MGH is offering new grad ICU internship for $11.44 an hour?

[DisneybearRN]

I was cruising the hospital websites as I do everyday as a new grad and came across this:

The Department of Nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital is running a New Graduate RN ICU Residency Program for six months from April 2011 to September 2011. RN residents will be hired and trained to work successfully in an intensive care setting.

Qualified applicants MUST have:

- a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing

- a current MA RN license

- less than 10 months of professional RN experience in a healthcare setting

- completed a clinical practicum in an ICU or experience in a patient assistive role in an ICU.

RN Residents will be eligible for benefits and paid a salary of $11.44 per hour. The schedule will be 40 hours per week with five 8-hour shifts. Day/Night rotation with weekends and holidays required.

11.44 an hour? They can't be serious...can they? They pay their CNAs more!

[sbostonRN]

MGH is not a union hospital.

[DisneybearRN]

OK Well then that makes sense why they could do this.

[elkpark]

I guess the question that occurs to me is is $11.44/hr for an internship at one of the top academic medical centers in the US better or worse than MGH just saying "new grads need not apply," as so many hospitals are these days? Yes, new grads are technically "licensed professionals," but they are certainly not able to function/produce at the level of an experienced RN, and they are a financial liability rather than an asset to a hospital for at least the first year or so they are employed. More and more hospitals are trying to come up with compromises between absorbing the huge cost of orienting new grads in these tough economic times, and just refusing to hire new grads (which they can easily get away with these days, considering the current employment conditions). I'm sure MGH put a lot of thought and consideration into this plan, and I'm certainly not in a position to second-guess them. If individuals find this opportunity unappealing, they don't have to apply. If sufficient numbers of qualified applicants aren't interested, the program won't last long.

[CCL RN, RN]

I guess the question that occurs to me is is $11.44/hr for an internship at one of the top academic medical centers in the US better or worse than MGH just saying "new grads need not apply," as so many hospitals are these days? Yes, new grads are technically "licensed professionals," but they are certainly not able to function/produce at the level of an experienced RN, and they are a financial liability rather than an asset to a hospital for at least the first year or so they are employed. More and more hospitals are trying to come up with compromises between absorbing the huge cost of orienting new grads in these tough economic times, and just refusing to hire new grads (which they can easily get away with these days, considering the current employment conditions). I'm sure MGH put a lot of thought and consideration into this plan, and I'm certainly not in a position to second-guess them. If individuals find this opportunity unappealing, they don't have to apply. If sufficient numbers of qualified applicants aren't interested, the program won't last long.

Exactly.

Poor pay for 6 months, plus ICU experience, or NO pay or experience for 6 months.

I was thinking that this hospital was being very kind. Very kind.

When my spouse graduated with a degree in computer science, they had to do an internship as a help desk employee. Paid less than $11.44. And it was a heck of a lot more schooling than a BSN.

So. Either:

Be grateful for the opportunity to gain valuable nursing experience, education, and work hard to prove that you're worth the risk...

OR

Don't take the opportunity. Look elsewhere. Move on. Sit around for 6 months and do nothing, uproot your family and move to a remote Indian reservation for work, or just wait for greener pastures.

Like I said before, I bet these positions get filled, and get filled quickly.

[DisneybearRN]

You will still be functioning as a nurse which puts your license on the line! Is 11.44 an hour worth that? They are not offering a permanent job, just that you were be "poised". I guarantee you if they really needed nurses things would be different. You are missing the point completely about respect. And yes 11.44 is worse than saying new grads need not apply. Because it is saying new grads are worse less than anyone with their commiserate education. Yes, people will take the "opportunity", but there is definitely a greater philosophical issue going on here. If all nurses are not outraged by this, I really think they need to look deeper on whether they really value their profession now, and in the future.

[CCL RN, RN]

You will still be functioning as a nurse which puts your license on the line! Is 11.44 an hour worth that? They are not offering a permanent job, just that you were be "poised". I guarantee you if they really needed nurses things would be different. You are missing the point completely about respect. And yes 11.44 is worse than saying new grads need not apply. Because it is saying new grads are worse less than anyone with their commiserate education. Yes, people will take the "opportunity", but there is definitely a greater philosophical issue going on here. If all nurses are not outraged by this, I really think they need to look deeper on whether they really value their profession now, and in the future.

As a nurse, my license is in the line no matter what. Even when I'm not at work. That argument doesn't work.

As a nurse, I am well aware of respect for our profession. Unless you have worked at the bedside you don't know. Sweetie, you don't know. This is not "distrespectful"! This position does NOTHING to our profession. You are taking this to an extreme...

And, a BSN is not the highest degree in the land. Plenty of other professionals out these have bachelors and higher and don't make close to what nurses make.

I'm just saying. There is absolutely NO philosophical issue here! Lol! Maybe for you, but not for our profession.

I value my profession just fine. But let me tell you this is a nutshell, from an employers POV-we don't need new grads right now. We can't afford to train them. This is a good compromise to both get your experience, and for the hospital to not waste 30-60k on a new grad who decides they don't want to be a bedside nurse anymore.

If you don't like it, don't apply! In 6 months, you will be competing with new grads who have 6 months ICU experience, and you don't.

[DisneybearRN]

Exactly.

When my spouse graduated with a degree in computer science, they had to do an internship as a help desk employee. Paid less than $11.44. And it was a heck of a lot more schooling than a BSN.

Huh? A computer science degree is more schooling than a BSN? Both have the same number of credit hours at colleges across the country. You can get a BS in computer science without clinical hours. And you are not licensed to practice computer science!

[CCL RN, RN]

Huh? A computer science degree is more schooling than a BSN? Both have the same number of credit hours at colleges across the country. You can get a BS in computer science without clinical hours. And you are not licensed to practice computer science!

It was a masters that he got. Still had to do the internship. Made him marketable. He now makes equal money to me.

And you can get a BSN without clinicals.

You can get an NP online with no nursing experience.

You can become a DNP allll online.

You need a license to be a successful plumber.

I need a license to buy supplies at certain stores.

Whoopty doo..

Take a step back. Deep breath. A license and a bachelors do not mean, or guarantee anything. Get in line with the rest of new grads in this over saturated market.

Do something proactive about your situation, or not. Your choice.

But fighting over the philosophy of it all, or feeling superior to other degrees will not help you. Not at all. As an experienced RN I can tell you this, the battles we fight daily are real. This measly job offer doesn't even enter the realm of issues with nursing. Nope. I wish! Our profession has bigger fish to fry, so to speak...

Good luck.

[DisneybearRN]

As a nurse, my license is in the line no matter what. Even when I'm not at work. That argument doesn't work.

How is your license on the line if you don't take a job? You lost me there.

a nurse, I am well aware of respect for our profession. Unless you have worked at the bedside you don't know. Sweetie, you don't know. This is not "distrespectful"!

Calling me "Sweetie" is disrespectful. There is no need to make the discussion personal.

, a BSN is not the highest degree in the land. Plenty of other professionals out these have bachelors and higher and don't make close to what nurses make.

But is the prevailing wage for new grad nurses $11.44 in the area...or the country??

just saying. There is absolutely NO philosophical issue here! Lol! Maybe for you, but not for our profession.

Obviously I disagree and that is OK.

But let me tell you this is a nutshell, from an employers POV-we don't need new grads right now

Exactly. I am fine with that. But get the word out that you don't need nurses, stop the PR machine promising flexible hours, great pay, and unlimited opportunities. There are tons of experienced nurses who are leaving the profession due to lack of opportunity, safety issues, etc. It is not a new grad issue only, it is the economy.

you don't like it, don't apply! In 6 months, you will be competing with new grads who have 6 months ICU experience, and you don't.

My point isn't about me! This is not a personal argument. We disagree and that doesn't mean the discussion is over. This is a forum.

[DisneybearRN]

OK. I am in the minority here. $11.44 is a reasonable starting wage for a new grad! I haven't seen wages that low for an R.N. anywhere else in the country, and I have looked. Experienced nurses are fine with that, I get it. I wonder how many of you began at the wage? There is supposedly a "predicted" nursing shortage and if this wage becomes the norm for new grads, experienced nurses don't believe that affects recruitment? You want more men in nursing? You want the brightest people to consider nursing? Not gonna happen if this becomes the norm. If nursing does not remain a competitive field, there will definitely be a crisis, yet experienced nurses don't think so. I personally think that you are wrong, but that is why they make chocolate and vanilla. I do not have to work anywhere for that low a wage, so it really doesn't affect me personally. Good Luck.

[CCL RN, RN]

.

But is the prevailing wage for new grad nurses $11.44 in the area...or the country??

.

Nope. The prevailing wages for new grads in my area is about zero dollars and zero cents an hr. This hospital is trying to help new grads. Remember this is an internship, not a starting nursing wage...

I bet every single nurse who makes it past 6 months gets hired under this program, at a normal wage. Many newbs realize right around the 6month mark that they hate nursing, or that the bedside, or that ICU isn't for them.

Would it be better if hospitals made nurses pay back the costs of preceptorship when they leave?

And btw, your license is on the line always. If I mess up IRL, even if it has nothing to do with my employment as a nurse, I risk my license. Hopefully you know this...

[sbostonRN]

I bet every single nurse who makes it past 6 months gets hired under this program, at a normal wage.

The nurse manager I spoke to said the same thing. Basically, this program is a way for the hospital to fill their new building which is opening in the spring. There are many new beds being added, so I'm fairly certain most (if not all) of the new grad residents will get hired as staff nurses. Of course, they can't guarantee that in a job posting, but it's very very likely.