How much did you make as a new grad?

TYGGER · Sep 11, 2005

When I started the security staff made almost what I did. After I started int he ICU..even with differenctial, they still made only $1.00 less per hour than I did.

So much for a nursing shortage

Jamesdotter · Sep 12, 2005

$400 a month That was at the county hospital where we were making (I think) $15 more a month than the private hospitals. Oh, and that was 1961. I'm not sure what the starting salary is now...

We also had every third weekend off. Seven days on, 2 days off, 8 days on and 4 days including the weekend off. The 4 days were great, except it took the first day to recover!

marylyric · Sep 30, 2005

actually, i think $35 is pitiful pay. considering physicians make anywhere from $175 to $500 an hour and garbage men make about $35 an hour.... ya, i would say the pay still sucks.
when i was in school in 1985 i had NO idea how much nurses made. i just wanted to do it. i know i am worth waaay more than the $44 an hour i now make. gees, my brother makes about $90 an hour as an accountant.
numbers....on paper!!!!
and we deal with numbers.... as with drug calculations etc on PEOPLE.
never accept your wages as 'not bad', bc trust me, the hospitals will not view you as worth more if you don't even think so!

I agree wholeheartly!!!! I am a new grad was working in a hospital and quit grad may 2005. I dont know what I am going to do now. I need at least 30.00

a hour to feel like I CAN MAKE ENDS MEET in washington d.c area. I just dont know if I made the right choice and to know that there are kids working at giant making 10.00 an hr. When are nurses going to rebel against these low wages.

eltrip · Sep 30, 2005

12.24/hr 11 years ago in Nashville.

mak2 · Oct 1, 2005

As a new grad in 1987, I started out working the eight hour nighshift at $11.01/hour! Yep! and it is true...grocery store cashier's were making more than I, even janitors who worked for Generous Motors made more than I. The very next year (1988), I started doing agency and travel nursing for $18.00/hour. It wasn't until 1997, that I was making in the mid-twenties/hour. I've made up to $40/hour as a contract nurse, but that was very short lived.
Now, in this rural area where I live, a nurse WITH experience starts out at $20/hour! That sucks, but it beats minimum wage.........just gotta sweat and work TOO hard for such little pay. :stone

You have a four year degree and 20 years experience. If you are only making $20.00/h that is on you.