Encouragement needed - Frustrated and insulted by hourly rates

singwithme123 · Nov 5, 2015

Well I guess the hospital job (with shift differential) is in line with what I hoped to make. Since I went to school in Massachusetts where the cost of living is astronomical it seemed to me like nurses made a lot of money (of course most of them have a lot of experience) so I was hoping that my step back from being a contractor (residential remodeling/carpentry) was going to be temporary. I think it still will be if I can make it through to NP or PA. I know I sound super ambitious and condescending and I don't mean to. I am really excited to start my career but I am (right at this exact moment) getting cold feet.

There are probably hundreds of new grad RNs on this site who would KILL to find an RN job in a hospital and be able to make $25/hour.

kemansha1 · Nov 5, 2015

I am really sorry that this bugs you. I realize that frank discussions of money are relative to location. The northeast is an extremely expensive place to live and I hope to be a respected professional with an income that is also respectable. $25 per hour (I am really only getting bites on jobs that are "part time" 32 hours - that way no benefits) is basically a subsistence wage in this part of the country.

Jules A, MSN · Nov 5, 2015

Well I guess the hospital job (with shift differential) is in line with what I hoped to make. Since I went to school in Massachusetts where the cost of living is astronomical it seemed to me like nurses made a lot of money (of course most of them have a lot of experience) so I was hoping that my step back from being a contractor (residential remodeling/carpentry) was going to be temporary. I think it still will be if I can make it through to NP or PA. I know I sound super ambitious and condescending and I don't mean to. I am really excited to start my career but I am (right at this exact moment) getting cold feet.

I like your attitude in the face of criticism this will serve you well no matter what field you go in. The great news I guess is nursing even though physical will be a bit kinder to your body than construction. The thought of working construction in New England chills my bones, at least most hospitals are heated, lol.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 5, 2015

Many student nurses and new grads are clueless about starting salaries they look up median income. Starting in my area for a new grad is $20-25/hr depending on facility, shift etc. many expect to make $35-40 and try to hold out for what they think they are worth when there are hundreds of new grads willing to take $23/hr

Many facilities offer less than 30 hrs week as that's the mandatory benefit threshold. 32 would qualify for minimum healthcare coverage for employee

Libby1987 · Nov 5, 2015

As a contractor, how much were you willing to pay to train someone brand new to construction on the job? Anywhere close to journeyman level? Or closer to labor wages?

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 5, 2015

Well I guess the hospital job (with shift differential) is in line with what I hoped to make. Since I went to school in Massachusetts where the cost of living is astronomical it seemed to me like nurses made a lot of money (of course most of them have a lot of experience) so I was hoping that my step back from being a contractor (residential remodeling/carpentry) was going to be temporary. I think it still will be if I can make it through to NP or PA. I know I sound super ambitious and condescending and I don't mean to. I am really excited to start my career but I am (right at this exact moment) getting cold feet.

I would also caution you to research the NP salaries in your area, to possible prevent further disappointment. I'm not familiar with the pay in your area, but in my area new NP salaries about the same as experienced RN salaries. I know of people who actually took a slight pay cut when they left bedside nursing be an NP. I have worked for the same hospital system for almost 20 years. My salary as an RN is maxed. I graduate in May with my MSN/FNP and do not expect much of a pay raise. I do however expect shorter shifts, no weekends or holidays etc, which is worth something to me.

Best of luck to you!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 5, 2015

Thanks everyone. I am in Rhode Island and I have a BSN. I am also definitely planning to go back to school for an NP or possibly PA and the plan is to go sooner rather than later. Since, as I said, I am a middle adult I want to get where I am going as soon as possible. The numbers I have been getting so far are a base rate in the hospital of $26.50 per hour with shift differentials up to $6.25 for weekend nights. The nursing home I investigated was a base rate of $25 with a shift differential of only $3 for weekend nights. I am torn between quality of life considerations (nursing home seems a little less stressful - maybe) and opportunity to make more money and have more variety which would be the hospital setting. So if I am planning to head back to school ASAP (schools basically require a year or so of experience before they want you back) does it even matter? Should I just get any job that gives me the experience so that I can go back to school? At $25 per hour I am almost thinking of this year as a volunteer year. Does this make me sound unreasonable? Are my expectations just way out of whack?

If money was your primary expectation from your job, why in the world didn't you check out the pay situation before you decided to go to nursing school?

I've had a comfortable living and a nice life with flexible hours, good benefits and interesting work. I am clearly NOT money motivated -- had I stayed married to my ex-husband, I'd be rolling in greenbacks now. It wasn't worth it.

I have no problem with anyone going into nursing for the money. But if you're doing it JUST for the money, you should have done some research and found out what the money WAS first.

RNKPCE · Nov 5, 2015

I am really sorry that this bugs you. I realize that frank discussions of money are relative to location. The northeast is an extremely expensive place to live and I hope to be a respected professional with an income that is also respectable. $25 per hour (I am really only getting bites on jobs that are "part time" 32 hours - that way no benefits) is basically a subsistence wage in this part of the country.

I believe with ACA for 32 hours a week your employer must provide health insurance. Where I work we have very few 40/hr week positions. Most are 32-36

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2015

My empathy is starting to drop and you are bordering on offensive now...

Did you do NO research as to wages before you embarked on this journey?

Thanks everyone. I am in Rhode Island and I have a BSN. I am also definitely planning to go back to school for an NP or possibly PA and the plan is to go sooner rather than later. Since, as I said, I am a middle adult I want to get where I am going as soon as possible. The numbers I have been getting so far are a base rate in the hospital of $26.50 per hour with shift differentials up to $6.25 for weekend nights. The nursing home I investigated was a base rate of $25 with a shift differential of only $3 for weekend nights. I am torn between quality of life considerations (nursing home seems a little less stressful - maybe) and opportunity to make more money and have more variety which would be the hospital setting. So if I am planning to head back to school ASAP (schools basically require a year or so of experience before they want you back) does it even matter? Should I just get any job that gives me the experience so that I can go back to school? At $25 per hour I am almost thinking of this year as a volunteer year. Does this make me sound unreasonable? Are my expectations just way out of whack?

kemansha1 · Nov 5, 2015

I take your point, but given the training I underwent to pursue this, the cost of which was not insubstantial, I don't consider myself a "laborer." I think that the fact that this profession is at least partly altruistic is a hindrance to people demanding what they are worth. People don't say "you didn't go into medicine to get rich" to doctors because in fact many of them did. I don't expect riches. But I also didn't take a vow of poverty.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Nov 5, 2015

It's not society's problem if a nurse elects to attend a private non-profit university and pays $100,000 for a BSN vs another nurse who spent $3000 for an ASN and less than $3000 for a RN BSN while working. There is often no pay difference for a diploma vs ASN vs BSN vs ABSN vs ELMSN new grad inexperienced nurse.

Prospective nurses need to determine cost vs benefit of attending a program with local starting salaries.

For a non major city (NYC, Boston,SF, etc) $25/hr is a reasonable starting salary be for differentials.

Employee health benefits are mandated for any employee working an average of 30 hours per week.

Not many hospital based nurses work 40hr weeks most work 36 and supplement with a second per diem job.

Physicians don't start off with high salaries especially with diminishing insurance reimbursement they often spend 10 or more years with debt from school while they try to establish their professional persona.

Salaries are locally dependent. Often affected by cost of living but more so by demand. Areas with a high number of new grads (100's applying for a single job) are going to be able to offer lower wages simply because they can.

The only state with mandated acute care nurse to patient ratios is California. As most nursing care is not reimbursable by insurance (it's generally bundled into the daily charge) there is little room for facilities to increase pay

Many nurses struggle upon graduation. Some areas of CA have a 40% + unemployment rate for 12-18mo for new grad nurses. Nursing schools won't tell you this, especially if for profit. Many count a nurse working as per diem for low wages as an "employed graduate"

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Nov 5, 2015

I understand where you're coming from, I really do, and I'm in New England myself so I understand the cost of living. Here's my 2c: I don't think you can expect to make much right out of school. Nursing values experience and specialty. You have neither. However, the potential is good if you are able to start at the ground level and have a definite goal point. The highest earning nurses are a) experienced - that will come, b) focus on a specialty like ICU, c) credentialed/certified - - can't do that without specializing and d) have a BSN or MSN. My advice to you, if you want to earn money, is get into a specialty, although you'd have to start somewhere general for the first year or so, really shine at what you do, get credentialed in something (like a CCRN), if you are an ADN get a BSN, and then work your way up. Nursing is not an instantaneous reward unfortunately. A resume with a BSN, credentials/certifications, experience in a specialty and good experience will get you the job (and money) every time. Then of course there's advanced practice, but that's a long way off right now. There are good earning potentials there too, but you need to know how to apply it and negotiate, and which specialties are financially beneficial.