GA, CO, or TX Which state has a higher pay rate for RN?

gapeacheykeen · Nov 26, 2010

Well, the move will put me closer to family in all three states...I thought there was a nursing shortage going on, how can there be a shortage of jobs? My mother never had a problem getting a job, she just medically retired this year....

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2010

Well, the move will put me closer to family in all three states...I thought there was a nursing shortage going on, how can there be a shortage of jobs? My mother never had a problem getting a job, she just medically retired this year....

Contrary to popular belief, nursing is certainly NOT recession-proof. We're experiencing the Great Recession at the present time, and nursing has been battered in many parts of the country. Many hospitals prefer experienced nurses over new grads because the experienced nurse can be up and running independently within a week, whereas the new grad needs a lengthy orientation and very expensive preceptorship. Healthcare facilities are businesses who watch money like a hawk, and they view experienced nurses as more cost-effective than the new grad with no nursing work experience.

During recessions, patients avoid having elective surgeries because they are fearful of taking the time off work that is needed for full recovery, which results in low hospital census. When hospital census is low, less nurses are needed to keep the floor running. Therefore, less nurses are hired, and the ones who are employed must contend with canceled shifts at their own expense.

More people become unemployed during these rough times and, as a result, lose their health insurance. Uninsured people are definitely not inclined to seek healthcare unless it is an absolute emergency. In addition, medical bills incurred by uninsured patients tend to go unpaid, which means less money for healthcare facilities. Some hospitals have closed or scaled back due to providing care to the uninsured at a financial loss.

Although it is an accurate statement that nursing jobs can never be outsourced, always remember that nurses can be "insourced" by recruiting foreign nurses to work at US hospitals. These nurses are less likely to whine about working evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays because they are earning more money in America than they ever would in their country of origin.

Masses of part-time nurses accept full-time positions during recessions to keep their households afloat when a breadwinner spouse loses his/her job without notice. Many retired nurses are reactivating their nursing licenses and returning to the nursing workforce due to the high costs of food and fuel, and the effects of rapidly dwindling retirement funds.

This is just some food for thought. While this phenomenon might not apply to your region, it is certainly happening in many locations across the U.S.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Nov 26, 2010

Everyone heard that there was a nursing shortage from media stories put forth by nursing schools which increased enrollment. Meanwhile, nonpracticing nurses went back to nursing, part time nurses went full time, and nurses who would have retired had their retirement accounts wiped out and didn't retire. Extra experienced nurses, a glut of new nurses, and on top of it all, less demand for nurses = no jobs for inexperienced nurses.

There is a nurse SURPLUS.

JenniferSews · Nov 26, 2010

Well, the move will put me closer to family in all three states...I thought there was a nursing shortage going on, how can there be a shortage of jobs? My mother never had a problem getting a job, she just medically retired this year....

There are jobs for nurses with lots of experience in CO, but they still aren't the greatest. Hospital pay for new grads here is about $23-$25/hr. LTC is a little higher. But the jobs are still hard to come by even in LTC for new grads.

GoodNP · Dec 3, 2010

I haven't been in the market for a new job in about 6 years, so I don't know the listings, but healthcare is the #1 industry in San Antonio. I just did a 3-second search on http://hotjobs.mysanantonio.com/ for "RN" and 150 job postings came up, "nurse" yielded 378 postings.

There are no toll roads at all that I can think of in San Antonio. There is one in Austin, but is runs alongside the interstate, so you don't have to take it. (It's faster b/c fewer exits and no businesses on the sides.) There are a handful in Dallas. So now we're up to maybe 5 toll roads? I would hardly call that a majority of the highways. Houston has some as well, but again not a majority. Property taxes are relatively high, but still not enough to offset the savings from no state income tax. Plus you can deduct sales tax and property taxes on your federal income tax returns. San Antonio is like a cultural immersion with the high population of latinos (>50%). Crime is low in most cities here. The drawback to choosing TX over CO is that there is not the same healthy living/outdoorsy culture here, unless you move to Austin (think Lance Armstrong, Matthew McConaughey). Every year, TX is represented by at least 3 spots in the top 10 fattest cities (which, incidentally, is great job security for nurses).

Like you, I grew up in Georgia. Texas, however, is a different kind of "south." Believe it or not, its hotter here, although less humid. The trees are short and squatty, not like the tall pines we're used to, so there's no escape from the blistering sun when its 100 degrees outside. On the other hand, I really find people to be more hospitable here, on average. There is also more racial diversity and, in my personal experience, more racial harmony.

gapeacheykeen · Dec 6, 2010

I actually have grown up in Texas, transplanted to Ga. I never have understood the racial divide that exists here. There is alot of reverse racism going on, they still have not learned to heal the wounds and move on. In Savannah I see lots of listings for RN, on a constant basis. I was raised not to be a picky person, I know with any new job giving will be somewhere in the mix. I'm sure that I will have several jobs that require me to work at night or on the weekend, or both. I was just really curious as to the newbie pay in different areas. My mother has been BSN Rn for over 30 years with med surg experience and was still only making around $20.00 per hour in Jonesboro, Arkansas. That was her choice to move there and take the pay cut, but her cost of living is much lower as well. I wondered if other states were as low paying as Arkansas. I really wasn't wanting to receive lectures on state taxes or cost of living. I am aware of those factors.

GoodNP · Dec 8, 2010

Wow, pardon us for trying to be helpful.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Dec 8, 2010

Wow OP... I'm sure you'll have an easy time finding a job if you present like that in an interview. Also, it is "RN" not "Rn" since you mother didn't teach you that in the last 30 years.

gapeacheykeen · Dec 9, 2010

Guess my finger must have slipped off of the shift key for the RN. I was trying to get a little more specific answers than what I received. I am sorry for having offended people. For the information that I was asking for, not alot of people were answering. I thought, "hhhmmmm I must not have communicated it very well. Maybe I should be a little more specific." Have a Happy Holiday!

cutekittenj · Dec 27, 2010

I can't speak for Texas but GA especially Savannah is really difficult place to get a job. You are right about seeing jobs for RNs here, however what I was told by a recruiter at Memorial Hospital that a lot of those positions already have people in mind but must post them because they have not been technically filled yet. And Memorial you must post where it says Nurse Residency. A position for that will open in March. But let me tell you, it is very competitive. Around here it's not about what you know or your experince, it's who you know. I have 3 years of hospital experience and worked there as a PCT and still didn't get a job and am having to relocate in a rural area to find a job that accepts new grad nurses. But you can apply in March cuz they will offer the position again.

At St. Joesph/Candler Hospital, they currently are having a hiring freeze and laying off a lot of people. The Select Specialty is hiring but only accepting 5 people and you must have you GA license in order to apply. Most of the nursing homes I have contacted need LPNs and CNA's. But the point I'm trying to make is Savannah,GA is not a good place to start off your nursing career cuz they are not really hiring in general.(Just me I went to school here and worked at the hospital and didn't get hired). Not trying to discourage you but it just isn't good.

CO is really hard as well and I'm not sure why. When I called a few hospitals they said they were gonna hire new grads then changed there mind.So not sure what's up with that. But I will let you know if Savannah will be hiring new nurses cause I'm always looking here and familiar with the area.

diane227, LPN, RN · Jan 2, 2011

It totally depends on where you work and what city your in and what the competition for jobs are in the area where you are interested. Pay will also vary according to location as will the cost of living. You are going to need to do some research to determine what is best for you. I can tell you that in Texas, in the larger cities the salaries are good but the cost of living can be higher. But if you go to a smaller town, you might not make as much money but your costs of living will be lower.

I make more money here in the Seattle area than I have ever made in my life but I have less because housing is so expensive here. I could get a home on the golf course by the country club anywhere in Texas for what I paid for a house here. And it is not a fancy house either.

MomRN0913 · Jan 2, 2011

I live in NJ, we have pretty decent national rates (considering the cost of living is astronomical) but we had a lot of nurses leave for Texas. Good ratios (ICU), relocation bonus, sign on bonus and cheap housing. At house that is $200K there is $500K there! Car insurance, everything is cheaper.