Duke pay for nurses is shameful

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Specializes in E.R., Cardiac surgery.

THE SALARIES IN N.C. ARE VERY LOW COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE. DUKE WANTED TO START ME AT 24 AND CHANGE PER HOUR with 12 years experience in Cardio-Thoracic! COMING FROM LOS ANGELES I WAS WAS FLOORED. WE GET PAID 40 PER HOUR ON AVERAGE. I KNOW THE COST OF LIVING IS LOWER BUT NOT THAT MUCH! Im loving North Carolina but the salaries for nurses are just so low. We deserve more. Duke is a great place but what they pay nurses is shameful and should be on life support. I don't like unions so much but maybe a nurses only union(NOT SEIU) would help

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

How does it compare with other hospitals in the area? That's the relevant question -- not how it compares to pay in California.

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This is something you have to keep in mind when you are considering relocating from CA. CA wages are going to sour one's outlook for quite some time, even subconsciously.

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Specializes in E.R., Cardiac surgery.
How does it compare with other hospitals in the area? That's the relevant question -- not how it compares to pay in California.

The other hospitals are higher in relation to Duke. Rex and Wake Med start around 32.00. I was just shocked at Duke is all. I am not trying to bad mouth anyone just a comment about the level of pay was shocking to me.

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Specializes in E.R., Cardiac surgery.
This is something you have to keep in mind when you are considering relocating from CA. CA wages are going to sour one's outlook for quite some time, even subconsciously.

Very true. I still love it here in NC. Just wish we nurses were payed better here.

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Duke thinks that being able to put their name on your resume is worth what they lack in salary. Nurses are second class at DUKE. Better off at Rex or UNC.

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Specializes in E.R., Cardiac surgery.
Duke thinks that being able to put their name on your resume is worth what they lack in salary. Nurses are second class at DUKE. Better off at Rex or UNC.

Thanks bonesrn,that's the truth. It's the "Duke" in name that they feel you should be kissing their feet. They can afford to pay us more but as you say we are second class. I'd like to see a day without nurses,they would be thinking twice. What do you think about wake med?

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Specializes in Neurosciences, Med-Surg-CNA.
Duke thinks that being able to put their name on your resume is worth what they lack in salary. Nurses are second class at DUKE. Better off at Rex or UNC.

I'm sorry.....but that is just plain rude. I work at Duke along with a ton of great nurses. We work there because we like our jobs, and I am pretty sure that patients come to Duke for the world class care. Can't say the same for UNC or Rex...

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I know a lot of great nurses who work at DUKE and I hear from them how they are treated and how little they are paid. I'm sure you and all of those you work with are great, I think you should be compensated accordingly. REX is a great place to work! Pay is great, nurses treated like equals and while it isn't DUKE, it has many, many awards and accolades.

http://www.rexhealth.com/Classes_and_Resources/Pressroom_and_News/NewsRelease_NRC.asp

The ONLY hospital in NC to be awarded the Thompson Reuters top 100 nationwide!

Magnet hospital

Voted "Best place to work in the Triangle"

visit Rex.com for others. Yes, Duke is well known and shines in many areas, but it is the nurses and support staff that make that happen. It isn't all about the name or the MD's. You deserve more!

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CVICU, CCU, and Neuro ICU.
How does it compare with other hospitals in the area? That's the relevant question -- not how it compares to pay in California.

I recently had interviews at UNC, Rex and Duke. Duke offered me about $4/hr less than UNC and Rex offered me more than UNC did. UNC also had much better night and weekend shift differentials than Duke.

Duke tried to pull the, "Cost of living is sooooo much less here than where you live, that's why pay is less." When I researched it, cost of living in the Raleigh Durham Chappel Hill area was about the same as where I live in the northeast. It varied slightly depending on who's info you use, but the cost of living is very close to the area "up north" where I live now. Duke has a great reputation, but after doing the math, I'd make almsot $10,000 more per year at UNC than Duke. Benefits were similar between the hospitals.

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I'm also from 'up North' and the cost of living is very similar. Cost of living might be less assuming you live in the ghettos of Durham! The patients at Duke, UNC and Rex are the same. Yes, Duke is world renouned and the best at what they do in some areas, but they lack in others. Until VERY recently, they still used paper charting!

I have worked at UNC and currently at Rex. They are both great! Good luck!

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I, too, came here from California. I agree that the pay out west is much better, but so is the grief related to a powerful union controlling your profession. The CNA is the second strongest union in California, and I often felt like the forced strikes that nurses are forced to take part in damages both the profession and my pocketbook.

That rant aside, Duke on your resume would be a great filler (I have UCDMC on mine!).. Try it, you might like it! Training hospitals are the best and nurses frequently feel they have much more autonomy in them. I envy you! :monkeydance:

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