Comparing A Nurses' Salary

libby11 · Sep 2, 2012

I did not compare a CNA to a nurse, I simply said it was interesting that they had to take a practical. To compare is to note similarity, of which I made no comments.

I also did NOT say that an ADN and BSN should be equal.

Lastly, I'm certain your reason for including the comment about base job satisfaction and pay. I did not state that I was off to TX for pay reasons, my sister lives there :) And I only comment of worry because I'll have to pay back student loans, of course.

sweetmarie101 · Sep 2, 2012

First let me start out with my location East Texas. I recently switched from a Critical Care Access Hospital working three 12 hr shifts one week and four 12 hr shifts the next. The way the schedule rotated, I had a 3 day weekend every other weekend. I averaged $64,000 a year. I did work the pm shift, therefore shift diff was involved. When I left the hospital I took a home health field nurse position that was salaried at $65,000 a year. No call, no weekends, and no nights. Yea!!!!

Isitpossible, LPN, LVN · Sep 2, 2012

New nurse BSN philly area: $46, 000 (64hr bi-weekly)

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Sep 2, 2012

libby11 said:

I did not compare a CNA to a nurse, I simply said it was interesting that they had to take a practical. To compare is to note similarity, of which I made no comments.
I also did NOT say that an ADN and BSN should be equal.

Lastly, I'm certain your reason for including the comment about base job satisfaction and pay. I did not state that I was off to TX for pay reasons, my sister lives there ? And I only comment of worry because I'll have to pay back student loans, of course.

Ah, yeah, student loans....not looking forward to that. When I started taking classes for my ADN back in 1998 they were pushing for BSN's even then. I hope my increase in salary from LPN to BSN gives me enough to pay the loans off. I've never had student loans until now. I have family in the Dallas area, and I grew up in Lubbock. I miss it.

CPT_Charlios · Sep 4, 2012

There is an ongoing debate about whether or not a BSN should be the standard for RN licensure. Not to knock on ADN prepared nurses (I worked with great nurses who are ADN prepared), but I think our profession should have one standard to be a professional nurse like other health care professionals. PT/OTs are mastered prepared and many programs are going towards doctorates, albeit they are not as in high demand as nurses. The ADN level of nursing was developed out of a need to produce nurses in response to a shortage during and following World War II which sadly, continues to this day. It was proposed as a temporary solution to a shortage and was not intended to replace the professional level of nursing education.

Numerous chief nurses have indicated their desire for the majority of their hospital staff nurses to be prepared at the BSN level to meet the more “sophisticated demands of today's patient care”. In a recent survey by the University Health System chief nurse at various university health systems stated that they prefer an average of 70 percent of their staff nurses to be BSN-prepared and they “perceive a difference in the practice of baccalaureate and associate-degree-prepared RNs, citing better critical thinking skills and leadership abilities among baccalaureate nurses.” Multiple studies has back that conclusion. Studies have also found that nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level have stronger communication and problem-solving skills and a higher proficiency in their ability to make nursing diagnoses and evaluate nursing interventions.

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2012

I dont remember what I made as a new grad, but my base salary is 85k. 5 years experience, level one trauma center. east coast. (no, not NYC)

shodobe · Sep 5, 2012

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.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

nursie_nursie_415 said:

During my first year as a new grad I made just under $90k working 32hrs/week on the evening shift. My second year I made just under $110k. I live & work in the Bay Area & these types of salaries are why nurses from all over the world are trying to work here. Those out-of-staters who do land jobs here unfortunately do not spend their money in Bay Area communities but instead spend their paychecks in their home towns. California is bankrupt, people! If you want to continue being paid these good salaries, be sure to support your local businesses - these are the people who are our patients/paying clients. I am not against non-Californians being hired in Bay Area hospitals, but it is important to "give back" instead of taking, taking, taking...
Don't get me wrong - I have so much love for my fellow nurses who fly in from other states regularly for work here in the Bay Area to support their families back home, but my heart aches for my other fellow nurses who can't get jobs. The situation is not helped with all these "nursing schools" pumping our new grads every semester. California, what is happening to us?

The pay sounds excellent but you're not factoring in the extremely high cost of living, aren't we talking about basic housing starting around 500,000!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

I don't care if RN's are ADN or BSN, that's their preference. Most places do not pay more for BSN, except VA hospital system. It's true some hospitals are on the magnet push and prefer BSN, but I know many RN's who have still been able to get RN jobs with just an ADN. Maybe it depends where you live? Also their are many nurses that already have a BA/BS in another field and then when they can't get a decent paying job, they get their RN. If they are lucky they can get an accelerated BSN, but not many colleges in the area offer this option so considering student loans from their prior degree an ADN might be a better cheaper option. Instead of accellerated BSN programs, universities are offering direct entry Masters RN to NP training with the high grad school price tag to go along with it! Apparently this is more profitable for the universities. I know many new grad RN's with student loans around $100,000! Glad that's not me!

I think hospitals are discovering the BSN is more expensive to the bottom line because most of the new grad RN's are jumping back to school to get their NP to put floor nursing with all its crap behind them as soon as possible! The good news is there will be lots of turnover for all the RN's in the pipeline!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

BrandonLPN said:

I don't get your point. Of course the nurses all don't make the same amount. A nurse who's been working for 20 years deserves to make more than the new grad. You move up the pay scale with experience. But BSNs do not deserve a separate, higher pay scale than the ADNs.

Given how tight fisted hospitals are with pay, I don't think you need to worry about hospitals paying more for BSN's anytime soon! That said, I do believe that RN's should be paid more for more education, like teachers get a pay bump when they get their MA. It is certainly reasonable! A BSN should get paid more and how about the MSN RN's working on the floor when they can't get that NP job! But I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that to happen. The clinical ladder gives 1 point for ADN, 2 points for BSN and 3 points for MSN when you need 30 points for RN III and 45 points for RN IV for a piddly one time raise around 5% and if you don't come up with the points each year, they are very happy to demote you with a pay cut of course! But who knows, next year they might raise the points or change the rules to twist you into a pretzel just to hold onto a longtime ago raise! No thanks!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

nhnursie said:

"The system is rigged so that those on the top get far more than they deserve, and while I resent that, it is how it is."
Maybe when you are 30 years into your career, you will re think your position....

Seniority only gets you so far and most payscales are compressed, also employers are actively paying senior employees less than newer ones for the same eval, apparently this is perfectly legal and not considered age discrimination for reasons unknown! A new employee with a great review might get 4%, while the senior employee would get 0-1 for the same eval! I don't know why this is even legal, but it is a common occurrence in corporate America and hospitals are now run by same bottom line corp HR personnel! If you are not in a union hospital you might not know this is even happening! Also if the plan is to get promoted to a high paying job, there are only so many management spots out there so not everyone is going to get their "coveted" LOL high paid job.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Sep 5, 2012

Teal72 said:

Yes seriously...I have no reason to lie..I don't know if you can access it but you can look up the KAiser permanente contracts online and see. Or I'd anyone else in the Sacramento Region please feel free to add.. Especially if you work at KAiser!

Shows the power of a union! We all could use a good union like NLN in CA, those lucky enough to be in a good strong union or work for a state where the ANA is actively involved in unionization and bargaining are lucky indeed! Too bad so many of us have to work in non union hospitals and states where the ANA doesn't want to offend hospitals or taint their "professional" image by actually working to improve working conditions for the bedside nurse. I won't support the ANA in my state because they are unwilling to support unionization for us!

Even doctors stuck working in HMO's have fought for the right to unionize and bargain over pay and working conditions in the assembly line "sweat shop" run till you drop that is healthcare today!