ER nursing in NC

PiPhi2004 · Jul 8, 2008

I work in the Durham area in ICU and started around $20 as a new grad. Basically, the pay in NC is crappy and the cost of living is about average making for a bad situation. Also if you have any type of experience they dont pay you very well (so I've heard). ER nurses dont make any more than any other type of nurses in NC that I'm aware of. Nurses in my unit have worked for 20+ years and make maybe a dollar or two more than I do (less than 1 yr exp here). I am looking to move to a more LCOL area once my year's up. I would definately look outside the raleigh/durham area and maybe try a smaller community hospital or travel into town to get to any of the bigger hospitals. I have heard the smaller hospitals offer more pay and there are plenty of hospitals to choose from. I dont know your financial situation but if its similar to mine (husband double income no kids) you will not be happy with the financial situation lol.

floatRN · Jul 8, 2008

I used to work in Raleigh in med-surg and that was about what I made. Moved to the northeast and got almost ten dollars/hour more. Rent and auto insurance were cheaper compared to where I live now but other expenses were about the same. Very nice area to live in though. Good luck with your move.

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Jul 8, 2008

I can almost guess the facility without even asking. I lived in Winston-Salem for several years 98-02, the pay there was about 10-15% higher than Raleigh/Durham. I in fact on a couple occasions looked at going to work for a particular state facility that has a flight program. But both times the cut in pay was out of the question. We were only talking a 90 min drive down the road not a cross country one.

Rj

paacollins · Jul 8, 2008

From what I've heard the Winston-Salem area pays better than Raleigh and I know the cost of housing is cheaper there. I live in King, which is a rural community about 30 minutes NW of Winston. Lots of farms and pastures. I will be working in Winston once I pass the NCLEX. There are other areas around Winston as well that are nice. I would not live in the city of Winston due to crime and housing costs but suburb areas are nice. Both the hospitals in Winston (Forsyth Medical Center and Baptist Hospital) currently start new grads at $20.45 an hour and it is rumoured that will go to $21.15 this month or in August. I would think with 3 years experience, Winston would pay a bit better than what you were quoted in Raleigh. You won't make anywhere near $32 an hour but I'm sure the cost of living is way cheaper than in Las Vegas. You should also be able to find decent housing for way less than $250,000 in the Winston area. The manufacturing industry has been hard hit in this area and there are tons of properties for sale, many of them foreclosures. If you have decent credit you should be able to find a nice home for a nice price. HTH. If you need anymore info, please feel free to email me.

PiPhi2004 · Jul 8, 2008

From what I've heard the Winston-Salem area pays better than Raleigh and I know the cost of housing is cheaper there. I live in King, which is a rural community about 30 minutes NW of Winston. Lots of farms and pastures. I will be working in Winston once I pass the NCLEX. There are other areas around Winston as well that are nice. I would not live in the city of Winston due to crime and housing costs but suburb areas are nice. Both the hospitals in Winston (Forsyth Medical Center and Baptist Hospital) currently start new grads at $20.45 an hour and it is rumoured that will go to $21.15 this month or in August. I would think with 3 years experience, Winston would pay a bit better than what you were quoted in Raleigh. You won't make anywhere near $32 an hour but I'm sure the cost of living is way cheaper than in Las Vegas. You should also be able to find decent housing for way less than $250,000 in the Winston area. The manufacturing industry has been hard hit in this area and there are tons of properties for sale, many of them foreclosures. If you have decent credit you should be able to find a nice home for a nice price. HTH. If you need anymore info, please feel free to email me.

I definately second this opinion! WS is a really nice area and in my opinion a lot better than Raleigh!!! King is a quiet little town and I absolutely loved it there and the cost of living is a lot cheaper!

RedSox33RN · Jul 8, 2008

I just moved from Fayetteville, NC, and the hospital there is a biggie (over 11k pt monthly) but the pay rate does stink. They pay more for experience, obviously, and the cost of living isn't quite so high as where I am now, but you could probably get $30-something with 3 years experience, and because you're ED they have specialty pay rate, and if you have some certs. Good luck!

Drysolong · Jul 8, 2008

Hi all!
I need some help! I currently work in a busy Las Vegas ER - over 3 years experience. My family and I are considering a move to North Carolina - but I couldn't believe the pay difference!! I am making $32/hr FT now - and I was quoted $21.55/hour in North Carolina!! ICK!!
Do any of you know some hospitals there that would pay more - I am looking in the Raleigh area. If not - any areas in the East/Southeast/Northeast that pay more and have decent areas to live??
I am thinking I will have to do travel or agency just to make ends meet there. I can't find a decent house online for less than $250,000.
HELP!!!!
Thanks!
~Amanda:no:

Hi Amanda: What is the cost of living like in Las Vegas (housing, car insurance, etc)?

awpanda_99 · Jul 8, 2008

You guys rock!! Thanks for the info!!

Cost of living isn't as bad in Vegas as everyone thinks - once the housing market crashed, you can find really nice houses for around $230-$250,000 in great areas.

Pay is great - I am actually working PRN at a hospital now and making $42.64/hour.

If I didn't have a son to consider, we would never move - but the school systems here are horrible - and the people are just not the down-home friendly bunch you can find back east. I am originally from Ohio - so I get that my pay won't be as much - I was just expecting a little more than the $21-$22/hour.... we work too hard to be paid that!!

Thanks again... and keep the help coming!!!

~Amanda :)

TraumaNurseRN · Jul 8, 2008

I'm wondering why you have chosen NC? I work in Ohio and make over $32/hour, my ER pays for CPR/TNCC/ACLS/PALS and reimburses for a pass on the CEN certification, 8 hrs banked Holiday time plus time and a half, at a brand new state of the art Level II Trauma Magnet Hospial. My job has it's ups and downs, but it generally is a good place to be a Nurse. Oh, plus they have $200/credit hour tuition reimbursement. Pretty nice!

awpanda_99 · Jul 8, 2008

Where in Ohio??

We actually had considered it at one point - not exactly sure why we stopped looking there....

Anyway, my husband is a paramedic and doesn't especially want to join a fire department - he works for a private company out here that does 911 transports and loves it. I think we had difficulty finding any 911-running deptartments in Ohio that weren't fire - any suggestions since you see the guys roll into the ER would help immensely!!

Thanks again!

~Amanda :)

mhull · Jul 9, 2008

If you move to the Winston Salem area, there are several surrounding counties with wonderful EMS systems. He would have no problem getting a job. I am going to send you a private message of a broker I know personally and he will help you find any kind of house you want. He is a great guy too.