting clinicals this fall at LSUE, and I know I am kinda jumping the gun here :rolleyes:, but I was just curious as to how much new RN's actually make just starting out around the Lafayette or Baton Rouge areas.

I know that you can look up salaries at www.salaries.com, but that would be averages for all RN's in the area. Not beginners like I hope to be some day.

I am thinking around $40,000/yr, or $18-$20/hr. If any of you new nurses can let me know, I would appreciate it!

THANKS,

Penny

Does anyone know what the base is in Baton Rouge now-a-days?

I am an LPN in school to be an RN and I work in North Louisiana Med surg unit a 45 bed facility. I have worked several places where RNs started out at 17.00 hr-18.00 new grads. plus about 3.00 shift diff. My current place of employment though has the best pay I have heard of short of agency work. I myself as a 2 year lpn am making 16.50 base pay. This is a hopital not nursing home. PLus 4.00 night pay they also pay 1.00 weekends and a 1.00 more for part time or prn. So I know the Rns make around 26.00 base pay for beginners. So my point is you can find a better rate. This hospital is city owned and that may have something to do with it also. Good Luck.

Not to be nosey, but where do you work? I will graduate in May 08 with a BSN and my husband and I want to move back south. I am waiting to hear back from North Shore Regional.

I have one year left in an ADN program here in Arizona. My husband's whole family lives in LA. In Covington, Metairie and La Place. I would like to be somewhat close to that area when we relocate next year. I assume pay is higher in the city hospitals in NO vs. outside the city. If we were to live in Covington, it's about a 45 min drive across the causeway, right? Just curious what the starting rate is for new grad RNs in the NO area? I know it won't be as high as out here in AZ, but they are desperate out here due to the increasing elderly population that retires out here. Right now in AZ, as a PCT/Ed Tech I make almost $15/hour. Also, if you have any suggestions on good places to work as a new grad, that would be greatly appreciated! I am trying to start planning our move and might even consider my husband moving out over the summer and me spend my last semester out here alone. Thanks for any info you can give me!

~Erica

Just got hired on at a hospital in New Orleans. New grads start at $21/hr base, $3 for nights, $5 for weekends

Specializes in Medical-Oncology.

Update: Hospitals in NE LA are getting ready to increase pay and incentives for recruiting and retaining nurses.

In Tulane ( New Orleans), for new graduates, it is $23/hr plus shift differentials. Added, you get $5000 sign on bonus and $3000 relocation if you happen to work in Meds- Surg Floor. However, living cost in NewOrleans is pretty high, around $ 600-$800 for 1 bed room apartment. Hope this info will help.

i hear that there is a hiring freeze for state facilities

rent is definitely cheaper if you can get out of town but with the cost of gas now that is another factor to be considered

i thought that a lot of nurses left new orleans post katrina and many have decided not to return

if you have some handyman people in your families their are a lot of homes in the no area that have been repossessed...this does not hold true of other parts of the state, except for shreveport, the housing crisis has not taken hold in most of the state

I know its a lil too north for you, but in Shreveport, the going pay rate for new grad RNs in anywhere from $22-26/hr in hospitals (and diffs), or about $16 at a doctor's office (of course, depending on the dr.). Also, the housing prices here are quite decent. I will be making $26 an hour plus shift diffs and we have a 3 bed 2 bath home in a nice neighborhood with a large lot and we only paid $109K for it! So, if South Louisiana doesn't work out for you, consider Shreveport!

I also believe Oschner is doing a pretty decent loan repayment program, or so I've heard.

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I just got a job in Alexandria and the base pay is $18.50. But since I'll be working nights, with the differential I get about $21.25

i know its a lil too north for you, but in shreveport, the going pay rate for new grad rns in anywhere from $22-26/hr in hospitals (and diffs), or about $16 at a doctor's office (of course, depending on the dr.). also, the housing prices here are quite decent. i will be making $26 an hour plus shift diffs and we have a 3 bed 2 bath home in a nice neighborhood with a large lot and we only paid $109k for it! so, if south louisiana doesn't work out for you, consider shreveport!

where are you working? i graduate in may '09 and i live in shreveport. i haven't heard of pay in this area being that high.

Specializes in Emergency.
I know at the Baton Rouge General new grad day shift nurses make $19/hr...nights make $21/hr. BSNs make 25 cents more per hour than ADNs. This is the info I got from one of my teachers.

Ginyer

Shift differential is way higher than that. You get $5 for nights, 4 for evenings and weekends.

+ Add a Comment