Encouragement needed - Frustrated and insulted by hourly rates

featherzRN, MSN · Nov 6, 2015

I have a BSN (and an MBA) and live in the Northeast, although not in a high rent part of the NE :). Starting pay out here is probably around $22ish and when you add your differentials even I don't make a whole lot more than you'd be making --- and I've been an RN for 25+ years. :) I've been offered as low as $16 an hour when hunting for non-hospital positions!!

I don't get shift diffs and my job does not involve patient care- but even patient care RN's are not making the big bucks out here in upstate NY.

The benefit of nursing is (usually) the portability and the stability. It's usually not something you do for a high income. I used to make 150% of what I make now when living in SoCal, but the housing costs out there would suck the salary away.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2015

Well this is what you get for going into nursing just for the money. Time to find a new career because us nurse's will never be paid for what we are worth.

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Nov 6, 2015

I am sorry you are experiencing this

please keep us posted On what opportunities you are afforded...

you must feel like, "one. Special snowflake "

Girl1912 · Nov 7, 2015

I also changed careers ...I was 35, a mortgage broker, made good money and had always been a commission only/independent contractor type where I determined my own salary based on how much I sold/worked/put in and I felt nursing by far was much harder!!! even though I would put in 70-80 hrs in my commissioned position/ office/sales jobs...36hrs of nursing feels like 100hrs of nearly any other job... based on many factors, nursing jobs won't ever be a job where you're paid what you are worth, however; I started out in Dayton, OH 5+yrs ago as a nurse making $28/HR & with shift diff since it was ICU nights, it was more like 31-32/HR but I recently moved to southern KY and even with 2 bachelor degrees, and 5+ yrs nursing experience (critical care experience) ...I'm back making less hourly at a nationally recognized leader for hospitals/healthcare than what I first started out in nursing...

prior to moving south when I was negotiating jobs/phone interviews/etc, I was told 'the cost of living here is cheaper' but it's not, everything here is actually slightly higher on the average but to repeat everyone else...it's all relative...have you considered moving? Central and southern Ohio (Cincy pays even better) pay a little higher starting out and the cost of living is cheaper there than where you live, average (NICE, 3-4bed) home costs $100-120k, ave rent 600-900/month...easier to pay on nurses salary in Ohio but I also last worked in home health which pays substantially better than hospitals, better hours, just expect to chart your buns off but give it a year (6mos to a year) and you can chart in your sleep....I highly recommend home health care, especially if NP is your end goal! I worked as a nurse weekend Baylor (12 HR shifts sat and suns every week for FT pay, and my base salary was $60k then I would pick up an extra visit or admission or two through the week and last yr I made over $72k in home health in Dayton OH)...I miss it, if you can go where the work and better pay is, do it!! Good luck! It's not easy starting out as a new nurse, you feel incompetent and the just reality check, your pay probably won't feel like it measures up most days for the efforts, what you deal with...buts it rewarding, you get more intangible rewards and on the whole, you'll likely never lack job opportunities ...

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Nov 7, 2015

Your experience/thoughts are exactly why one year of STNA experience should be required before admittance into any nursing program...if this were the case, there would not be nearly the amount of people who graduate and think "Why didnt I know this about nursing?". I am an LPN so I had a good idea of what I was getting into with going to RN school and job/wage prospects but it is SHOCKING how many people in my program think they will be making $30/hour with their first job. I am in the midwest, starting pay is $21 in the hospital without any shift diff. I make more as an LPN with 5 years experience, I will take a pay cut when I graduate and move into my first RN job.

Postpartum RN · Nov 7, 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 your goal is to be an NP, definitely do not consider taking a nursing home job. I'm not sure what the requirements are for the NP program, but I am fairly certain you need some ICU experience or ED. Nursing home experience will not help you towards your goals.

LadysSolo · Nov 7, 2015

When I was working in the hospital (10 years ago) with 23 years experience I was making $25.00/hr. I am currently an NP, and much as I love the patient care part, I am seriously considering going back to the floor as an RN (reality check time.) I am currently making $75,000/yr (was making approx. $55,00/yr 10 yrs ago as an RN, so 10 years experience as an NP and not making what I would consider adequate difference in pay.) I work about 60-80 hours per week with the paperwork, so actually I am making LESS as an NP than I made on the floor per hour worked. I want to do my shift and go home and have a life again. This is for all of you thinking NP is the "way to go." Again, the patient contact/care is great, but (depending on the job,) you may have no life for not enough money.

Heartnurse24 · Nov 7, 2015

Kemansha1,

I understand your frustration. I used to work as an LPN and I did a lot of travel nursing so some assignments I would make up to $25/hour as an LPN! Fast forward to my first RN job, and my base pay was $20 hour in a large academic teaching hospital in upstate NY. Initially I felt insulted because I had so many years experience. I started off working as a nurses aide for 20 years, then and LPN for 7 before even obtaining my RN degree and now, at 49 am in my BSN program. However, I learned very quickly with my first RN job that i was "brand new" all over again. There is a certain skill set that you have to learn at any job as a brand new RN, ASN or BSN, it doesn't matter and they are not going to pay you different until you earn those skills. Advice i would give you is to find an area that interests you (acute care, hospital, etc)and accept the position. You can make more money working evenings or nights if that works for your schedule and overtime always brings extra income.

My other advice would be to really evaluate your career choice. Nursing is not for the faint at heart, and for most of us it has been a life long career.You must have thick skin, and be prepared to be dragged through the mud. You have to have compassion, empathy and passion for taking care of people. Our reward is NOT what our paychecks reflect; we are never paid what we are worth, but the mere satisfaction of of making a difference in someone's life. If you are just in it for the paycheck, then you will be doing a huge disservice to the very people who's lives depend on YOU as their nurse. Google an article published by the Huffington Post called "unapologetically a nurse". IT's a great read.

my favorite quote:

" people may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel"

calivianya, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2015

$25/hr does seem low for the North.

You could consider relocating to the South - my area hires new grads around $21-$22/hr, and cost of living is way less - so I probably have a ton more money left over than nurses working in the North.

I also bought a house last year for pennies compared to what I'd have paid if I lived where you do, and even bought myself a brand new sports car as well. I can make all my payments just fine even with 10% going into my 401k. So, some places in the country might pay less, but your money goes further. Just something to think about.

icawolffe · Nov 7, 2015

Friendly piece of advice, as a new grad you can't always pick and choose what your salary is, just be grateful that you have a job. Instead of worrying about how much you're making in your first year, work your tail off and prove that you deserve a much higher rate. After that you can be a little more selective about rates and what you do.

One last thing, don't complain about your salary at work or around other healthcare professionals. I've been working as a nurse assistant making $10 an hour the entire way through nursing school, doing doubles and pulling OT left and right to make ends meet and would not be very happy to hear a nurse upset about making $25/hr. Now I'm 5 weeks away from graduating and I'm absolutely ecstatic about the idea of making $20 an hour.

Stay the course, work hard, and always keep your eyes open for new opportunities. You'll find what you're looking for. :)

Desert Lady · Nov 7, 2015

Oops, your bad. Did you not believe the things you read? Unfortunately, you will have to learn the hard way. Should have gone into business since medicine is now a business.

evelynkarirn, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 7, 2015

Please don't be dissuaded. You are likely familiar with Patricia Benner's Novice to Expert Theory: It is a difficult transition and patience is required.

When I graduated from nursing school with my BSN (and nursing as a second career), I thought hospital nursing/administration was where I would end up. Nope! I did hospital, prison, acute psych, VA, public health, acquired an MSN, taught college nursing courses, and have recently accepted a position as a certificated school nurse. I now make $53.61/hour, receive 5% annual increases, and get summers and school holidays off - this will be my last stop, because I finally found where I am happiest. I don't make the highest salary in this role, but it suits me well.

One of the most fabulous things about nursing are the myriad options. You'll find what you love and the money will come. In Public Health (a place you can make a great deal of difference to your community) you will have fantastic benefits, "regular" working hours, holidays off, but will make less than in hospitals. In hospitals the OT adds up, but you will work holidays, be exhausted on days off, and have a rough ride - HOWEVER, THE EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED IN THE HOSPITAL WILL BE INVALUABLE.

In summary, please learn from the challenges and disappointments, don't give up, and know that the hard lessons will help you evolve and find your place. DON'T GIVE UP: Your perfect role/job is waiting for you.