Can RNs really make this much?

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Ok, so I started a CNA program this week as I want to work as a CNA while completing my direct-entry MSN program. My instructor last night whom's a RN/CNS and administrator at Kaiser, said that she has RNs on her floor making over $50/hour after their first year. I know nursing can be lucrative, but I was surprised at this type of earning potential after a year. I'm in Los Angeles so I know Cali can make more than other states, but this really shocked me. No wonder programs are impacted everywhere. I know (at least I hope) most people get into the profession for reasons other than money (although this helps and shouldn't be ignored), but I can see how it could attract those looking to make an excellent salary.

Specializes in Peri-Op.

Sorry? Maybe I shouldn't answer questions honestly.

Would you feel better if I said I made $27/hr? LOL.

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Specializes in All ICU, TBI, trauma, etc..

For what we do, it is not enough but up here in northern CA you will make about that your first year and more after that. Get holiday pay at 75 plus and hour and double time at 100 with great benefits. Some areas are half this, which is disgusting, again for all the work we do. I work in ICU.

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Here in NYC, it's definitely not unheard of. I don't know about base salaries going up to $50 for RN's after the 1st year, but I know with overtime you're looking at much more than $50 an hour. My co worker paid back her crazy nursing school loan, before her year was up jsut from racking up overtimes alone.

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Specializes in Neuro-Surgery, Med-Surg, Home Health.

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In many large San Francisco medical centers RNs have starting salaries of around $50/hr. I retired 1 1/2 years ago, my last paycheck showed $70/hr. as a night shift staff nurse. I did not earn that much until I had 28 years on the job. I'm sure RNs with 30 years seniority in my former hospital now earn more than $70/hr. working the on night shift, with night differential.

There is a caveat though, the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the highest in the U.S. And my former job had extra level of stress due to the type of patient population my former hospital treats.

I terribly miss the nurses there whom I used to work with.

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Ok, so I started a CNA program this week as I want to work as a CNA while completing my direct-entry MSN program. My instructor last night whom's a RN/CNS and administrator at Kaiser, said that she has RNs on her floor making over $50/hour after their first year. I know nursing can be lucrative, but I was surprised at this type of earning potential after a year. I'm in Los Angeles so I know Cali can make more than other states, but this really shocked me. No wonder programs are impacted everywhere. I know (at least I hope) most people get into the profession for reasons other than money (although this helps and shouldn't be ignored), but I can see how it could attract those looking to make an excellent salary.

I don't know about California but in Kansas our RNs are lucky to start out at even half of that salary. I have been working for 3+ years in a hospital and barely make over half of that salary. Here in the heartland, I don't think people are going into this profession for the money!!

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Go to a realty site and look up home price and rent in San Francisco and you will see why they pay that.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I just visited Honolulu Hawaii and the starting for med-tele nurses is 50$/hour. After reading northern Cal people's postings it does make sense that it is for living expense compensation. I am curious as to where the ratio between cost of living and dollar per hour is the highest. I do have to factor in weather and family-friends proximity as non-numerical variables when considering a move to a new place.

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Specializes in L&D/M/B/SCN and Med/Surg.

I do believe that salary has a lot to do with where you live. I was making $120,000/yr in the Chicago area and now I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and I make $90,000 without overtime. The cost of living is less in Dallas than in Chicago.

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well i met a RN in connecticut that get paid 100k a year and the cost of living here is high but not as high as new york or california,

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Well, Dallas is not that much more expensive than Kansa City, and I don't know anyone that makes anywhere near $90,000 unless they work an agency job full time + weekends. Maybe we are all underpaid here....

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I work for the money. I've turned down the opportunity to move to a Director position, because I'd have to take a cut in pay under our new company. Working as Charge Nurse pays me more. Last year I made six figures. The Director position would start at $90,000. Plus, salaried positions mean you're going to work more than 40 hours a week. Right now, anything over 8 hours a day is overtime.

I'd lose the OT and the call hours to move to a Director job. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but for now, you bet I'm working for the money. And a whole lot more. :up:

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Oh it's possible. I think you can only get that wage in the San Francisco area and in Hawaii. I'm almost there - I am $44 an hour currently. Our union contract is up this year and we will most definitely be striking so that our pay increases demands are met by the hospital (we always strike over pay every 3 years where I work). I've been working for almost 2 years now and started with $40 an hour. Our current contract forces the hospital to pay every Registered Nurse a 5% increase in their hourly wage every year. And with every new contract (which is renewed every 3 years I believe), our wages are increased by a few dollars.

Please, people. Demand unions if you are able! All of you deserve to be paid reasonable wages for the amount of work we do. ALL OF US. Sure, I have to pay a union membership due q.month, but when I read what some RNs put up with, I am amazed that not every person is pro-union. Not only do unions demand more money for their nurses, but they also make sure management follows every policy to the T in order to make sure nurses are treated fairly. Moreover, a union truly is "job insurance". Our hospital nurses can NOT be terminated easily and/or over something petty. (by the way, the can be both a curse and a blessing when the nurse you're working with is incompetent). An example of why I like our union: our current contract says that our RNs can not be floated twice in the same shift. I showed up to work at 1900 on floor #1, they floated me to floor #2 at 2300, and then at 2345 told me that I HAD to float to floor #3. I told them that I will NOT be floated twice, and the house supervisor told me that I didn't have a choice. I called my union representative (she's always on call, 24/7, 7 days a week) and told her my situation at 2350. At 2400, the house supervisor called me to apologize for the "mix-up", and said that I could go home WITH PAY - not only for the hours I worked, but up until the next day at 0730. I left and got paid 7 hours for NOT working. The next shift my manager approached me to apolgize once again.

Sorry for my babbling as I did jump a bit off track, but I really think unions demand the kind of wages that nurses deserve, which relates back to the OP. =-] And $50 bucks is AT LEAST what we should all be making.

P.S. Kaiser is one of the major unionized hospitals out there, which is why Kaiser RNs are amongst the highest paid. Their application list is outrageously long, and it helps tremendously if you know someone that works there.

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