In reality, what is the average starting pay?

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I am curious what the "real" starting pay for a graduate RN is here in Iowa?

My college quotes a starting salary of $35,000 for an ADN.

Are the majority of the positions 32 hrs a week or 40?

I just got accepted into a 2-year program and I want to have realistic expectations when I graduate and move into the workfield. I know that Iowa salary is far below say east coast salary or a large metro area, which is where most of the figgures I run into are from.

Thanks so much!

Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

I've worked in AZ and IA and have friends in Tx, CA and Maine and the pay is not what I would call "drastically lower." It is less and they blame it on poor medicare reembursement (but I don't buy that because the ceo still gets a six figure salary). If you can travel to a job then look at the whole job picture, benefits package can count for a lot. with 13 years of experience I make $23/hr but I don't have logevity at a facility since I change jobs every 2-3 years (typical gen-x) In IA they value company loyalty

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Specializes in Home Health, Case Management, OR.

I hope to find a company in which I CAN provide loyalty!! Hence my reason to try and get into University Hosp. so even if I dislike a particular unit, I can transfer into something which I enjoy (or have more of a passion for).

I always thought 2-3 years at a job was a huge accomplishment!! I have been at my current CNA job for 2.5 years and it feels like forever haha! I tend to get bored easily and thrive on ever changing environments.

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Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

Starting pay accross Iowa is $18-$24 regardless of experience.

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I work at the U in Iowa City, they start new grads ADN around 45,000 (22/hr)

Are you able to negotiate pay? When I looked at their website, all of the payscales were posted as to pay grade (am I correct)?

I am a nursing student at Kirkwood and currently work as an N.A at UIHC.

(by the way, I started as an N.A. at $11.05/hr.)

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