Encouragement needed - Frustrated and insulted by hourly rates

AuDDoc · 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?

Try having a doctorate and starting out less than $25 an hour then come back and talk about insulted.

If you can make 30+ and hour as a fresh nurse with 0 experience you should be happy and yes your expectations are out of proportion with reality.

RNKPCE · Nov 7, 2015

Kemansha1,
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"

I had read that Huffington post article before but it felt great to read it again. I have now saved it to refer to in the future. The author was spot on

aquestionhere · Nov 7, 2015

$25+ an hour is over $50,000 a year. WAY over the starting salary for new graduates of any field. GREAT starting salary, with a hireable field too. $50,000 would excite most new graduates I've come across. Many are lucky to land $30,000 with a college degree, even a top tier college degree in a job-related feild.

The hours can be long, night shifts, and such... I understand that frustration. But $50K is more than the starting salary among new graduates of any field, and is nothing to sneeze at. Oil field workers- new engineer grads- make in that ballpark, travel weeks on end, and often have to be at work at 5 a.m. A lot of fields have unpleasant schedules and work hours, nursing included, and that is rough. And the work too would have it's downsides. But, nursing is a great way to help people, and $50K is a great starting salary for anyone who just graduated college.

FNP2bMRL3 · Nov 7, 2015

I won't beat you up for your question..... As you can see from many of the responses, nurses, in general, have a defeatist attitude and they accept these pitiful wages they are offered. Most are good at complaining about problems in nursing but are not good at fixing them. You are right!! A nurse's wage is not a livable wage. Disclaimer......The following is not a sexist comment and I won't be responding to anyone suggesting so.....If there were more men in nursing wages would increase. And....it has less to do with what is between our legs and more with what is between our ears. What is MOST important to men and women differ when interviewing for a position. If more nurses thought like men, wages would increase. OP sell yourself and negotiate. And do NOT be afraid to turn down an offer! I can't tell you how many interviews I've had where I laughed at them and I got up and left. But in your case realize you are entering a new field. Get your six months or more of experience anywhere......and then start moving around to different jobs. Always leave a job with the door open for you to return. Never accept anything lower than what you are currently making. Even if you move to a new state. And keep your hourly wage climbing. Sometimes you can return to a previous position and make a $10 raise by leaving and coming back a few years later while the other nurse who stayed make a $2 raise in the same about of time. Educate yourself to the reimbursement side of health care and what your wage ceiling is likely to be in the area of the country you live. Nurses need to advocate for themselves better at an individual level! By doing so we will raise the bar of hourly wages for the whole.

Kennedyr · Nov 7, 2015

I am rather concerned with your attitude as a new nurse. Money seems to be your first focus and not caring for patients. Why did you go into nursing in the first place? Perhaps you need to ask yourself that.

snooze9o99 · Nov 7, 2015

I haven't graduated yet but in my area new grad residencies are $18-20 an hour and I will happily take that because I need the experience and I'm used to making $13 an hour and commuting over an hour to and from my old job.

Yesutor · Nov 8, 2015

Pls who can link me up with a nursing agency? I need an agency to help me with a new job and writing my Nclex exams. I've been practicing for four years now as a general nurse, I want to specialize but before then I need a good job so I can save and invest in my specialty.

All the agencies I found on the net don't respond to my mail.

Any country that pays well is ok. Don't really mind about the country but the job and income.

thanks

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Nov 8, 2015

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.

Generally 2 or more years of acute care in the previous 5 years is what most schools ask for

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Nov 8, 2015

I won't beat you up for your question..... As you can see from many of the responses, nurses, in general, have a defeatist attitude and they accept these pitiful wages they are offered. Most are good at complaining about problems in nursing but are not good at fixing them. You are right!! A nurse's wage is not a livable wage. Disclaimer......The following is not a sexist comment and I won't be responding to anyone suggesting so.....If there were more men in nursing wages would increase. And....it has less to do with what is between our legs and more with what is between our ears. What is MOST important to men and women differ when interviewing for a position. If more nurses thought like men, wages would increase. OP sell yourself and negotiate. And do NOT be afraid to turn down an offer! I can't tell you how many interviews I've had where I laughed at them and I got up and left. But in your case realize you are entering a new field. Get your six months or more of experience anywhere......and then start moving around to different jobs. Always leave a job with the door open for you to return. Never accept anything lower than what you are currently making. Even if you move to a new state. And keep your hourly wage climbing. Sometimes you can return to a previous position and make a $10 raise by leaving and coming back a few years later while the other nurse who stayed make a $2 raise in the same about of time. Educate yourself to the reimbursement side of health care and what your wage ceiling is likely to be in the area of the country you live. Nurses need to advocate for themselves better at an individual level! By doing so we will raise the bar of hourly wages for the whole.

Great thought, except new grads don't really have any room to negotiate. As someone who has done the hiring, a new grad started at x; x years of experience brought something to the table so there's room to negotiate because there's knowledge and skills to sell. A new grad starts off with same skills as others. As a hiring agent, I'd be moving on to the next candidate, male or female...and in a saturated market, be it nursing or other career, most new grads would be grateful for a chance to get a start. As reimbursements continue to shrink, and saturation continues, beginning rates may continue to decline. The suits are not going to give up their frills to make sure any staff members are paid their worth

jgamom · Nov 8, 2015

I am in a similar position to you regarding age and stage of life. I went back to school to become an RN in my late 30s. I also have a bachelor's degree in business and made a good living in the banking world earlier in life. I became a nurse because I felt calledâ€ to do so, and I took a significant pay cut to do so. It is not an easy job, but it is a rewarding job. The pay you are being quoted is in line with the higher cost of living areas. With differentials, you do make a decent living. I was in the Washington, DC area when I started nursing. Just remember, you only work 3 days a week in acute care. If you want to do contracting or something else to supplement your income, you can. Personally, I would suggest working in the hospital if you are offered a position. The experience will take you far in your knowledge base if you choose to pursue further education.

As for NP or PA, I am at the tail end of my schooling to become a FNP. I chose to do this for 3 reasons. 1) I am a mystery solver and really enjoy the diagnostic side of healthcare. 2) After being in the hospital setting for several years, I want to establish long-term patient/caregiver relationships, make a difference in their lives regarding health, and keep them out of the hospital. And 3) my body will not allow me to be a floor nurse forever. At my age, I needed to look to the future. I have had a real epiphany regarding quality of life, though. As a nurse, I enjoyed those extra days to get other things done and the flexibility it afforded me. As a NP, I will be working 5 days a week, often bringing work home at night, and be required to be on call. With base pay, shift differentials, and extra shifts if you choose; you can earn $60K+ pretty easily as a RN. As a NP, I will be making about $30K more per year, but the extra time, responsibility, and lack of quality of life might not justify it in your eyes. I have a passion for it, so I am okay with the extra hours; but I worry that you might get to the other side of it and regret it. Think long and hard before you invest more years of your life and another $100K+ in loans to get there. I will be paying mine off until I die...

I guess the big question is: Did you become a nurse for the money or because you have a passion to care for others? Nursing is often a thankless job, a dirty job, a backbreaking job, and definitely a rewarding job on those good days or in those moments when you make a difference for your patient. Of course, we need the money to survive. I understand your concerns. You will not get rich nursing, but it is reliable and you can do a side job if needed. As you step into this career, just make sure that it is really what you want to do. You will not be doing a service to anybody if your heart is not in it. If being by the bedside is not truly what you want to do, look into doing nursing informatics or something that is not in direct care. You can still utilize your degree without it directly affecting patients or their family. Good luck as you pursue your career, and I hope that you are able to find peace in your decisions.

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 8, 2015

Looks like someone didn't do their research...

I am not sure what you expected. As a new grad, you have zero work experience and nothing to offer to the table. Making 26-32 dollars/hr starting is very good considering.

I don't understand some of these second career nurses and their attitudes. You came from an established career to being at the bottom of the totem pole. You should expect a pay cut.

And now you are talking about becoming an NP?

Good luck, OP.

dla1618 · Nov 8, 2015

Hon, being a nurse, to me, is an honorable profession. We see those new to life, those who are at their worst, getting better, and those who are at their end of life. We make a difference in each of those people's lives and are the vehicle that only improves someone's life. We work hard, under at times unrealistic expectations, all because our souls are called to this profession. The problem is, we ARE valuable as you stated....but, we are generally not valued. There is the difference.