Finally got a job

Yesterday I got my first job as an LPN. I start in one week. At first I wanted to work in my local hospital where I worked as a CNA on a med-surg floor, but they pay the LPN's there $13.00hr & they have mostly the same responsibilities as an RN--IV pushes & hanging blood, just to mention a few, but the get paid $8hr less:angryfire :angryfire I understand that there should be some difference in pay due to the additional education, but 2 semesters?. Added to my decision to go to a LTC facility is the fact that I am good friends with a "new RN" at the hospital who is very smart and quick on her feet. I see days of frustration and just 2 weeks ago she got stuck with 11pts.--she cried. Our floor is soo busy.--- I kind of feel like if I stayed there I would be thrown to the wolves. The long term care facility that I will be working at has some wounds, trachs, vents, feeding tubes, foleys, etc. so I know I will develop better clinical skills. I've decided that I'll try the hospital again after I get my RN....I believe I'll have more confidence, won't feel as lost, and won't have the resentment of getting paid $8 less an hour. I'll keep you all posted on how things work out.

BTW- starting salary is $18 hr.-- I live in Indiana (NWI). Some of my friends who graduated with me make $20hr and some make $15 with excellent benefits, just in case anyone was wondering.