Disappointing RN salary in Phoenix

ICURNBSN · Apr 12, 2014

I was a new grad in Indiana and started around $19/hour this year in the ICU...

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2014

The NE states and the Pacific states tend to pay better than many others. States in the sunbelt ( other than CA) tend to pay less. More retirees on smaller/fixed incomes and large numbers of Medicare/ Medicaid pts equal less hospital income. Also, warmer states with less unpleasant tend to have more nurses, thus have less reason to pay better.

You don't like what Arizona pays. Try FL, and see how much less they pay. There is a Magnet hospital there that offers 22-26/hr with benefits to nurses with 10-15 yrs experience .

vikichck · Apr 12, 2014

Yes it's very sad that is happening all over the nation. I worked in Palm Springs, Ca for a few years and we had travelers come from the south. It was interesting hearing their stories. Just because there are a lot of nurses doesn't mean pay should go down. If we base pay on amount of nurses, what is to stop it from going down to minimum wage? We shouldn't settle for lower pay just because they have many applicants.

JustAGirlinScrubs · Apr 13, 2014

In the words of Bill Clinton, "It's the economy, stupid." It's basic supply and demand. There is not the mega-demand for nurses that there was prior to 2008. Nurses that were considering retiring are staying on longer. Nurses who had quit to be at home full time entered back into the workplace. Schools starting churning out more and more graduates at exactly the same time hospitals started hiring freezes. Basically, there are too many other nurses to compete with out there, so they don't have to pay as much. Many nurses can't afford the luxury of turning down a job for low pay when they are trying to keep their home out of foreclosure or after spouse got laid off. And if they are willing to take a job for $25/hour, no one is going to offer $30+. It sucks, but the healthcare sector is not immune to recessions (despite popular belief). If you want everyone to lobby for higher pay, you're going to have to join a union.

Selfie · Apr 13, 2014

I don't know what we can do about it-

I have taken 2 pay cuts with my last 2 positions. Both job changes were to move from dysfunction to better jobs, while at the same time keeping day shift M-F jobs. The pay scale was actually recently CUT at the job I left a few years ago, and there was a freeze on raises there. My last job- we did get raises, but too many questionable practices, high turn over, and too much managerial dysfunction. Current job- better management, less dysfunction, minimal turnover- but the pay is lower. It's discouraging.

I also agree- it is supply and demand and nursing schools churning out so many new nurses. The job market is even worse in my experience range- 20 + years- They would rather hire someone in 5-10 year range and pay them a few dollars less.