New Grad Pay in Nashville - Page 2

I work at Vandy, St Thomas, and Centennial medical center, and by far Vandy pays the least even after thier rase.

This is mainly because all the "new nurses" want to work there because "you can work anyware after that" BS. So therefore they are only in the market for new nurses. If you want to make $$ go elsewhere.

I did 3 shifts at Metro general a few months back and I know that the nurses there actually had to take a pay CUT this year in order to keep their jobs. It is widely publicized that all Metro employees had to take a 3% cut in pay to keep their jobs , so that is always kinda worrisome.

I have a choice right now to work at either Vandy or St. Thomas, St. Thomas is $4.00hr more than Vandy, but is 8hr shifts M-F 6a - 2:30p. I am very much used to three 12's and am unsure if I could deal with the 5 eight's on a long time basis, but then 10k difference in a year is kinda significant.

My deal is I'm moving to Nashville area for the weather and nice roads; which I have neither of where I live now. I want the time to ride my Harley and enjoy God's gifts, but 10 grand is messing my head up.

Vandy now pays $20.50 for new grads, and $6 differential for weekends.
They said this is comparable to the area, is that true??

That's about par and pretty good considering that the cost of living is much less than being in the City (SF, Ca). There are nice gated apartment places in Nashville than in SF alone would be over $2,300-$2,600 versus $1,000 in TN for a nice size 2-room and full baths. The cost of gas is at least $0.35-0.55 less a gallon.

I know my brother-in-law lives in the Panhandle area and was blown away from what my cousin lives in and try to find a nice gated apartment in the Panhandle or 5 miles from there and see what those prices are. Free parking too and no need to pay for an annual residential on the street parking to park your own car.

Children's Hospital in LA pays only like $23.00 and imagine trying to find a decent and safe place to live in that area? I know that outside of CHLA, other hospitals pays in the $30, but then again, you get a crackbox sometimes far away from work and the traffic (arghhhhh).

Does anyone have anymore updated pay info for Nashville? I am an LPN and I will graduate with my BSN in 2013. I know the rates may change a little by then but I am thinking ahead :-) I am also really curious in which hospitals are the best to work at? I work in long term care right now so I am not in the hospital environment and I don't really hear about the reputations of the local hospitals. One more thing. Do you think having 3 years of LPN experinece in LTC will help me get a hospital job when I become an RN?? Thanks!!