Houston RN pay?

TexasPediRN · Aug 13, 2008

Agree with the above from methy, and just wanted to add, its mostly 12 hour shifts down here that you will find. The last 4 hours are not time and 1/2. They are base pay.

Also to echo, it is cheaper to live down here.

You can make 40 an hour as a agency nurse, or supplemental for the hospital.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2008

Agree with the above from methy, and just wanted to add, its mostly 12 hour shifts down here that you will find. The last 4 hours are not time and 1/2. They are base pay.

I don't quite grasp what you mean. We typically work 36/48 at my facility, and the 8 on the second week is indeed time and a half-- of course, in reality the 36 week is closer to 40 counting pre/post shift and the 48 week is close to 52...

TexasPediRN · Aug 14, 2008

sorry, should have been more clear.

The above poster said anything over 8 hours a day is time and a half for him.

I havent seen a hospital down here yet that does that. Now, once you reach over 80hours in 2 weeks, then it it considered OT and you get paid time and a half. (Or over 40 hours /week in some hospitals)

I get a shift differential though, so for the last 4 hours of day shift (3p-7p), we get a small evening shift differential.

But, to get 4 hours time and a half each day you work over 8 hours? I've never heard of that or seen it in texas..

was just trying to explain to the poster that I dont think that what he/she is getting now will be the case once he/she moves..

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Aug 14, 2008

Okay, I see what you mean. I've never heard of a hospital giving time and a half for the last 4 hours every day-- we just get a small differential (I think the RN evening diff is like $2.00/hr here).

My facility is one of those that does overtime on a weekly basis instead of a biweekly one.

TexasPediRN · Aug 14, 2008

Okay, I see what you mean. I've never heard of a hospital giving time and a half for the last 4 hours every day

Would be nice though, wouldnt it??? :)

dreamon · Aug 15, 2008

Someone mentioned the VA hospital not being a good place to work....any specifics?

sicushells, RN · Aug 17, 2008

I'm thinking about moving to houston in a year or two. Do you feel like your opinions as an RN are valued, or are the hospitals more physician-driven. I'm worried I'm going to have complete culture shock when I do finally move down there.

TexasPediRN · Aug 17, 2008

sicushells:

I had complete culture shock moving here. I dont know where you are coming from, but I came from Pennsylvania to Houston. Huge change.

As far as being valued goes, I feel that I am from most physicians. I put my foot down on certain subjects and I am listened to. I work at a large teaching hospital in the med center, so most new residents like to hear your opinion (as they dont know what to do)

I have had 2 times where I refused to discharge a pt. The first time was an RSV baby who was better yes, but went into coughing spells and would desat. They wanted to send mom home with a bulb syringe. We were deep suctioning each time the events happened and they would go on for 10 min at a time. I refused, and I do know the attending was annoyed the next day, but oh well.

The second time was recently. Child inhaled unknown chemical, could barely hear lung sounds, chest hurt pt. They wanted to DC. Pt still on IV fluids, etc. I refused. Attending agreed with my reasoning, and the next day before DC made sure I thought it was ok to DC pt. (yeap, could actually hear lung sounds at this point in time..)

So yes, I'm valued as well as my opinions. I can be wrong at times, and they will explain why or why not for something if I ask.

Hope that helps!

jnb1740, BSN · Aug 20, 2008

So it sounds like with 14yr. experience, the most I'd get would be $36-38/hr. And only after 40hr/week would I get OT.

I would hate to take a pay cut from my current $40.27/hr but like you said, the cost of living is WAY cheaper down in Houston vs. Chicago. especially for the cost of Homes. I look on www.har.com regularly and I see beautiful 3000sq. ft.4bed. 2 bath homes for 180K.

But in Chicago 180K gets you a 2bed. 1 bath 1000sq. ft. home. + utilites are expensive in Chicago (especially gas, which is about $190/month). I don't even think Houston homes use gas. Don't Houston homes use only electric?

Let me be clear though, only at University of Illinois and maybe the other hospitals with Nurses that are in a Union (INA, Illinois Association of Nurses), does one get OT for ANY hours over 8hrs worked in a day, regardless of how many hours you work a week. I work only 32 hrs./week (4 8hr. shifts) and if I work over 8hrs. on ANY one of those shifts, it is OT. Pretty nice, eh?

James

ethelbsnrn · Aug 20, 2008

So it sounds like with 14yr. experience, the most I'd get would be $36-38/hr. And only after 40hr/week would I get OT.
I would hate to take a pay cut from my current $40.27/hr but like you said, the cost of living is WAY cheaper down in Houston vs. Chicago. especially for the cost of Homes. I look on www.har.com regularly and I see beautiful 3000sq. ft.4bed. 2 bath homes for 180K.
But in Chicago 180K gets you a 2bed. 1 bath 1000sq. ft. home. + utilites are expensive in Chicago (especially gas, which is about $190/month). I don't even think Houston homes use gas. Don't Houston homes use only electric?
Let me be clear though, only at University of Illinois and maybe the other hospitals with Nurses that are in a Union (INA, Illinois Association of Nurses), does one get OT for ANY hours over 8hrs worked in a day, regardless of how many hours you work a week. I work only 32 hrs./week (4 8hr. shifts) and if I work over 8hrs. on ANY one of those shifts, it is OT. Pretty nice, eh?
James

You are right, James. The OT rate will only take into effect after 40 hours/ week. I heard union hospitals in California also gives OT rates after 8 hours of work per day (time and half), then double rate after 12 hrs of work per day.

Though houses in Houston area are really cheap, according to some data I read, these houses don't appraise good over time compared to other parts of the country. If you want the 3000 sq ft home, your electricity and gas bill will be way higher too. Mine is $320/month for electricity and 30/month gas during summer for 2000 sq ft home.

This is not to discourage you, but offering you all the facts. So, you are well-informed before making your decisions.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2008

Though houses in Houston area are really cheap, according to some data I read, these houses don't appraise good over time compared to other parts of the country.

Houston's housing market is actually faring rather well when compared to the rest of the nation. States such as California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and others saw a meteoric rise in house prices from 2001 through 2006. Then the real estate values started crashing in these places like the Plague.

I was visiting my parents in California last week. Their house, which appraised at $289,000 last year, is now worth only $150,000. My former California house sold at $259,000 in 2005, but its 2008 value is less than $140,000. Many parts of the West Coast are seeing 40 to 50 percent reduction in property values, whereas most parts of Texas are seeing less than a 5 percent decline.

LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP · Aug 24, 2008

Would be nice though, wouldnt it??? :)

Doesn't California do this?