Cold Feet??

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Geri and adult psych, hospice.

Hello fellow nurses!

I am a soon to be graduate RN July 14th. The last few weeks I've been feeling what many may call cold feet, fear, exhaustion,spring fever, whatever. The point is, all of a sudden I'm questioning so much. I did not expect this to happen right before graduation. See, I already have a job lined up after graduating at a very reputible(?) pediatric hospital that I really fell in love with the first time I did clinicals there. They just have it all together, and I love that. The drawback is (and this is really odd to me, seeing that they're probably the wealthiest hospital in the city), that the pay for new grads is in my opinion ridiculously low...18.75/hr. There is opportunity for shift diffrential (4.00) but, still, for the hard work that we do as nurses, it seems like there should be better pay. I guess I'm just wondering if I jumped the gun, so to speak, too quickly with this hospital, and if I shouldn't look around for a better paying job. I was even contemplating pharm. sales rep. the past few days, but did some research and found that even if you are a 2 year degree RN you STILL must have your bachelors. Plus, in some ways, I'd feel like a sell-out to the nursing proffession, and I really do love nursing.I just want to be able to afford to live comfortably and feel like I'm getting paid what I deserve. Should I look into traveling/local agency work, or do you need at least a years experience for that? Is 18.75 normal? (I live in Cincinnati, OH. btw.) I feel like I sound greedy, because I surely didn't go into this field for the money. BUT, now that my time has come, I feel like I'd be more motivated about this if I were getting paid more. Does anyone out there have any suggestions for me? I would so very much appreciate it (I always do!) Thanks! L

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

I'm about to graduate, too... & not sure what I'll do either. I was hoping for part-time but the unit I wanted to be on will only give me full-time for at least a year...

Anyway, I live in a small town, but one whose cost of living has risen ALOT in the last two years (i.e. housing has tripled)... My grand offer for the job was $18 an hour. 3-11 differential is 7.5%, 11-7 is 15%; with no weekend differential. :o

I'm not sure what to tell you... you can always shop around to see if the peds hospital is even in the right ballpark. Have you talked with your classmates to see what the going new grad pays are (although I would really recommend to go to the hospitals for yourself... people don't always relay the correct information. Did you get to do clinicals in many different hospitals (I was in about 5+)?

If you already know that you love the peds place from being there for clinicals, and it has a good reputation, somewhere else for a dollar or two more may not be worth it.

I think agency work does usually require experience, but again you should ask to be sure.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.

Travel nurses need to be very adaptable, need little direction, and be able to provide pt. care without supervision. A new grad is not able to do this. I'd suggest getting at least one year of experience before even considering it.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.
Hello fellow nurses!

I am a soon to be graduate RN July 14th. The last few weeks I've been feeling what many may call cold feet, fear, exhaustion,spring fever, whatever. The point is, all of a sudden I'm questioning so much. I did not expect this to happen right before graduation. See, I already have a job lined up after graduating at a very reputible(?) pediatric hospital that I really fell in love with the first time I did clinicals there. They just have it all together, and I love that. The drawback is (and this is really odd to me, seeing that they're probably the wealthiest hospital in the city), that the pay for new grads is in my opinion ridiculously low...18.75/hr. There is opportunity for shift diffrential (4.00) but, still, for the hard work that we do as nurses, it seems like there should be better pay. I guess I'm just wondering if I jumped the gun, so to speak, too quickly with this hospital, and if I shouldn't look around for a better paying job. I was even contemplating pharm. sales rep. the past few days, but did some research and found that even if you are a 2 year degree RN you STILL must have your bachelors. Plus, in some ways, I'd feel like a sell-out to the nursing proffession, and I really do love nursing.I just want to be able to afford to live comfortably and feel like I'm getting paid what I deserve. Should I look into traveling/local agency work, or do you need at least a years experience for that? Is 18.75 normal? (I live in Cincinnati, OH. btw.) I feel like I sound greedy, because I surely didn't go into this field for the money. BUT, now that my time has come, I feel like I'd be more motivated about this if I were getting paid more. Does anyone out there have any suggestions for me? I would so very much appreciate it (I always do!) Thanks! L

Louise,

I also live in CIncinnati, Ohio and have gone to NS here. I know exactly what hospital you are talking about as most of the students in my class are saying the same thing. UNfortunetly, through my searching, starting pay everywhere else is about the same with an even smaller shift diff. BNorth starting pay 19/hr plus around 2/shift diff (trihealth). Univ.is about the same maybe a little less, not sure about their shift diff though. Mercy's might pay a little more but you have to sacrifice being out in the burbs with a smaller hospital. St. E. WAS (this was last year when I looked in the paper) offering 26.50/hr prob nights and weekends. Have you looked in to Shriners?

I will be doing my preceptorship at CCHMC this summer and you are right it is a great hospital! I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. I know children's has great benefits though:)

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Hi, I'm new to the forum, and I appreciate all this information. I too just graduated from school in April. The hospital where I am going to work starts its new nurses at $18.75 as well (Florida). I would be interested what others are receiving.

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Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

im relocating to AZ and starting pay seems to be around 24$ base pay. Ill be starting at 23.31 plus 18% shift diff and add extra 10% on top of that for weekend evenings (28%). Needless to say im working weekend nights:)

Cost of living is a little higher there than ohio but not that bad at all, well, from the apts ive been checking out (not that big of diff from here).

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I am from PA. The wage sounds slightly low for new grads compared to here. But not terribly low. Your happiness really has to factor into the pay. I've had very good paying jobs, and hated them. Also look at your benefit package. Is it good with a decent amount of pto in the first year? Some places will offer a higher wage but have crappy benefits and crappy pto. Some places pay very well BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO. Meaning, conditions SUCK and they won't have any employee's if they don't offer some extra cash or sign on bonuses. I've had poor paying jobs, and loved them. I know we all have to pay our bills in the end, but is it worth the extra dollar or two an hour to be completely miserable at work? If you are fairly certain that you will like the job and the facility, I say take it. I would rather live a little more frugally and like my job, than have more spending $ and hate my job. But thats just me.

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