quite surprised- no wonder no nurses!

This summer I was in Pittsburg, Texas for a barbeque. The administrator of a nearby hospital was there also. (the bbq was at a doc/friends house). The admin knew that I was a nurse, but didn't know I was not working now.
Anyway, he sincerely asked if I would work for the hospital. Citing the fact that 'we just can't find nurses', he went on further to say that he would pay me $20/hr. He was serious. I very nicely told him that I wouldn't consider working for $20- he looked at me in such a surprised way-!!
I believe this hospital might have been either in Plano or Mt. Pleasant- Mt. Pleasant sticks in my mind.
No wonder there is such a shortage of nurses there! I earned $18/hr as a GN in 1985!
Do they think that a rural hospital has less acute patients-nicer working conditions- so that is all we are worth?
What a dissapointment to hear that.
I would have liked to have a more serious conversation with the gentleman, but it was not the time/place.
Good thing I am not looking yet.... (I know that in general the pay is better than that, as I read Texas posts)