and everyone's... OK with this?

[tater.jake]

lots of hospitals are paying like this:

http://www.mercysiouxcity.com/rn-wages Strangely, people want to either deny that this is the state of things, or say "we should be grateful." No we shouldn't... not for what we do

*edit: sioux city has a cost of living index of 87.5 compared to a national average of 100

[BrazoriaLVN]

Nineteen dollars an hour is a good wage for a CNA. There are CNAs who earn more.

I left a nursing home in Aug of 2010 making 7.65 as a CNA. I had been there two years. Nobody, even people who had been there 15+ years made over 10. I've never even heard of a CNA making that much. Must be the adjustment for standard of living in different areas of the country. I don't make that much as a nurse.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Regardless of the cost of living, I see plenty wrong with that pay scale. For starters, the fact that a 25 year veteran makes under 30 an hour. I am a Canadian nurse, and it is different...however, I make 33 an hour plus differentials at just under 1 year as an RN. Something's wrong. Most nurses should definitely make way more than they are.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Regardless of the cost of living, I see plenty wrong with that pay scale. For starters, the fact that a 25 year veteran makes under 30 an hour. I am a Canadian nurse, and it is different...however, I make 33 an hour plus differentials at just under 1 year as an RN. Something's wrong. Most nurses should definitely make way more than they are.

Employers also contribute to insurance (medical, dental, life, and many offer/provide disability insurance)- the 'hidden' salary....

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Right. But I receive medical, dental, vision in addition to my wage. To give an example...the average rate for a new Canadian RN was 20 an hour in 2001. 10 years later and employers still want to pay that? Unacceptable for a nurse. I made almost 20 an hour years ago working as a hotel concierge. The mailman makes more than 20 an hour and the bus driver where I am too...

Given the education and skill, nurses deserve a good wage, especially those with seniority.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

nursing pay should be based on merit and performance, not years.

Part of the "merit" is continuing to come back to work, at all, not to mention doing it for years on end.

[happy place]

Wow, I have 1.5 years of experience and it would take me 29 years to make what I make now- and that is day shift without my differentials for weekend! I also live in Houston where the cost of living is very low!

[Peetz, BSN]

Wow. guess I will count myself lucky to make 24.00 hr as a new nurse working in LTC/skilled nursing. I live in Oregon where the cost of living is very high so maybe it levels out, maybe not but the RN start at 30$ hr at the local hospital here, that is IF they can get on.

What is Iowa's mim. wage? Oregon is 8.50 an hour, so I feel like my wage is justified.

[tater.jake]

What is Iowa's mim. wage? Oregon is 8.50 an hour, so I feel like my wage is justified.

IA minimum wage is is $7.25 http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm#Iowa

[CVmursenary]

I agree that there should be a minimal pay grade raise based on seniority, but i think a nurse should be able to get a raise beyond their years of service. I have seen nurses with 1 years experience who are better with time management etc than some older nurses. Obviously this is probably not the case usually but hey if I was 55 years old making $50 an hour because I've been there awhile what would push me to work any harder than i had to.

[ICU, RN, BSN, B.S.]

Its iowa? I aussume fairly low cost of living ...........but it is sad. I have one year of experience and make more than someone with 25 years on that scale

Yea pay in NH sucks too. I was at a boston hospital for 3 years, making 36/37$ per hour on nights...now i'm on nights in NH and make 28 bucks in the ICU.

In MA with union hospitals with 25 years experience you average around $56-60/ hr. i could not imagein making 25 bucks after 25 years. that is really putting down nurses in my mind!

[ICU, RN, BSN, B.S.]

I thought starting pay for nurses in an acute care hospital should be at least $27 bucks for dayshift.