$12 an hour?!

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

I used to work at a nursing home in Food Services (supervising staff cafeteria), and I went back to visit and get my face out there again. My aunt is an LPN there, and I went upstairs to say hello to her and I overheard two ladies on the elevator talking about the "sucky" paychecks they just received and thank God for the upcoming holiday pay. I told one lady I was starting my LPN program in a matter of weeks and she gave me a sympathetic look and said "You may as well get a management position at McDonald's or spend the next year at RBI getting your medical assistant certification. You'll make more." Word for word. (BTW, RBI [Rochester Business Institute] is a business college that accepts EVERYONE and certifies ANYONE). I asked the lady if she were serious and the other lady said "Unless you get in here or at St. John's Home you will be making about $12 an hour with minimal diffs, and it's not much more here to be honest."

I am mortified. I thought for sure we made closer to $17. That additional $5 an hour could really help this family get from under the "poverty line".

Any insight? Could this be true? :nono:

Medical Assistants here in Indiana make minimum wage and no benefits. They have to take more credit hours than an LPN. Plus most medical assistant classes don't transfer to the nursing programs. CNA's get paid more than nursing assistants here and only need 3 months of training.

You must've meant " CNA's gets paid more than Medical Assistants...."

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
There are places where RNs are paid $12.00 an hour.

It depends on what area of the country that you are in and what type of nursing you do.

where do rn's make $12/hr. tell me so i know not to live there. :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Telemetry, Case Management.

I am an LPN, last nursing home job I had was paying me $16 an hour when I left. I now work hospital through agency,making 21.70. The hospital only pays the LPNs about $14 an hour. This is all in Louisville. I live in southern Indiana right across the river from Louisville. My local hospital, two blocks from my house only pays $12, and the LTC's around $13.

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I'm in the Rochester area and I was told that Highland starts their LPN's out at 13.50/hr. I think 12.00 is a bit low for this area. I believe the VA's hospitals pay well so you may want to check that out.

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Hi, I am from Rochester ,NY where do you go to school?

I'm in the Rochester area and I was told that Highland starts their LPN's out at 13.50/hr. I think 12.00 is a bit low for this area. I believe the VA's hospitals pay well so you may want to check that out.
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Specializes in Pediatrics.
I'm in the Rochester area and I was told that Highland starts their LPN's out at 13.50/hr. I think 12.00 is a bit low for this area. I believe the VA's hospitals pay well so you may want to check that out.
That's too funny that you said that, because my husband is a vet, and we are going to the VA clinic on Westfall Rd. tomorrow! Seriously, though, the nearest VA hospital is Buffalo.

I am curious, too. Are you an LPN student at Isabella Graham or REOC? (Those are the only two programs I know of in Monroe County )

Um, never mind. Upon second look I see you aren't in Monroe County.:imbar

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Hi, I am from Rochester ,NY where do you go to school?

I'm going to BOCES LPN School in Newark. I started March and (hopefully) will graduate in December. We start clinical in July at Monroe Community Hospital.

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That's too funny that you said that, because my husband is a vet, and we are going to the VA clinic on Westfall Rd. tomorrow! Seriously, though, the nearest VA hospital is Buffalo.

I am curious, too. Are you an LPN student at Isabella Graham or REOC? (Those are the only two programs I know of in Monroe County )

Um, never mind. Upon second look I see you aren't in Monroe County.:imbar

Don't forget the ones in Batavia and Canandaigua. :p I myself am leaning towards working at one of the VA hospitals. Its not such a drive for me since I live in Avon.

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Wow... I'm a CNA at the nursing home you mentioned and considered going the LPN route. BTW, St. John's pays their LPNs about $16/hour. But this just confirms that I will take the RN program at MCC. :p

Edited to add: I think Strong would probably pay the best if you wanted a hospital job, otherwise St. John's is the way to go. It does pay better than a lot of other facilities. You are required to work every other weekend and get a shift differential of $1.25 for this, plus the same differential if you work nights or evenings. The benefits aren't too bad. It's a good place to work. Just something to keep in mind once you're an LPN. ;)

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Sagarcia 210: when you negotiate for that RN position be sure to find out if they offer experienced LVN's a higher pay than novice nurses. We do and it is several dollars more, depending on length of experience.

KIAYSMOM: the writing is on the wall---get your RN as soon as you can.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Cardiac, Med-Surg.

I live between Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY. My mother in law makes $18/hour as an LPN at a LTC facility, but she has been a nurse for 35 years! My sister in law is also an LPN - at private physician's office. A few months ago, she received a raise to a little over $14/hour. Before that, she only made $11/hour after 10 years experience.

It really does depend on where you work. I would say to definitely keep going for your RN asap like the OP said.

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I graduated from school March, 12 2004. I began working with my temp permit at a long term care facility in Phila PA on March 24. I started out @ 19.20 an hr. I passed my boards yesterday and will now make 20.63 11-7am shift, 3-11 is 23.57 and 7-3 is 19.70. If you interested Philly is an excellent place for LPNS to excel and make a decent living. Most facilities are paying 19-25 an hr depending on the shift.

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