Are there any hospitals in OKC that are paying new grads above 18-19 base pay?

U.S.A. Oklahoma

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Are there any hospitals in OKC that are paying new grads above 18-19 base pay? I really dont think the cost of living in OK is all that low compared to other places that are paying higher. Am I missing something?

Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.
Perhaps I should restate...

This applies to facilities in the area where I live (Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Texas). It also applies to facilities in the OKC metro area. The area in which you live and work is probably different.

Dallas/Ft. Worth is VERY different than OKC. Like I said I live and work right outside of OKC aka *OKC metro area*.

Just wondering, have you ever lived or worked in OKC?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Dallas/Ft. Worth is VERY different than OKC. Like I said I live and work right outside of OKC aka *OKC metro area*.

Just wondering, have you ever lived or worked in OKC?

Yes. I lived in north OKC, about one mile south of Quail Springs Mall for a while. I've also lived off 50th Street between Meridian and MacArthur. I have Oklahoma LPN and RN licensure. I attended a nursing program in OKC. Otherwise, I would have skipped this thread entirely...
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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

You didnt find the pay to be pretty decent here? I do, but I have never lived/worked anywhere else so maybe I dont know any better! I know my best friend lives close to the Texas border and decides to commute back and forth because the pay there is so much better than here. But at the same time, she looked in to housing that area too and it was far more than what she would be paying where she lives...

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

To the OP, what area are you wanting to go into?

There is an awesome specialty hospital that I hear pays very well, and has awesome benefits, but it would have to be something of interest to you...

I know I will be putting my ap in there sometime in the future when my circumstances change a little!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
You didnt find the pay to be pretty decent here? I do, but I have never lived/worked anywhere else so maybe I dont know any better! I know my best friend lives close to the Texas border and decides to commute back and forth because the pay there is so much better than here. But at the same time, she looked in to housing that area too and it was far more than what she would be paying where she lives...
I have been an LPN/LVN since 2006 and recently earned my RN license. OU Medical Center offered me $18.65 hourly as a new grad RN. I laughed because I was earning $27.00 hourly as an LVN at a nursing home in Texas at the time they made the offer. I hadn't earned in the $18 hourly range since 2006, so I really found the offer laughable.
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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

I would laugh at that too, but she did ask about a base pay of 18-19 an hour, so maybe she should look into OU :) Im an LPN, have been since 2002, TRYING to get my RN... so I really dont know all that much about RN pay, but I know I wont make $27 an hour anywhere in OK unless I was per diem or something like that... I know the base pay for LPNs at a lot of the hospitals dont seem like much, but when you add in shift diffs and all it can be up around the 18 range. When the OP says "new grad" I was assuming RN, so I figured she could easily make more than that.

Now one thing I do know, when I was in school we did clinicals at a large hospital in OKC, offered us $10.50 to come work there as LPN's!! Big joke there! Dont think so... but that was back in 2001 and I know that hospital has made a lot of changes, I sure hope pay was one of them!

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Specializes in CCU.

thanks guys for the replies. Commuter, the low ball pay they offered is pitiful. I just think starting wages here are ridiculous and the pay everywhere else isn't this low. I heard that OU and Oklahoma Heart Hospital start at $21, but that is just coming from hearsay. Of course I know I need to focus on developing skills and work ethics to impress the managers and that money shouldnt be the only driving factor b/c the hosptial has to invest/train but goodness. I took a ICU position at saints starting at 18.83, and with that pay I will only work nights and most weekends to reap the differentials to make the pay better, good thing i like nights. Yeah I have heard of nursing homes paying more especially w/o benefits and actually I was thinking about getting a 2nd job at a nursing home on a prn basis maybe once I get settled into my first one.

Oh yeah i hate commuting so I tried to look into moving close downtown to okc, almost close enough to walk to work, and the prices aren't in a range I need. Maybe I should look into outside areas.

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

Yes, look into outside areas... are you RN or LPN?

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Specializes in CCU.
Yes, look into outside areas... are you RN or LPN?

I'm refering to RN starting pay. THe starting pay for RN is comparable to that of LPN in other areas.

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

That may be true, but you have to look at the cost of living in other areas too... But all in all... I wish you luck on your new career. Check out tccokc.org and see what you think... I hear they pay the best nursing pay in OKC. (as far as hospital pay!)

Something else you can look into is ihs.gov . Indian health is always looking for nurses and they have a wide variety of careers available. They pay is reasonable and they have GREAT benefits! There are usually openings in OKC area. check it, its worth it!

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

BTW... $18-19 an hour is what I would expect to make as an LPN if I were to apply anywhere, so I do agree thats way to low for RN. BUt maybe thats just start and once you get going it goes up?? I dont know... but that is pretty ridiculous.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

In 1997 I moved from TN to OK. I immediately took a 50% paycut. I had to start travel nursing just to support my 4 kids. I have just seen the last hit 18 and three have gone to college. I came home hoping to be able to stay and give up my travel shoes. I found that the pay scale is 50% higher than when I originally moved here, but that is still 25% lower than what I made in 1997. I hope that you do find something that you can survive on. Me I think I will go back on the road until I retire......maybe then I can afford to live in my own home.

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