How much $ do RNs start out at?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm thinking about being an RN due to the shortage of them. Was wondering how much money they start at. Thanks

I became a nurse because I love the show ER...and hopes of finding a doctor husband:rolleyes:

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Specializes in SRNA.

Don't listen to them. There's nothing wrong with becoming a nurse for the money and job security just like there is nothing wrong with becoming an accountant for the same reasons.

-S

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I'm thinking about being an RN due to the shortage of them. Was wondering how much money they start at. Thanks

New grads start out pretty decently in the midlands of SC, considering AM or 7A positions can be pretty hard to comeby. Here the start is generally $19-22 w/shift differential, weekend differential, holiday differential, on call pay, call back pay, permanent shift differential fo PMs and Ns, BSN bonus, certification bonus. It can really add up.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I became a nurse because I love the show ER...and hopes of finding a doctor husband:rolleyes:

I can only hope you are joking! Most nurses I know wouldn't marry a doctor if one was given to them on a platter!! :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I'm thinking about being an RN due to the shortage of them. Was wondering how much money they start at. Thanks

I hope that you are not just looking for the money though..It takes a special, patient person to take care of the sick. You must be true and compassionate and believe me, patients can tell the difference between the ones who just are in it for the money.. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I have a rich and full life that includes nursing, but my life doesn't revolve around nursing. My life revolves around my home and family. To each his own. There's millions of nurses and different ways to approach it. The desire to make a decent living is a valid one. But as you state you must go into it wanting to be a nurse as well, because all the stress and demands make it tough. If money is all you want, there's better ways to earn a living, IMO. :)

Well put Tweety. I agree 100%.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

As a new grad in 1991 in El Paso, Tx I started out at $12.34/hr. After your first year in nursing, you can go pool, travel or agency and that is when you will make your money. You can expect to make anywhere from $25-$40/hr depending on location and specialty plus differentials for weekends and evenings/nights which is where the greatest need is. If you have the energy and the drive, I say go for it. I started my family after one year as a nurse and my options were limited in terms of amount of time I could put into it.

P.S. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going into nursing to make some money. You do not have to be filled with compassion, caring, or some higher calling to do this job effectively, only a basic sense of decency and empathy is needed. Nursing is about a lot more than holding hands and hugs. You need to be smart, quick and energetic. I wish more nurses would be honest and admit that they want and deserve higher wages and approach it like a business then maybe we would fight for and get the pay we are always complaining we deserve. Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
P.S. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going into nursing to make some money. You do not have to be filled with compassion, caring, or some higher calling to do this job effectively, only a basic sense of decency and empathy is needed. Nursing is about a lot more than holding hands and hugs. You need to be smart, quick and energetic. I wish more nurses would be honest and admit that they want and deserve higher wages and approach it like a business then maybe we would fight for and get the pay we are always complaining we deserve. Good luck.
Absolutely!

There is so much technology and knowledge needed in so many clinical situations. Speaking from a critical care perspective, what we do is mind-boggling. We literally have patients lives in our hands and decisions that we as nurses make independently and in unison with the healthcare team in the management of these patients can and do directly relate to the outcomes of these patients. Having the complex understanding of how things work and using critical thought to put together and solve problems, is VERY satisfying. This is the way it should be for ALL nurses in ALL areas of nursing.

Being an RN is more than just caring about and taking care of sick people. Much, much more.

I would never work if it didn't include a paycheck but that doesn't mean that I don't care, and caring, on my scale of "what my job is all about", doesn't rate even close to the pride I take in what I know and what I'm capable of doing and the excitment and challenge a really sick person can be.

Pay for nurses doesn't even come close to compensate what we do.

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I can only hope you are joking! Most nurses I know wouldn't marry a doctor if one was given to them on a platter!! :rolleyes:
LOL...Yeah I'm joking...Certain family members like to allude to that..."Oh, maybe you can find you a cute doctor to marry..." (Yes seriously...people have said this) First off (a biggie here) ....I'm ENGAGED already to the best man on earth...secondly there are NO cute Dr.s in this neck of the woods...and thirdly...I did NOT become a nurse so I could marry a doctor, It's never even crossed my mind, I've flirted with other male nurses but never a doctor...jeez :rolleyes: These are also the same people who think that "it must be great to get paid the big bucks to just sit and rock babies all day" (I work in NICU" God Love em.:rolleyes:
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P.S. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going into nursing to make some money. You do not have to be filled with compassion, caring, or some higher calling to do this job effectively, only a basic sense of decency and empathy is needed. Nursing is about a lot more than holding hands and hugs. You need to be smart, quick and energetic. I wish more nurses would be honest and admit that they want and deserve higher wages and approach it like a business then maybe we would fight for and get the pay we are always complaining we deserve. Good luck.

AMEN to that!!!!!!

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Specializes in Psych, Informatics, Biostatistics.
I am in the Dallas area, where the cost of living is pretty steep (somebody mentioned the coasts were pricey). I got a temp job at a flat $25/hr, no benes, no diff. It was actually a pretty hideous situation, not surprised they cannot get permanent staff.

WOW, I wasn't aware of that. Where does this information come from ?

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I am in the Dallas area, where the cost of living is pretty steep (somebody mentioned the coasts were pricey). I got a temp job at a flat $25/hr, no benes, no diff. It was actually a pretty hideous situation, not surprised they cannot get permanent staff.

WOW, I wasn't aware of that. Where does this information come from ?

Where does what info come from? I do not understand what you are asking, however I'll try to clarify (although I thought was was pretty minimalist):

I personally live in the Dallas area, so I know the cost of living is steep.

I personally had that temp job, my personal experience on that specific job was that it was a hideous situation (not my imagination, I consulted with some instructors to make sure I wasn't "out in left field"), I was reimbursed a flat $25 an hour for that job, I got no benes, no differential. At this point, I'll add that I also had to pay $25 for parking.

And why would you be aware of that one personal experience, unless I posted it?

Maybe you mis-read something?

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