Its too low?

There's a wide range, depending on where in IL. Are you talking Rockford (or another similar farming community) or Chicago?

ETA: Sorry, I see now that you're talking the Chicago metro.

Not a farming community Surrounded by farming communities, but tough to tuck 150,000 people into a barn !!!

Yeah Chicago is so expensive. and the pay is low.What did you do in Texas and what are you doing in IL.

Thank you,

I worked anything from acute neuro to coma stim, LTAC, alcohol/drug rehab, LTC, MDS, med-surg/ortho, adolescent psych....that's TX

In IL, I'm now disabled (for the last 7 years). But I did work here when I moved back...hospital (peds) and LTC/MDS.... been a patient for most of the last 7 years- horror stories galore..... but also learned a LOT about a lot of things that being a nurse just doesn't do- it can't .... I like being a nurse much better

Not a farming community Surrounded by farming communities, but tough to tuck 150,000 people into a barn !!!

Fair enough. My husband lived in Freeport when we met, and I think of Freeport and Rockford as one and the same! You have to realize that my basis for comparison is Minneapolis and Phoenix. So 150,000 is small to me!

Fair enough. My husband lived in Freeport when we met, and I think of Freeport and Rockford as one and the same! You have to realize that my basis for comparison is Minneapolis and Phoenix. So 150,000 is small to me!

Freeport is much more rural :) They're getting more of their own identity though- many more businesses going in :) Yeah- after being in Austin,TX coming back here was like going to Mayberry !!! They think they're all that !!

That sounds about right for the area I'm in. Our cost of living isn't that high and you probably wouldn't be working the floor. How big is the facility? Will you have more than one facility?

BSN doesn't mean much in alot of LTCs, although they are starting to recognize and some might even a bit more. I would ask about the masters reimbursement. I'd be willing to bet no on that one.

Dear RN, re: Is it too low? I am an RN in CA reading this- and I could go on a rant, but instead I will grab my calculator. Do you realize that 28 or 29 thousand a yr. translates to 14 bucks an hour? In San Jose, CA, they recently raised their MINIMUM WAGE to 14.25/hr!!

So, less than minimum wage for a staff educator position? For any professional position that requires AT LEAST BETWEEN 30,000 AND 50,000 DOLLARS to obtain the license, (RN, LVN) to qualify...and you are wondering if it's enough? It's not only not enough- what they offered you is insulting!

Our profession, under Bill Clinton, seemed to grow in leaps and bounds. With George Bush Jr. and all the union busting and tanking of our nation's economy- and with the outrageous cost of getting an education almost beyond comprehension- our profession has taken a fall. if we do not walk away and reject these rock bottom compensation offers- the fat cats will get what they want- cheap, incredibly qualified nurses that will have to work 2 jobs to support themselves. Tell them, "NO"!!!

I know that some SNFs very far north say, maybe almost 2 hours from Chicago pay RNs about $20 as new grads. I wouldn't imagine that it jumps too much higher no matter your years as RNs are a dime a dozen. I think as you get closer to Chicago, say up to an hour away for acute care (hospital) they start RNs $24-$27.

But certainly as an 8 year experienced nurse you would be able to apply for experienced acute care positions for more money. There have been postings for your type, even educators on the major hospital sites Advocate, Northshore to name two. Northshore network likes foreign nurses though, if you went to school here in the US not so much. Advocate sometimes has open houses for experienced nurses, they had one recently but that doesn't help you in TX. Our Lady of the Resurrection (Resurrection network) had an open house in the Spring that nobody showed up to - but they are in lots of turmoil just google. You could troll around those websites with your experience and see if those postings are bogus or not. Sounds like they might be if you've been looking with your experience and you are not getting anywhere.

Dear RN, re: Is it too low? I am an RN in CA reading this- and I could go on a rant, but instead I will grab my calculator. Do you realize that 28 or 29 thousand a yr. translates to 14 bucks an hour? "!!!

$28-29/hour, not thousands per year.

I'm a Staff Development Coordinator in a Long Term Care Facility in upstate NY...I have 11 years experience and I make 23/hour. Long term facilities do not pay anywhere near the amount that hospitals pay...you take the lower pay for the better hours.

Its just all depends on the area you live in.

LTC rates are very, very competative with acute care in my area. We have some experienced nurses come work PT just to pick up more $$ even when they could be working acute.

@ casenchasRN he was talking about $28-29/hr lol :-)

I'm a Staff Development Coordinator in a Long Term Care Facility in upstate NY...I have 11 years experience and I make 23/hour. Long term facilities do not pay anywhere near the amount that hospitals pay...you take the lower pay for the better hours.

Where I am there is no difference in pay. All the ER nurses take part-time in the LTC places for extra money (overachievers LOL). We all make the same and all the places stand with the union wages.