Pondering whether or not i have made the right choice

Nurses Career Support

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Hi,

I am starting LVN school next week. After reading some of the posts here i am concerned that nursing may not be as rewarding as i once thought.

I read "would you chose nursing as a career?" and a majority of the responses are very negative towards the field.

I also had questions about the pay. When researching compensation for LVN's and RN's in my area (dallas/fort worth), i found that the average for LVNs is $22 hour and RNs $32 hour. I come here and other nurses are saying that as an RN they are making $12-$14 hour.

someone please clarify

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b bruce

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Originally posted by bbruce:

Hi,

I am starting LVN school next week. After reading some of the posts here i am concerned that nursing may not be as rewarding as i once thought.

I read "would you chose nursing as a career?" and a majority of the responses are very negative towards the field.

I also had questions about the pay. When researching compensation for LVN's and RN's in my area (dallas/fort worth), i found that the average for LVNs is $22 hour and RNs $32 hour. I come here and other nurses are saying that as an RN they are making $12-$14 hour.

someone please clarify

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Paula

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Hi. I need someone to clarify how to send messages-sorry about the last entry. Now for a few words of encouragement. GO FOR IT! In 1966 I entered a PN school in PA-first of it's kind in the area. After five years as an LPN went back though a career ladder program to a diploma nursing program(also first of it's kind in Pa-was in the first class) (too much a chicken to go to AZ for the next step-ladder to BSN) so after all these years 'm thinking about go on for BSN. I know money is necessay but don't let it bog you down. Just study,Study and remember that NOTHING is too menial for you to do for your Patient. See that you just registed this month too- Keep us posted how you are doing.(please excuse grammer, punctuation, spelling , ect)

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Paula

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Originally posted by bbruce:

i found that the average for LVNs is $22 hour and RNs $32 hour. I come here and other nurses are saying that as an RN they are making $12-$14 hour.

someone please clarify

[/b]

Those

numbers sound very high, if you want to see the entry level rate for my area go to www.chp.edu, but I can tell you it is $15.40 for a RN, I do not tell people yes or no as far as their career choice, I just site examples.

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you say that is low but there are adds in the fort worth star telegram. several of them that list that pay range. are they lying?

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b bruce

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Originally posted by bbruce:

you say that is low but there are adds in the fort worth star telegram. several of them that list that pay range. are they lying?

Perhaps you could go to the nursing salaries thread under general nursing discussions, it was first posted by natbrat. It is very hard to comment on something I cannot see.

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Originally posted by bbruce:

Hi,

I am starting LVN school next week. After reading some of the posts here i am concerned that nursing may not be as rewarding as i once thought.

I read "would you chose nursing as a career?" and a majority of the responses are very negative towards the field.

I also had questions about the pay. When researching compensation for LVN's and RN's in my area (dallas/fort worth), i found that the average for LVNs is $22 hour and RNs $32 hour. I come here and other nurses are saying that as an RN they are making $12-$14 hour.

someone please clarify

In my area in the paper it says the same thing that LVN's can make $22 and Rn's can make $32 a hour, BUT that is mainly for agency work and some agencies do not pay benefits but hospital nurses make anywhere from $14.00 on up an hour. If nursing is what is in your heart then go ahead and follow your heart, if it turns out to be something you do not want to do you can always change careers, a recent study showed that the average person will change careers about 4-5 times and jobs about 10 times. Follow your heart.

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Nothing is ever impossible, If you think you can you will if you think you can't it won't happen

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In Denton, just north of D/FW, the hospitals start out new LVN's at about $8-$9/hr. This is for full time with benefits. Pay increases for PRN (without benefits or guaranteed hrs) and agency nurses. PRN's probably make about 15/hr and agency around 20/hr. The ads that you are referring to are probably for work in nursing homes, which is OK if that's what you like to do.

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after 26 years as an RN, BSN, RNC, I am making $26/hr...and am at the max on the pay scale here in Las Vegas....

VSP (ie no benefits, no guaranteed shifts) make $28-32/hr.

DON'T go into nursing for the money...

Go into nursing to help others, to be a change agent in healthcare, to make a difference....the low $$ & hard work will be there.

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Hi bbruce,

I agree with HazeK regarding going into nursing with altruistic motives. I think the practice of nursing becomes more difficult than it is when you're working with individuals who come into nursing to only serve him/herself and overly cynical nurses. Nursing is a great field for those who truly desire to become intimately acquainted with the ups and downs of human nature. Many of these nurses tend to really grow as a person and tend to be great assets to their family and community. Don't let low pay and other negativities be a factor in detering you if you can envision yourself being a nurse and progressing in the field. Best wishes.

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