Best place for a new RN to work in Baton Rouge?

[geauxlsutigers]

Hi -

I am moving to Baton Rouge after I graduate from nursing school in December and I wanted to get some opinions on where the best place would be for me to work as a new graduate. I have done some research and it seems that a majority of the larger hospitals there start at a base pay of $20/hr for BSNs. Is this the average starting salary or am I missing out on something better? I know in New Orleans I have friends that started out at $23 - 25 an hour right out of school. I also am looking for a hospital that would have a decent orientation period and has incentives such as sign on bonuses. Any information would be helpful. Thanks!

[nursemanit]

The job market is poor right now. There are still grads from last year looking for work. If you can get a job at 20/hour take it. In one year you can job shop as an experienced nurse.

[NancyN]

I've heard that Women's hospital was one of the best places to work. I never tried to work there but I heard that the nurses there never leave. This is from friends who work there to this day. I've worked at Baton Rouge General Hospital- Bluebonnet(didn't really like it but stayed a while), EKL( was a pretty good charity hospital and I think you can get a good experience there), Ochsner(hated it, they never had CNAs). And my friends say OLOL(a mess as well). I would say try it out for yourself and see. I think a hospital with Med-Surg/Tele is a good place to start as far as getting experience under your belt. Sorry to tell you that I really didnt like some of them as far as employment. But again you just may!!! Trying to stay positive.:) I'm not quite sure about the orientation, bonuses and incentives but you can call HR and find out.

[cmcih2]

EKL I work there and its great Med/Surg experience for a new nurse. Med Surg starts at 22.48 an hour for ASN and 23.48 per hour for BSN this includes a 4.00 floor diff weekends ad 5.oo evenings (3 - 11p) add 3.50 and nights 4.25

[2bnursenikki316]

Just a head's up about the Lake. I worked there as a phlebotomist while I was in nursing school and they are the WORST! Very good for traumas but then again EKL is the best as far as I have heard if you are in emergency medicine nursing. The Lake pays the lowest (my friends that work there said they started at around $18 an hour). Any nurse I worked with who graduated from the Lake hated the college and were desperately looking for other jobs. For being a Christian hospital I would not advise any of my friends to work at the Lake and that is why I left. I am going straight to New Orleans when I graduate because they are starting new grads off at around $25 an hour and you dont have to work crazy hours of the night to get that salary!!

Good luck to you!!