How to calculate salary?

[dragonflycafe]

I have a 'newbie' question!

I am thinking of going back to school for my BSN and eventually my NP. I am trying to calculate what I could make as a BSN as a new grad.

I hear it's generally 21.50 per hour to start. Do I multiply that by 36 hours a week (3 12 hour shifts) or do I muliply that by 40 hrs a week? Or neither?

Thanks so much for your help!

[studentforlife]

Although I can't speak for everyone, I can say that my hospital does not pay 40 for 36. So we would multiply that by 36.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Since some hospitals automatically deduct a 30-minute meal period from your 12-hour shift, you can multiply your hourly pay by 34.5 hours at these places instead of the 36 hours.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

The other way I've seen it go... at my current hospital I'm on the "7p-7a shift" but we actually clock in at 6:30 pm and leave at 7 am.

[jspacegirl]

Since some hospitals automatically deduct a 30-minute meal period from your 12-hour shift, you can multiply your hourly pay by 34.5 hours at these places instead of the 36 hours.

Are you serious?? Especially when you have to clock in early, leave late, and then sometimes not even get a full 30 minutes for your lunch break? Ridiculous!

To answer the original poster's question, I know of some hospitals where you work 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next so you have an average of about 40 hours a week per pay period so you get full-time benefits. You also need to factor in night and evening differentials. Even if you work day shifts, 3-11 is considered "evening", so you'll get a little bit more money for 3p-7p.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Are you serious?? Especially when you have to clock in early, leave late, and then sometimes not even get a full 30 minutes for your lunch break? Ridiculous!

Some places do not permit you to clock in until 7 minutes before the start of your shift. If the shift begins at 7 o'clock, this means you cannot clock in until 6:53. In reality, you are not being paid for the 7 minutes, since most Kronos workplace timeclocks bump your time forward or backward. If you punch in at 6:53, you get bumped forward to 7:00; those who clock in at 6:52 get bumped backward to 6:45.

Also, these same places require you to clock out within 7 minutes after the shift ends.