LPN pay in West TN

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Aug 26, 2005

Hi,
Just curious if anyone knows of the pay rates for LPN's in various facilities in West TN, specifically Memphis.
Checking Salary.com, it says the median pay rate for LPN's in Memphis is 36k, with 34k being on the low end, but a lot of nursing students are saying that we'll be "lucky" if we can find a job making $13/hr. This sounds ridiculous. I make $12/hr in my job right now, and it only took 3 weeks of training.
Any ideas?
Also, what are the chances of getting a non-nursing home job as a new LPN grad?

Donald,

I don't know your answers but I feel your frustration. I am a new ADN student and I worry about wages when I get out of school. I hear around Jackson RN's start in the mid teens, like $15-16 hr. I made $15 working at a bank just counting money LOL... the worse you could do is mess up someone's deposit (ok so there was a little risk of accepting fraudulent stuff, but I'd hardly call it a stressful job)

My SIL has been an RN for like 15 years and is over a surgery dept and is only making like $24 hr. Hopefully TN will get it together and start paying better. I wonder what the deal is? Is TennCare part of the issue (I don't know? just wondering)

Mommy

sueQ · Sep 7, 2005

Hi

I just got a job in the west TN area, culture shock. I just moved here from MI. In MI I was making 19$ in a hospital. Here I will be making 13.95$. And that is with over 20 yrs nursing experience.

Straydandelion · Sep 7, 2005

I know an LPN just got a job near here, her starting salary (new grad, no experience as an LPN) was $13.50.

nursienurse_81 · Jul 16, 2006

Was she working in LTC or in a hospital? Sometimes that makes a huge difference.