Comparing A Nurses' Salary

Dandelionsandroses · Sep 7, 2012

In 2003, when I lived in Maryland, made over $100,000/year. Now in Georgia, with experience $70.000 +/year. You work your tail off, though. Higher patient ratios and usually no techs, just other overworked nurses on the floor. This is not including OT.

Dandelionsandroses · Sep 7, 2012

They claim the salary is higher because you are not taxed on most of your salary. I think it is a scam.

Dandelionsandroses · Sep 7, 2012

I am experienced nurse (17 years) returning for BSN--in Georgia, I do not pay tuition or fees, only for my books. (this starts at 62 years old)

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Sep 8, 2012

shodobe said:

It seems to me there are a lot of people out there that are upst that they spent tons of money for a higher education only to find out that most if not all employeers want experience over a over educated nurse. For the person who thinks they should make more than me just because they decided they "needed" a BSN, well get a life! All hospitals, at least the decent ones, have a pay scale structure based on years of experience and not necessarily a education level. Yes, there are those that might get a bit more because of their higher level of education but not much. In any industry out there there will always be a pay structure based on your experience, period. Plumbers, teachers, firemen, etc all start out at the bottom and work their way up through years of just working. Just for your info I have 36 years of experince and the only ones who should make as much as I are the ones who have 30+ doing the same job. I am at the top of the pay scale at 53.84/hr. Most of you are just bitter and upset at the fact you will have many years of student loans whereas I have Nada! Get a grip, work hard and the rewards will pay off.
Also to the guy above complaining about the ongoing "debate". There is no debate only the constant, ongoing whinning by a number of people still upset that their BSN isn't paying off now. Instead of complaining about ADNs not being "real" professional nurses maybe you should direct your anger at all the so-called "nursing schools" outside of this country churnning out inadequate nurses to take jobs from native trained RNs. Nurses in general better wake up to the strangle hold these foreign nurses are putting on nursing in this country. I don't really care that they pass a test to work here, stay in your own country where you are needed. There IS NO NEED TO IMPORT NURSES from any country.

Wow. OK. But even the pay scales aren't what they should be. A person with less than a year experience shouldn't get paid the same as someone with 5, 10, 20 or 36 years. And, of course you wouldn't have student loans. I would hope after 36 years they would be paid off....no need to brag, you know! Why would a BSN not pay off, except for the fact that if you can't find a job, well, that isn't even paying a monthly payment, now, is it? I think, that instead of complaining about ADN's not being professional nurses, I will complain about LPN's not being professional nurses, because, after all, my LPN is "LICENSED practical NURSE." I took the NCLEX like everyone else, and in a few months I'll be taking the RN NCLEX because I felt like I NEEDED that BSN....and I have a nice life, thanks! I feel that furthering my education will make it that much more enjoyable. And better yet, I think ALL NURSES should complain about the lousy pay, lousy working conditions, lack of supplies, abuse by patients, and lousy management that we have to deal with. We all need to band together and support each other no matter if our degree is LPN, ADN, BSN, etc. No wonder we have so many leaving within the first year!

nursethedia · Sep 10, 2012

OK, I just graduated last sept as an LPN. passed the NCLEX. I am struggling with all the job adds that need 1 year experience, how do I get my foot in the door, if I don't have experience. I am very frustrating right now, I paid top just to get my LPN diploma.

Any advise???

bahamagirlrn, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2012

Shodobe,It seems as if you are prejudiced against foreign nurses. I am sure if you were to trace your heritage you may find that you are not "100% American". How do you know that all foreign nurses are inadequate ? Is this based on your own biased assumptions? If you want to be honest with yourself , considering the time you spent as a nurse, I'm sure you ran into a few inadequate fellow American nurses. Also, it is not up to you to tell anyone to stay in their own country. America is a continent for anyone to come to as long as it done the legal way. You sound very bitter.

eCCU · Nov 3, 2012

\ said:

It seems to me there are a lot of people out there that are upst that they spent tons of money for a higher education only to find out that most if not all employeers want experience over a over educated nurse. For the person who thinks they should make more than me just because they decided they "needed" a BSN, well get a life! All hospitals, at least the decent ones, have a pay scale structure based on years of experience and not necessarily a education level. Yes, there are those that might get a bit more because of their higher level of education but not much. In any industry out there there will always be a pay structure based on your experience, period. Plumbers, teachers, firemen, etc all start out at the bottom and work their way up through years of just working. Just for your info I have 36 years of experince and the only ones who should make as much as I are the ones who have 30+ doing the same job. I am at the top of the pay scale at 53.84/hr. Most of you are just bitter and upset at the fact you will have many years of student loans whereas I have Nada! Get a grip, work hard and the rewards will pay off.
Also to the guy above complaining about the ongoing "debate". There is no debate only the constant, ongoing whinning by a number of people still upset that their BSN isn't paying off now. Instead of complaining about ADNs not being "real" professional nurses maybe you should direct your anger at all the so-called "nursing schools" outside of this country churnning out inadequate nurses to take jobs from native trained RNs. Nurses in general better wake up to the strangle hold these foreign nurses are putting on nursing in this country. I don't really care that they pass a test to work here, stay in your own country where you are needed. There IS NO NEED TO IMPORT NURSES from any country.

Ugh...this is the kind of mentality that has made Nursing not to be a respected field! Forgive the newbies for trying to make this field recognizable by having a standard level for entry into practice. Perhaps we should cut physicians education to 4yrs only! I know a lot of nurses who got full academic scholarships in Nursing school school and as far as foreign nurses are concerned perhaps a cultural sensitive class is in order, if this is how you feel about your colleagues.

I enjoy all cultures I meet at work from different parts of the world. Some have even traveled with for international missions and have learned a great deal. Not to mention the awesome parties we have at work with great tasting cuisine ?

murse636 · Jan 5, 2013

new grad working 36 hours a week, gross 51480$, with overtime i made close to 60k...this year now working fulltime 36hrs a week, plus an additional 12 hour(48hr total) shift as a registry nurse at other ED's ill be on track to make 91,000 gross...there is money to made out there people just gotta go find it...good luck to all, we deserve 100$ an hour lol

murse636 · Jan 5, 2013

shodobe said:

It seems to me there are a lot of people out there that are upst that they spent tons of money for a higher education only to find out that most if not all employeers want experience over a over educated nurse. For the person who thinks they should make more than me just because they decided they "needed" a BSN, well get a life! All hospitals, at least the decent ones, have a pay scale structure based on years of experience and not necessarily a education level. Yes, there are those that might get a bit more because of their higher level of education but not much. In any industry out there there will always be a pay structure based on your experience, period. Plumbers, teachers, firemen, etc all start out at the bottom and work their way up through years of just working. Just for your info I have 36 years of experince and the only ones who should make as much as I are the ones who have 30+ doing the same job. I am at the top of the pay scale at 53.84/hr. Most of you are just bitter and upset at the fact you will have many years of student loans whereas I have Nada! Get a grip, work hard and the rewards will pay off.
Also to the guy above complaining about the ongoing "debate". There is no debate only the constant, ongoing whinning by a number of people still upset that their BSN isn't paying off now. Instead of complaining about ADNs not being "real" professional nurses maybe you should direct your anger at all the so-called "nursing schools" outside of this country churnning out inadequate nurses to take jobs from native trained RNs. Nurses in general better wake up to the strangle hold these foreign nurses are putting on nursing in this country. I don't really care that they pass a test to work here, stay in your own country where you are needed. There IS NO NEED TO IMPORT NURSES from any country.

yes it is mostly experienced based but a lot of hospitals have clinical ladders, which require your BSN, CEN, CCRN etc etc. and if you ever want to teach, be a manager, do research etc you need a 4 yr degree most of the time YES im sure there are exceptions.

ALso in a perfect world the only people who should be making as much as you are well the ones who do just as good of a job. im the only CEN, ACLS instructor and ultrasound IV certified nurse in my ER besides my manager (I've been a nurse for 20 MONTHS), I help all the 15-20-30+ years nurses all the time, should I not be paid the same amount? sorry but this old war horsse mentality of I've clocked the most hours I've seen it all, has got to go. YOU cant experience something you don't even know to look for, theres a reason MD's go to school for a decade.

I agree that at the bedside there is no difference between 2 and 4 year nurses, since the additonal 2 years is no advanced medical or bedside education. but 2 or 4 yrs, these new grads are coming out swinging, they are more educated, hungry to work and learn, and not burnt out, and I think employeers are starting to recognize that.

murse636 · Jan 5, 2013

^^ agree with you 100% on not importing nurses though..we have plenty of jobs, and people looking to fill them that were educated here

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2013

I've been a nurse for 2.5 years, and I fully support the notion that nurses are paid according to years of experience. Education is important, but you learn things on the job that you would never learn in school. We should respect the experience that our senior colleagues have.

Guest372004 · Jan 5, 2013

Pay will always be dependent upon whether one has a union, what state one lives in, and years of service. It is the nature of the job. Of course I am speaking of mostly hospital/clinic/type jobs. I think all schools should have BSN only, just so that eventually all RN's are educated (even tho it means nothing in the hospital setting unless one wants to be in management) at a higher degree for the public to know.

I believe eventually most or all acute care hospitals will require BSN. I do not have it and am not interested as I am with a few years if that left to work and there is no way I want or need to have more stress/work/etc. I work 4 8hr shifts/week and my pay 2012 was $105,000. And this amount was with having days off without pay.