Question for Georgia Nurses!

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Specializes in Hospice.

:eek: I just learned some distrubing news last night! I learned the base pay for RN's at our hospital is $14.00/hr. I've been an LPN at this hospital for over 12 years and I only make .38 less than that.

Now I don't know what to do when I get out of school. HOw much do I ask for? What's reasonable? I know Georgia pays alot less than up north. But.......I think that's LOW. I did hear on of the "medical centers" in the next largest town, has a base pay of $12.95.

I would be interested in hearing your views. I live in a small town in SOUTH GEORGIA. I work at a rural hospital. PLease help me realize my expections. :D

Thanks.

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Some places in the south pay very poorly. However, in the bigger cities, such as Dallas, New Orleans, Houston seem to pay well, 17-19.00 starting pay. Also some states in general seem to pay poorly in the south, such as FL., MISS., AL.; good luck.

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of pay in specific cities within your area. According to some people on this board salary.com tends toward the "low" side, but its a good place to begin. Another option to consider after you have a year or so of experience is "agency" nursing. From the research I have conducted agency nurses earn from 50% to 70% above what regular RN's do within a given geographic region. Of course if your long term goal is to be a CRNA gaining critical care experience may be of more value to you than mere salary. It may be difficult to find agency positions that also satisfy the critical care requirement.

You might consider moving to someplace like Ohio or Indiana where the pay is decent (here in Indy nurses routinely get $25.00 per hour fresh out of school with a BSN AND three to five thousand dollar bonuses are not uncommon) and the cost of living is still relatively low, (and we seldom get more than ten to twelve significant "snow days" per year any more it seems).

Also, see the post about "in state advantages" for CRNA schools. If your going to move anyway AND you have the long term goal of becoming a CRNA logic might dictate a move to a state such as Tenn., Penn, or Ohio (Tenn has NO state income tax!).

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Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

Dianne,

I graduated from nursing school almost a year ago with a lady who'd been a LPN for many years. She negotiated with her employer to pay her RN base + half the number of years experience she had as a LPN (so she'd get the pay of a RN with 8 years experience instead of a new grad). I think your experience as a LPN should make you worth more than a new grad RN with no prior experience.

Having said that, however, I guess it's a case-by-case thing, as one of the May new grads I work with who was a LPN before does not have a CLUE! She and two others just came out of orientation and they seem so green. I've asked my co-workers if we were that bad when we came out of orientation and they said no. So I guess my point is, if you're a good nurse, those years of experience should help increase your pay as a RN.

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Check out the Medical College of GA's website. The pay for staff RNs is between 25-30/per hour. Of course the more experience you have the better the pay.

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Roland,

I would like to know which hospitals in Indy are paying new grads $25.00/hour. I work for Clarian as a student right now and I know new grads there make $17.00/hour (it's like $17.30 or something). From what I have heard Wishard pays new grads the most and it is only $18.50 or so. Were you talking pass pay, or with shift/weekend diff? Just curious.

Ami

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whoops...instead of pass, I mean to say base pay! Sorry, got in a hurry.

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while on the subject of GA, anyone heard anything about Medical College in Augusta? I am interested in applying.

Matt

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