Low starting pay for new RN?

MaritesaRN · Oct 14, 2009

Hey guys/gals,
I'm not meaning for this to sound like complaining, I'm sort of just wondering if it's a low hourly wage to start at. I just got hired last week and found out the starting wages are 19.60/hr. When I figure that rate per year it comes out to just under $34,000 per year. This is less than my spouse makes who is in her first year of teaching at a grade school, who we thought made bottom of the barrel salary. I guess we can't really complain as we're both newly out of school? I also checked several websites and most reported that the median average salary was quite a bit higher, this is why I'm surprised. Please add your insights.

:eek: I am actually surprised !!! All this shortage for nurses panic....this is all they can pay? Where are you working ? what state? I woudl go somewhere where they will pair you w/ a mentor and if you ahve a good one , this is the best way to leaen hands on ---w/ a smart and understanding mentor. An LVN even gets paid more thatn this ?????

JLynMiles · Oct 14, 2009

I live in south GA and my starting pay was $17.65/hr. Going into my 2nd year, I am only making $19.65/hr. I do get $5/hr shift diff for night shift and an additional $2/hr for weekends. They have also reduced our paid time off benefits as well as the amount of our yearly raises. Even after my yearly raise, I still won't be up to $20/hr. I work on a general Medical floor.

MaritesaRN · Oct 14, 2009

I live in south GA and my starting pay was $17.65/hr. Going into my 2nd year, I am only making $19.65/hr. I do get $5/hr shift diff for night shift and an additional $2/hr for weekends. They have also reduced our paid time off benefits as well as the amount of our yearly raises. Even after my yearly raise, I still won't be up to $20/hr. I work on a general Medical floor.

:cry: I am from California, and I know the rates are different from other states, but I can not believe that it is this low. Maybe your cost of living is low over there? If not, since you already ahve an experience of more thatn 1 year, can you go to another place to work or are they averaging the same ?

JLynMiles · Oct 14, 2009

There are only a couple more hospitals in the area and I drive a good ways to get to my current job. The starting pay was the same at another hospital I got an offer from. The other hospital pays a little bit more but I don't particularly care for the hospital and the way they run things. Also, a lot of the nursing staff aren't very nice. I still ask a lot of questions and ask for help when I'm unfamiliar with something. Most of the people I know that have worked there say that the other nurses weren't helpful at all and some were just downright rude. I have seen it personally so, they were just confirming what I already knew. They short staff us at night for budget reasons, not for lack of help. That makes a lot of nights really difficult when we have a lot of total care patients on the floor and no aide to help. However, I do like everyone I work with on night shift and we all get along very well. We are all also very willing to help each other and nobody ever makes you feel like an idiot for not knowing something and asking questions. That is what I like most about where I work. As far as cost of living goes, it is much lower than California.

rags · Oct 14, 2009

However, I do like everyone I work with on night shift and we all get along very well. We are all also very willing to help each other and nobody ever makes you feel like an idiot for not knowing something and asking questions. That is what I like most about where I work.

Loving where you work and enjoying the friends you have working around you is worth more than money ANY day!!!

Rags

MaritesaRN · Oct 14, 2009

There are only a couple more hospitals in the area and I drive a good ways to get to my current job. The starting pay was the same at another hospital I got an offer from. The other hospital pays a little bit more but I don't particularly care for the hospital and the way they run things. Also, a lot of the nursing staff aren't very nice. I still ask a lot of questions and ask for help when I'm unfamiliar with something. Most of the people I know that have worked there say that the other nurses weren't helpful at all and some were just downright rude. I have seen it personally so, they were just confirming what I already knew. They short staff us at night for budget reasons, not for lack of help. That makes a lot of nights really difficult when we have a lot of total care patients on the floor and no aide to help. However, I do like everyone I work with on night shift and we all get along very well. We are all also very willing to help each other and nobody ever makes you feel like an idiot for not knowing something and asking questions. That is what I like most about where I work. As far as cost of living goes, it is much lower than California.

:heartbeat

What you are getting right now especially the peopel that you work with , is worth more than money, believe me!

I used to work in a place that paid a lot of money as a case manager , but the hospital was for profit, so they pressure you to get the patients out asap when there is no need to be inpatietn---- I understand the rationale for this but the complication are , that they are not giving us the proper tools and the proper mentors. The system did not support the needs of the case manager --- no system to accomodate the priorities of the cm, and no support form the staff on the floor that you were assigned to. I do not know what is the problem w/ us nurses, but most do not help the new ones, instead they are too busy padding up their insecurities at the expense of the new grads! Insecure little b.....s. they do not think long range. If you help and teach them earlier , you will benefit later on , by having staff who knows what they are doing , right? I think you are in a good place. Workign together , and not the money is very important !

Ticamm · Oct 14, 2009

I'm also a new grad (June 2009) from Salt Lake City, Utah. I just got hired at a LTC specializing in Alzheimer's and other Dementias. My starting wage is $27. I tried to find employment at various hospitals, but most of them wanted internships.. which I would have loved to have been chosen for, but when there are over 200 applicants for 15 positions.. I had to try elsewhere. I am very happy with my new job. I was supposed to be part time (20 hrs) and PRN, but I have worked 40+ hours every week. :)

wildredhead · Oct 14, 2009

I live in the Nashville Tennessee area. Local hospitals, including Vanderbilt start new grads at, wait, get this, 17.00 an hour.:angryfire You can work retail and make more.

I started at the local community hospital over 2 years ago and was fortunate that I was given some pay credit for past experience as a medical assistant. I started at 19.61 an hour. :twocents:

After working there for a year and a half, I was only making 20.55 an hour, and I work in the OR as a circulator.

So I began to look elsewhere, and found a job at a surgery center and make 25.00 an hour.

These rates of pay are almost an insult. RN's should be made to feel they are valuable, even if they have no experience in the workplace.

Word is there is a nursing shortage. One can see why. Even seasoned nurses give up when they hardly make enough to pay the mortgage. :jester:

So you are right, your starting pay was too low and they put you in a very responsible job with no experience, which could have had a disastrous outcome for everyone. You were smart to leave and your ideas about how to "interview" the next job are great. :yeah: :up:

may8755 · Oct 14, 2009

LUCKY!!! I just graduated in May 09 (WOOHOO!) and work in TN. My starting pay is $18.25. (21.75/hr nights, 24.75/hr weekend nights). I also don't get paid as much as teachers starting out. It isn't the greatest pay, but I guess the reward comes from the job itself, not the pay. :-)

angelkim63 · Oct 14, 2009

Starting pay for me as a new grad in Southern California was $31.20 with $2.00 more for PM shift differential. So I make about $34/hr, because my pay also includes differential for having a BSN.

Riccolino · Oct 14, 2009

That starting salary is way too low. It is almost comparable to the LVN starting salary (Hospital environment) between 19 and 21/Hr.

Honestly, lots of hospitals right now are starting to lower the initial salary based on the current economy. Unfortunately the sun in the horizon looks a little dimmed when it comes to nursing, simply because we don't know how the future health reform (Likely to pass) will affect our profession.

But going back to your new job, I would recommend you to stick to your current job until you complete a year, GET THE EXPERIENCE, and fly off to a better paying hospital with your "1 year minimum experience" that most hospitals require.

Once you get the interview, make sure to sell yourself for what you are worth with your newly acqired experience.

Remember one thing, they will hardly check what you made previously, so.....take it from there.

Good luck.

MaritesaRN · Oct 14, 2009

I'm also a new grad (June 2009) from Salt Lake City, Utah. I just got hired at a LTC specializing in Alzheimer's and other Dementias. My starting wage is $27. I tried to find employment at various hospitals, but most of them wanted internships.. which I would have loved to have been chosen for, but when there are over 200 applicants for 15 positions.. I had to try elsewhere. I am very happy with my new job. I was supposed to be part time (20 hrs) and PRN, but I have worked 40+ hours every week. :)

You are in a very good place. The baby boomers are getting old and thiswill be one of the areas of which we will not run out of a job. If you love elderly people , this can be very satisfying...of course there is a few that will be a challenge ! If it is a good place to work , then count your blessings !!!