Is My Pay Really That Bad???

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Ok, so as I'm scrolling these forums, I keep seeing posters post things like "$30/hr is normal for a staff nurse", etc.

In Indiana as a RN(BSN) with 3.5 years experience (2 years M/S, 1.5 years Periop), I only make $23/hour... and I was excited about that until I saw these posts! I started at $17.78/hour!

Obviously I'm disillusioned and need to know what a good pay rate to ask for is, because I thought $30/hour would be good...

You see nurses are overworked and underplayed , specially when it comes to floor nurses , I'm in home care , no CHHA by the way meaning no wound care, PICCs or non of that just head to toe assessments and sign up for health care services meaning aide at home I get Payed $42 per hour + 2500 in bonus at the time of higher I was an RN/AAS I just got my BSN a few months ago , only 3 years home care experience

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Also, RNFA "programs" are really self designed. So there won't be a "program" that offers vein harvesting. Again, you don't need to get an RNFA certification when you have an NP, just the skills and experience. No harm to it, but it takes a long time. You can skip the CNOR with your NP too. It is nice to have all those alphabets behind your name, but in your case, they are really completely optional. Now if you are planning a future career in academia, the extra letters will come in handy for long citations on research papers!

If you were not getting an NP, my recommendation would be completely different. CNOR looks good on a resume and suggests professional improvement. RNFA is basically a self reported attendance award, but may be needed for a hospital's credentials committee. Neither say you are good at your job.

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I honestly think a nurses pay is related to cost of living in your surrounding area. For instance, cost of living is way high in Northern California so average nurse makes $50-60+ per hour. Rural areas make a lot less.

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I am a new grad LPN in Long Island NY and I started at $25h/r non union with benefits. I started working the week after passing Nclex PN in an assisted living.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.

Thanks for putting this all into perspective for me!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
I honestly think a nurses pay is related to cost of living in your surrounding area.

Maybe that's it then. Like I said, I'm only $23/hr (base) + differentials after 3.5 years experience. But on the other hand, my entire PITI mortgage payment on my 2 bed, 2 bath house with a finished basement is $215...

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I think my pay is low at $26/hr. Med-Surg RN with 2 years experience (Ohio). I have heard Indiana and North Carolina are notoriously low-paying across the board. Does your cost of living reflect this?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
Does your cost of living reflect this?

Well let's put it like this: My PITI mortgage payment for my 2 bed, 2 bath house with a finished basement is $215/month. Utilities (Water, sewer, trash, electric, gas) are $150. I'm not sure how cost of living is elsewhere.

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Higher!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
It depends on your location. Generally higher pay = higher cost of living so not a lot gained. Keep that in mind when you hear someone say making x $/hr. They are probably paying much more for everything else as well

RN pay is lower in some areas for only ONE reason. Nurses in that area are willing to accept the pay offered. Pay is higher in higher cost of living areas simply because nurses in that area won't accept lower wages. At least not enough of them will.

I would expect an RN with 3-10 years experience in the Midwest to be making $30+. Those who accept less are dragging the rest of us down.

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No, you are wrong. Nurses in an area may have no choice. If they don't work, their family does not eat. You have vastly oversimplified reasons for compensation. Supply and demand, unions, local cost of living, and large hospital chains all impact local wages. To the extent some can vote with their feet, that is an individual solution and not suitable for all the poorly paid nurses in the South and Midwest. About 30,000 nurses get to be travelers out of 2.6 million nurses. That is also not possible for all poorly paid nurses.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
Those who accept less are dragging the rest of us down.

Sorry for dragging you down :unsure:

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