A hospital here pays G.N.s $18.xx/hour before licensure!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 21, 2006

Lots of variation based on region and even number of hospitals in area. Around here, GNs get the same starting pay as RNs, no change with licensure. BUT you have to pass quickly to keep the job

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Jul 24, 2006

I agree with Rns2BRwe. I came across a thread somewhere on this vast board and saw the starting hourly rates of people and I saw some RN's starting in the mid-west at around $14 an hour! I was shocked! Then again our minimum wage is like $7.15 an hour here. It all depends on the cost of living in the area, population, # of hospitals, types of hospitals, etc.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2006

But then you only go up to $19.75 when you pass the boards. As a GN, you start as an PCA2 making $18.xx/hour.

I suppose that salary truly does depend on your geographical area. My friend and I are both new LVNs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. She earns $20.00 hourly and I earn $18.50. Over these past few months I have figured out that some cities pay their RNs quite poorly. In my honest opinion an RN license is worth much more than $18 to $20 per hour.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

I was expecting close to $25/hour plus difs, weekends, etc.

What did you base this expectation on?

testikleez · Jul 28, 2006

What did you base this expectation on?

I based it on new grads in the Florida panhandle (where I lived, started at $19/hour). The Florida panhandle is supposedly one of the lowest paying areas of the country.

I thought for sure a new grad in a somewhat large city (cincinnati) would make at least $5/hour more than in the Florida panhandle.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

I thought for sure a new grad in a somewhat large city (cincinnati) would make at least $5/hour more than in the Florida panhandle.

Did you research this before expecting that pay rate?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2006

I thought for sure a new grad in a somewhat large city (cincinnati) would make at least $5/hour more than in the Florida panhandle.

I am in one of the largest metropolitan areas in America. Dallas, with a population of 1.2 million people, starts new hospital RNs at a rate of $18 to $21 per hour.

If you ever want to start at $25 to $30 per hour, you will need to relocate to a West Coast city with a higher cost of living such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, or Las Vegas.

I am an LVN who recently moved to Texas from Southern California. I carefully researched the LVN wages and cost-of-living before making the final decision to relocate. Luckily, LVNs are paid quite decently around here.

evans_c1 · Jul 28, 2006

As a recent GN (we call them nursing associate before licensure) I make $20.30 an hour..this is an awesome incentive for me to have PASSED boards. like someone else said earlier..no diff. in pay for our GN's after they pass..stay at 20 something an hour when you get the RN.

LanaBanana · Jul 28, 2006

Try this link to see average wages for RNs nationwide. See where your state ranks with salary and number of nurses/per 1000 people.

http://html.10news.com/sh/idi/health/nurses/index.html

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Aug 6, 2006

I am in one of the largest metropolitan areas in America. Dallas, with a population of 1.2 million people, starts new hospital RNs at a rate of $18 to $21 per hour.
If you ever want to start at $25 to $30 per hour, you will need to relocate to a West Coast city with a higher cost of living such as Los Angeles, Phoenix, or Las Vegas.
I am an LVN who recently moved to Texas from Southern California. I carefully researched the LVN wages and cost-of-living before making the final decision to relocate. Luckily, LVNs are paid quite decently around here.

If I were willing to tack another hour or so onto my drive-time (I'm not) I could be tacking another ten bucks an hour onto my base pay. About another ten-twenty grand a year, depending on shift diffs. Classmates who have chosen to work in the suburbs of NYC are making that now. OTOH, cost of living there is quite a bit more than here, so....I'm happy :)

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Aug 7, 2006

Paying GNs close to RN wages is a sign of the times.

When I graduated, in 5/93, I had to wait till June to take the boards and Sept to get my results. Paying me RN wages for 4 MONTHS on the assumption I would pass would be very cost ineffective for the 14% that don't pass first time.

But, paying it for only a few weeks. Not nearly as big a deal.

My pay went up significantly, to 13.18/hr, once I passed boards. But that was then.

RNs start here in Cent. TX at slightly less than 21/hr base. That is very good for the cost of living here. Indeed, it took me 7 yrs as a nurse to make that.

~faith,

Timothy.