Just wondering what kind of pay rate to expect

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2006

You should post this question on this site's Georgia Nurses Forum if you actually want some answers to your question. Good luck.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f142/

HARRN2b · Jun 23, 2006

Enkara,

I would like to know the same since I am from south of you in Canton.

Enkara · Jun 23, 2006

I deleted this one bc for some reason it is the same as my previous one.

jb2u, ASN, RN · Jun 23, 2006

everyone wants to know how much to expect and i understand that; however, my suggestion to all nursing students, like myself, is to figure out what you feel your education and skills are worth! what is the least that you would accept? don't be unrealistic! consider other factors other than dollar per hour, such as benefits, shift, shift differential, vacation time, cost of living, location, pt to nurse ratio, management, etc. there are a lot of things to consider other than money. if you really want to work in the OR and the hospital that pays the most doesn't have an opening for new grads, but another hospital pays $1 less an hour, well it may be worth going for the lower paying hospital to get the OR position that you want.

call nurse recruiters and ask what their new grad pay scale is, if it is union, i don't believe there is any flexibility, but if it is not a unionized hospital, you can always negotiate for more (at the interview, of course). remember, the hospital wants nurses for the least amount possible and you want the most, there is a happy medium. you may have to go to another hospital to get what you want, but first you must decide what is acceptable to you!

good luck to all new grads and future nurses,

jay

NurseKittyAtlanta · Jun 23, 2006

I'm not sure where Dalton, GA is ... but I do know that if you have a BSN you'll have greater opportunities than if you have an ADN. It'll definitely give you an edge on applying for jobs that state "BSN required" or "BSN preferred." Salary-wise, it is debatable whether a BSN automatically earns more than an ADN, simply because either is considered an "entry-level nurse." It depends on the hospital and the position for which you are applying.

Enkara · Jun 24, 2006

Thanks for your reply. Im prolly going to try to get my BSN asap after I graduate from the Associates program. Dalton is in NW georgia in Whitfield County by the way :)

Enkara · Jun 24, 2006

I really want to work in the OB and hopfully there will be an openning around the time I graduate. If not, I just want to get my feet wet and get some experience working in a hospital. My husband is pulling the load for us both now and im eager to be able to help him.

WindyhillBSN · Jun 29, 2006

I really want to work in the OB and hopfully there will be an openning around the time I graduate. If not, I just want to get my feet wet and get some experience working in a hospital. My husband is pulling the load for us both now and im eager to be able to help him.

Wow! What a coincidence. I know where you live. Hamilton Medical Center starts their new R.N.'s at 17.00 per hour. I don't know about shift differ.

Memorial hospital in Chattanooga starts their new R.N.'s at 17.34 and I hear that Erlanger is the lowest at about 16.00. Hutcheson in Fort Oglethorpe is about the same as Hamilton's pay. To get more than that you'd have to move to the ATL.:wink2:

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Dec 2, 2006

Wow I can't believe Chattanooga pay is so low! Memphis is over 20/hr new grad rates. Any idea what Atlanta is running?

rollie · Dec 11, 2006

Most Atlanta hospitals start you from 21/hr to 22/hr.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Dec 11, 2006

That is pretty good Rollie. I looked into Chattanooga and yes pay is LOW. If I ever moved there I'd work in Atlanta! Or travel nurse between Atlanta, Nashville, Knoxville, Bham areas.

It's so weird cuz the Memphis TN hospitals pay over $20/hr, offer awesome premium weekend positions after one year, repay your student loans, etc. Much better bennies than Eastern TN. Of course it could be worse, I found out a hospital in Northern AL starts new grad RNs at $15.50/hr. OUCH. Not even so much as a weekend shift diff.