Encouragement needed - Frustrated and insulted by hourly rates

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I am a new grad. I chose to pursue nursing as a second career based on all of the stories I have heard of nurses being valuable assets in a community/in demand etc. I did well in school. I passed my NCLEX a month ago and I have been searching for a god job. As an adult I have some real-world experience of what a salary needs to be to be "good." I knew I was going to have to step back a bit in terms of money as I launch my new career but I am feeling frustrated and frankly insulted by some of the hourly rates I have been quoted. I have spent a lot of time on this site reading people's complaints about treatment/hours/pay etc and I am very worried that I have made a mistake in investing in this career. Please, someone help me regain confidence that I will find a good job with opportunities for growth.

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?

Why are you returning to school so quickly?

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OP - Have you actually been offered an RN position anywhere yet?

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Try to get some good, basic experience, that is the most important thing- I worked a lot of overtime when I first started for money- the increase in pay will come with experience. Been a nurse 33 years- so can speak from experience. Have a job I love, too. Best of luck to you- we need good nurses!

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Hi! Welcome to Nursing.

I'm with you. It's so hard to live on new nurse salary, and to be the newbie. Do you have experience in the medical field? Have you volunteered in health care anywhere? It can be that you will move up quickly and have wage increases as you prove yourself. What I am saying is that you have to do the work. Which is tough. There doesn't seem to be any shortcut from this. Is there a way you can suspend some of your financial needs for a year or two so you can relax into learning your new job? It sounds like you are stressed. Do you have any strategies to decrease your anxiety around being new as an experienced human? I started as a new grad at age 37 and made $15 an hour. i now make $35 an hour working for an organization I love. Not the highest wage, 19 years later, but deeply satisfying work.

My suggestion is a reframe, for your own sanity. Best of luck! Cat RN Seattlr

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I had the opposite experience. I expected about $10 less an hour than I am actually making as a new grad because wages are low in my neck of the woods. So, I feel lucky. Truth is, the work is hard and money does matter, so I get where you're coming from. Sometimes it's only my paycheck that keeps me coming back. If you want to make nursing your career, you may have to start out at less than optimal pay, but realize that you are just beginning. Things don't have to stay the same.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Mother-Baby and SCN.

Before undertaking a new profession, it is wise to research into the job possibilities and future wages...

At this point, if you consider starting wages to be "volunteer" wages, there is not much you can do :Skull:

Your options are a) Realize you didn't research well enough and had unrealistic expectations. Be thankful you secured a position (if you actually have?) in an oversaturated market. Work and enjoy your new profession while gaining experience and knowledge. Work your way up the ladder after gaining experience and knowledge by specializing in an area and getting certifications relevant to the area.

b) Go back to your previous position with your tail tucked between your legs if there is such a significant difference in wage that you consider this volunteer work.

Good luck. If you do choose to work as a nurse, for gods sake be humble and willing to learn and don't go in ranting about volunteer wages and becoming a nurse practitioner or you'll fast find yourself hated in the workplace.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

In so many cases, "attitude determines altitude" and I also say, "bloom where you are planted"......

But if even after having the best of intentions and attitude, it's still untenable, it may be time to try and find a new job situation or realize nursing may not be for you.

Best of luck.

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Hi! Welcome to Nursing.

I'm with you. It's so hard to live on new nurse salary, and to be the newbie. Do you have experience in the medical field? Have you volunteered in health care anywhere? It can be that you will move up quickly and have wage increases as you prove yourself. What I am saying is that you have to do the work. Which is tough. There doesn't seem to be any shortcut from this. Is there a way you can suspend some of your financial needs for a year or two so you can relax into learning your new job? It sounds like you are stressed. Do you have any strategies to decrease your anxiety around being new as an experienced human? I started as a new grad at age 37 and made $15 an hour. i now make $35 an hour working for an organization I love. Not the highest wage, 19 years later, but deeply satisfying work.

My suggestion is a reframe, for your own sanity. Best of luck! Cat RN Seattlr

Thank you. It sounds like you had a similar experience to my own. I am not above doing the work - I am a hard worker and I don't feel nearly as cavalier and arrogant as some have suggested. I want satisfying work that is fulfilling in it's own right, AND I want to get paid. I don't think anyone in our society works for free (much). I am glad to know from some of you that it does equalize - that we do end up getting paid well even if it is not what we are "worth."

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OP, Nursing is my second career as well. I use to work up north, making a decent salary without living paycheck to paycheck in my first career. After a company-wide layoff, I was out of a job and decided to take that opportunity to pursue nursing.

When I graduated nursing school three years ago, I moved further south to live closer to family. It took me awhile to land a job and when I finally did I was depressed with the hourly rate. There was nothing I could negotiate because that was the hourly for all new grads, with only a few cents difference between competing hospitals. It didn't even matter the specialty you were in. I had my BSN so my starting pay was about 30 cents higher than the ASNs. With student loans and other bills I had to pay, I felt I wouldn't be able to survive. I too thought I made a mistake and almost wanted out but I knew a third career was not an option. Luckily, my hospital offers incentives such as clinical ladders so I took advantage of that and they give yearly merit raises/bonuses. I also decided to go from dayshift to nightshift because the differential was significantly higher. Fast forward almost three years later and my hourly has increase more than five times already (not including the nightshift differential I receive) and I'm more than happy with my salary. My nursing salary has afforded me the opportunity to live in a house I bought on my own. With the sacrifices I've made in the past it feels good to be able to treat myself. Thanks to my nursing salary I do treat myself often and I'm only three years into this profession.

Hang in there.

Thanks. I do plan on hanging in there. Your story was really helpful. I think I just need to know that my financial situation is temporary. With the cost of things and student loans etc. I do need to keep a close eye on the goal. If I could feel like I am where I want to be in 3 years (despite the hard work that everyone keeps reminding me of) I will be thrilled.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Who put forth the propaganda? Therein lies the problem. You can't believe everything you hear/read.

I really haven't gotten any empathy on this thread anyway, even though I really was just hoping for people to tell me something along the lines of "it gets better." Yes I did do research but perhaps I was a little too gullible about the propaganda that this profession offers good pay and lots of opportunity for growth both personal and professional. Does anybody out there remember feeling the way I am feeling?
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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Thanks. I do plan on hanging in there. Your story was really helpful. I think I just need to know that my financial situation is temporary. With the cost of things and student loans etc. I do need to keep a close eye on the goal. If I could feel like I am where I want to be in 3 years (despite the hard work that everyone keeps reminding me of) I will be thrilled.

So I question why you are saying you want to go on for NP. Are you going to take on more loans?

What do you know about nurse practitioners? What specialty interests you? I am concerned that you are like many new grads/student nurses/& even pre-nursing students that want to become nurse practitioners when they are not understanding what a registered nurse role is. Please don't tell me that you've heard about nurse practitioner salaries and making lots of money. NPs our jobs are not easy, we have lots of responsibilities. Tell me what you know about NPs.

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.

NP or possibly PA? Do you know the difference?

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worker and I don't feel nearly as cavalier and arrogant as some have suggested. I want satisfying work that is fulfilling in it's own right, AND I want to get paid. I don't think anyone in our society works for free (much).

You wouldn't be working for free,you will be getting paid something. Were you expecting to make at the top of the pay scale with zero nursing experience? Your prior work experience (unless in healthcare) won't play into your pay. In my neck of the woods, new grads start out making around $18 an hour and would kill for what you are complaining about. And don't hold your breath for a big raise either. We ha the had a raise in 2 years and when they do come, they aren't that much. If you went into nursing for the money, you made a mistake.

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