Show me the Money

ABC'S DAD · Mar 18, 2005, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by piper_for_hire

Yes - I get six weeks vacation to start with, but we're a union shop.

-S

Piper, do you know what hospitals are paying ENTRY-LEVEL RN's in Philadelphia and/or surrounding 'burbs?" What kind of differentials? Are you the one who told me $50,000 before differentials? I saw an ad from a local BSN program that RN's can start at $40,000. Is is really that low? Thanks, if you know.

piper_for_hire · Mar 19, 2005, 06:37 AM

New grads start at $26/hr at my hospital.

-S

Ronold · Mar 21, 2005, 11:05 AM

new grads get about 35 starting over here in california.

brudjazz · Mar 27, 2005, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by piper_for_hire

Oh - no - I'd be doing the weekend program at one hospital for and then (at least) two other shifts at another hospital. Sorry for the confusion.

-S

Can you TRUELY handle that kind of workload, physically? What about mentally? If you're dead from a heart attack, that great money will just buy you a nicer coffin.

mkRN · Mar 27, 2005, 06:48 AM

Originally Posted by ABC'S DAD

Thank you for the response. O.K., here goes. I have a B.A. degree in Journalism, and a law degree. (I have been a lawyer since '93, but I'm ready for a change.) I have heard that pay scales are not different between RN's with ADN degrees versus BSN degrees. Do you know if that is true? I am also wondering, if there are jobs where a BSN is required or prefereed, do you think it is possible that they would consider my having an ADN with a BA to be the equivalent of a BSN? I know this may be a lot to ask you. I have reviewed the required courses for the ADN program and some BSN programs, and although it would still take two years for the ADN, due to the clinical program set-up, I am fairly certain that I would not have to take about 1/2 of the required courses due to my prior college credits. This would save some expenses and hopefully free me up to still work full-time in the evening (if I can find an evening job).

Also, do you know what kind of benefits (medical, 401-K) one could expect as a hospital RN, and how much contribution is required from the employee? I have a million questions -- sorry. How easy/hard is it to land a full-time hospital RN job with full benefits (vs. prn). Thanks.

Hi ABC's DAD! I'm at 25 y/o female...I know I'm not allowed in here!!! But came across your post...I have my BA in Psychology and also a BSN. I obtained my psy degree first and then attended a 14 month accelerated BSN program. ADN are taught more skills in school while BSN's are taught more theory in school...but after a yr's of entry level work, you can't tell the difference between the two..they're both RN's...as far as getting jobs they are gladly hiring ADN w/o any hesitation...pay is not that much of a difference because you'd both be starting off as New Grad RN's...i know a couple hospitals that give a 3% pay increase for a BSN, but usually they get the same pay starting out. But if you are considering on getting advance degrees in nursing the BSN path is a better way to go, more opportunities.

Good luck to you...and also all the other males in the nursing field! We need more of you guys

piper_for_hire · Mar 27, 2005, 08:00 AM

Only 48 hours a week? Easily. I haven't worked that little since the 80s.

-S

Originally Posted by brudjazz

Can you TRUELY handle that kind of workload, physically? What about mentally? If you're dead from a heart attack, that great money will just buy you a nicer coffin.

ABC'S DAD · Mar 27, 2005, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by mkRN

Hi ABC's DAD! I'm at 25 y/o female...I know I'm not allowed in here!!! But came across your post...I have my BA in Psychology and also a BSN. I obtained my psy degree first and then attended a 14 month accelerated BSN program. ADN are taught more skills in school while BSN's are taught more theory in school...but after a yr's of entry level work, you can't tell the difference between the two..they're both RN's...as far as getting jobs they are gladly hiring ADN w/o any hesitation...pay is not that much of a difference because you'd both be starting off as New Grad RN's...i know a couple hospitals that give a 3% pay increase for a BSN, but usually they get the same pay starting out. But if you are considering on getting advance degrees in nursing the BSN path is a better way to go, more opportunities.

Good luck to you...and also all the other males in the nursing field! We need more of you guys

HI, MKRN. Thanks for your response. BSN would probably make more sense, but since my BA was in journalism (non-science), I'd have to take a good amount of prereq courses before starting an accelerated degree program. I have a family, so I will have to keep working. I worked full time during the day, and got my law degree at night. But at the time I had an apartment and no kids. This is going to be tough to figure out. I have spent hours. Actually, I am trying to figure a way to keep working as a lawyer while taking the prereqs, then getting into a 15-month acclerated BSN program. I am a little worried that I'd have trouble finding an RN job where I would be guaranteed at least 40 hours/week. I am getting the sense that around here (Philadelphia suburbs) an entry-level RN salary would be about $25/hr. I might be able to live on that for a while, if I could get 40/hrs/wk plus another $3.50 hour shift differential and get overtime fairly regularly. Scary to think about jeopardizing my family's lifestyle (not that it's so high, but I'd like to know I can pay the mortgage and take vacations), but nursing is the only other career that seems interesting and feels like the right thing to do. And with a BSN and the law degree, maybe I could get into management if I really needed the $. (But I don't want to work behind a desk anymore, or at least not all the time.) Nurse practioner seems interesting, but know that is an MSN -- first things first. Anyway, I got off the subject... I wish I did not have to take the prereq courses; then it would be easier to jump into this.... Even the local ADN program presents a problem. They had 300 people apply for the 100 clinical positions open last time around. They give first preference to students who have taken the most prior credits at the college. I did not go to this college, so I am starting with 0 -- so there's no guarantee that even if I can figure out how to take the prereqs on the sly, there's no guarantee that I'd be able to start clinical in Fall '06. On the other hand, its far less classes than a BSN, and a lot cheaper (its a community college). I am going to figure out a game plan though ... Just felt like rambling. Take care...

November · Mar 28, 2005, 10:28 AM

I think that you are not only doing the right thing - but the only thing you can do.

I am 42 and starting an ABSN program in May. I am leaving a job that pays far more than nursing. I sold my house and moved in with my mother. I am filled with fear - and having all of your anxieties. But I am also filled with hope.

For me, 20 more years as a lawyer (my current career) is simply to upsetting to contemplete - so I don't see as I have a choice.

Perhaps you are in the same position - its a choice - but one you almost have to make - so go for it. Know that you can never say you didn't try - and I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

tamar2007 · Mar 29, 2005, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by November

I think that you are not only doing the right thing - but the only thing you can do.

I am 42 and starting an ABSN program in May. I am leaving a job that pays far more than nursing. I sold my house and moved in with my mother. I am filled with fear - and having all of your anxieties. But I am also filled with hope.

For me, 20 more years as a lawyer (my current career) is simply to upsetting to contemplete - so I don't see as I have a choice.

Perhaps you are in the same position - its a choice - but one you almost have to make - so go for it. Know that you can never say you didn't try - and I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

dear friends,

I identified with both of your letters so much, and just wanted to encourage you, because I know what it's like and how crazy things get.
Keep your eyes on your end goal, and fire up your motivation all the time with little rewards, and forums like this one. The obstacles along the way are not as bad as they might seem now, when things are on rough waters on the brink of a major change.
I will be 40 in May, and left a rewarding career in advertising (after MBA marketing and BA in psych and consumer behavior) to study nursing. I have been studying and studying for 2 years now.......and because that's around what it takes the normal person to finish all the prereqs, I'm not even IN nursing school yet. But I couldn't go on in advertising any longer, because I realized how superficial and deceitful this whole field is, not to mention the stressful rat race in the corporate world that was difficult for me to deal with as a sensitive and sincere person. Not everyone can play that ruthless game, and I didn't even want to try.
I think these career changes at this time have a lot to do with age and certain radical changes that happen around this time in both men and women's life. They used to call it a 'mid-life crisis', but realized it is not a crisis for everyone, and now it's just a plain old 'mid-life change'. But that hides a lot thats' going on - a lot of thinking, perspective changes, sudden insights, sudden understandings about life.....
I feel these are the years when one asks himself really and truely - are you doing what you want in life? what is my purpose in life? Am I happy, is this where I want to be? and, am I making a difference in someone's life? Am I giving to people, or taking?
Many people didnt understand my move, and I believe you both have had people that didn't understand your's either. Isn't it the American dream, to be a lawyer? The money, the power, the social prestige, L.A LAW??
I know, and to a lesser degree, people see the advertising execs world too as all glamour glitz and money, rubbing shoulders with TV stars on location premiere cocktails, sitting in major hush hush strategymeetings that will "change the way people think" (!!). no less.

so good luck to us all, in 2 years we will all be terrific nurses

I am sure.

Tamar

November · Mar 31, 2005, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by tamar2007

dear friends,

I identified with both of your letters so much, and just wanted to encourage you, because I know what it's like and how crazy things get.
Keep your eyes on your end goal, and fire up your motivation all the time with little rewards, and forums like this one. The obstacles along the way are not as bad as they might seem now, when things are on rough waters on the brink of a major change.
I will be 40 in May, and left a rewarding career in advertising (after MBA marketing and BA in psych and consumer behavior) to study nursing. I have been studying and studying for 2 years now.......and because that's around what it takes the normal person to finish all the prereqs, I'm not even IN nursing school yet. But I couldn't go on in advertising any longer, because I realized how superficial and deceitful this whole field is, not to mention the stressful rat race in the corporate world that was difficult for me to deal with as a sensitive and sincere person. Not everyone can play that ruthless game, and I didn't even want to try.
I think these career changes at this time have a lot to do with age and certain radical changes that happen around this time in both men and women's life. They used to call it a 'mid-life crisis', but realized it is not a crisis for everyone, and now it's just a plain old 'mid-life change'. But that hides a lot thats' going on - a lot of thinking, perspective changes, sudden insights, sudden understandings about life.....
I feel these are the years when one asks himself really and truely - are you doing what you want in life? what is my purpose in life? Am I happy, is this where I want to be? and, am I making a difference in someone's life? Am I giving to people, or taking?
Many people didnt understand my move, and I believe you both have had people that didn't understand your's either. Isn't it the American dream, to be a lawyer? The money, the power, the social prestige, L.A LAW??
I know, and to a lesser degree, people see the advertising execs world too as all glamour glitz and money, rubbing shoulders with TV stars on location premiere cocktails, sitting in major hush hush strategymeetings that will "change the way people think" (!!). no less.

so good luck to us all, in 2 years we will all be terrific nurses I am sure.

Tamar

Thanks for your kind post. This board and the people who post are wonderful - encouraging - supportive.