I'm a recent military retiree, working as a PCT (cna) hourly rate $9.25 with $1.15 night diff + 20% for no benefits, I'm making close to $12 an hour. According to the LPN's on my Cardiac care floor, they only make around $11 an hour, with nurse externs making close to $12 an hour.
My question, is it even worth the hassle of going to school for a long year, to have a very stressful job and only make $11 to $14 an hour? I mean the county starts the street sweepers for that kind of money here in TN. There are easier ways to make low wages, no??
I have 3 years of college money left to spend and I'm slated to start LPN school in the fall, RN school would be for next year anyway due to pre-req, etc. Plus if I graduate LPN and don't like nursing or the low pay, I've only wasted a year of life.
Any thoughts on the issue of pay versus stress and/or bang for the buck of working in health care??
Tony
(retired military)
p.s. If you had 3 years of college money to spend, what would you do with it??
I am an LPN who has made up to $22.50/hr. Right now, I'm in a LTC facility and not making as much, but I also work ten minutes from home and the cost of gas these days helps the lower pay even out. I began as an LPN because our local ADN programs were full and I didn't want to wait to get to work. I will graduate from RN bridge in May. I believe it was well worth it because I not only got some great experience, but I also made money while finishing school! Good luck to you!
Yeah, Tony East TN was very specific, but others who posted were not being as specific. BTW, if you are a Veteran, why would you need others to validate a decision, YOU have to make? Man-Up and make it on your on. Life is full of decisions good and bad, we struggle, we strive, we survive.
IS THAT SPECIFIC ENOUGH FOR YA? Yes I'm also a Vet.
And for those who might think I'm being a little harsh with Tony.... It is a VETERAN thing !
Yeah, Tony East TN was very specific, but others who posted were not being as specific. BTW, if you are a Veteran, why would you need others to validate a decision, YOU have to make? Man-Up and make it on your on. Life is full of decisions good and bad, we struggle, we strive, we survive.
IS THAT SPECIFIC ENOUGH FOR YA? Yes I'm also a Vet.
And for those who might think I'm being a little harsh with Tony.... It is a VETERAN thing !
It's cool man, I reckon I'll go to school, not too many other choice gigs lined up right now. It sucks going from operating mulit-million dollar pieces of equipment to wiping butts and getting paid very little to do it
About half the nurses I work with say they would not go into nursing if given the chance to have done something else and about 90% say to skip LPN altogether. Even the LPN's say if you can go RN do so, I had one tell me last night that they resent having to do the same exact work as the RN for half the pay.
See ya in the funny papers
Tony
P.S. I knew that specific enough for you dig would get to ya...but ya gave it right back :-) BTW, what rate were you? I was Chief Boatswains Mate
Tony, I was an RM. Now they call them Information specialist. As a Chief, I'm guessing you retired from the Navy, you should be bringing in a nice chunk of change? I got out a long time ago, and went into Law Enforcement, during my stint as a Police Officer, I accquired my Bachelors in Business Admin. As far as L.E., It got to the point that a police officer could not even defend him/herself because it was not politically correct. So I left it behind and have been in the corporate world since then. But, as the economy has grown weak and good jobs are as cut throat as ever. I decided I would take the plunge and find a job that would always be in demand, recession or not. Taking a long look at the masses and life in general, I decided that being in the health care field, whether it be LPN or RN, would keep me employable. So, I will wipe asses and take care of the sick......A most Noble Profession. Because of my situation in life I must do the Lpn to RN route.... Good luck to ya buddy, Fair winds and following seas.
Today, we all need to be thinking about job security as well. So yes, it is worth it and plenty of opportunity to continue your education or change positions- LTC, Dr.s office, etc.
Today, we all need to be thinking about job security as well.
Well normally that would apply, but with the current economic downturn, both Hospital systems locally have been laying off people, getting rid of Nurses in non direct patient care and having repeated call offs. Many nurses are losing 2 twelve hour shifts in a pay period. Most are still employed, but hurting due to having less money to pay bills than they are used to.
Now that I'm half way thru school, I'm more inclined to say that LPN pay in east TN is no where near worth the cost of 12 months of school, getting and keeping a license and the responisibility for peoples lives when the starting hospital wage is $11.25 - $11.50 per hour, with Doctors offices paying $8 to $10 an hour, LTC is more.
Here's a butt kicker, I'll use the VA as an example, as a new LPN I'd be making $12.50 to $13.00, ok so far, that's not great but it's a job after going to school, getting a license, etc. Now if I apply for and get the administrative job (greets the patient, gets some info, etc) I'd have a starting wage of $17 and this is in the same facility. Really shows you the value they place on the license and responsibilty doesn't it?
I'm little more than half way thru school and I intend to finish and get my license, this semester ends next month and graduate in August. I'm confident on passing my boards, but who knows until you take them. Assuming I pass them, I'm really going to have to reassess what I'm going to do, depends how I like the job. Makes sense to get my RN or it may be better to welcome that patient and never have to see his butt without clothes on:chuckle
Take care,
Tony
p.s. My complaint is about pay vs responsibility, not about nursing, I actually like the job, but it's scary. Just not sure if I'm going to want to put my neck on the line for nothing. Of course this may explain why there are fewer men in nursing, men usually don't put up with low wages if given a choice.
i have not gotten in to school yet, taking the entrance exam in april......... but ..........i guess it's up to the individual and why they are making the choice. for me, i've wanted to be a nurse for about 15 years now. unfortunately, with little ones around i was unable to go to school full time. now at 46, i can't go through 4 years of college without any type of pay coming in. so, i put my work aside for a year, hopefully become an lpn and then at some point work towards becoming an rn. if it doesn't happen for me, that's ok, i just want to be a nurse no matter what the pay :-)
i have not gotten in to school yet, taking the entrance exam in april......... but ..........i guess it's up to the individual and why they are making the choice. for me, i've wanted to be a nurse for about 15 years now. unfortunately, with little ones around i was unable to go to school full time. now at 46, i can't go through 4 years of college without any type of pay coming in. so, i put my work aside for a year, hopefully become an lpn and then at some point work towards becoming an rn. if it doesn't happen for me, that's ok, i just want to be a nurse no matter what the pay :-)
kim in pa
you sound alot like me, i'm in my 40's, waited a long time to be able to go into nursing, i gave up a $53,000 a year job to go to lpn school to make $30,000 or so, i know not the smartest thing to do. but i am finishing a desire that i had over 20 years ago and that was to go into nursing. i've been working as a pct (glorified cna) for a year now, and i like working with my patients, but the starting pay between what i make now and the lpn's that i work with is just a little over $2 an hour. no one can tell me that $2 an hour is worth the extra stress, my level of stress is very low compared to the nurses who often cry either at work or at home due to the stress, several of the ones not crying are on prozac. that's why the majority of nurses were telling me not to go into nursing, stress.
anywho, i hope i can handle the stress of patient care, and enjoy nursing (5 more months to go!) but the extra stress of call offs and low wages is bothering me, but i'd hate to quit school now, i'm over the hump (time wise).
oh well, this is a thread from last year before i started school, it's march now, gotta finish this stage in life and go from there.
but to look for the bright side, here's my plan:
starting pay for a new lpn is $11.25, but starting pay for pct is $7.25, but i negotiated a starting wage of $8.50 and now my base wage is $9.18. my goal of pay is $20 per hour, doubt i can get it, but here goes.
step 1 - negotiate a higher starting wage based on time served at the hospital, etc, etc. ask for $16, hope for $13.
step 2 - work nights (currently do) $2.75 night diff
step 3 - forego benefits, extra 20% pay = $2.60
step 4 - stay on cardiac step down unit after graduation = 7% acuity or $0.91
total= 13 + 2.75 + 2.60 + 0.91 = $19.26 an hour, with no benefits though (have them from previous retirement)
that i can live with, i'd like to be over $20, also like not to work nights, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. now, the important thing is to see if i like the job once i start, otherwise the pay won't matter!! and then i'll be on to a new career once again:banghead: i'm getting too old to be a new guy
hey tony, you just spelled it all out for me. i definitely want to work nights, didn't realize i'd get more money for that :-) i also don't need any benefits, fortunately hubby carries those. so i'm in good shape - i think - then again i live in northeastern pa where most jobs pay minimum wage. i have been in accounting for 28 years and work for jersey clients - i'm giving up good money too but i hate accounting. life is way too short to not like what you do. good luck to you!!! i hope you like your new found career!
does anyone know wat starting wage (for lpn)in canada/alberta ish. i am really interested have wanted to do it. been told it is really hear first year as it is a full course load.
Wow, I guess it depends on geographical area. Where, I live hospitals pay 16-17 hourly for LPN's but nursing homes pay 20+, I know of a recent grad that got hired at $25 an hour, and a place thirty minutes away pays 27 hourly. Best of luck. P.S. If anyone around Cleveland wants to know the names of the better paying facilities I've mentioned, please email me [email protected] or post on here.
Nurse Mama
3 Posts
I am an LPN who has made up to $22.50/hr. Right now, I'm in a LTC facility and not making as much, but I also work ten minutes from home and the cost of gas these days helps the lower pay even out. I began as an LPN because our local ADN programs were full and I didn't want to wait to get to work. I will graduate from RN bridge in May. I believe it was well worth it because I not only got some great experience, but I also made money while finishing school! Good luck to you!