Questions from ks- relocating soon

[JkimRNkansas]

I am an an RN from Kansas and am looking to move in the area around the Twin Cities and St. Cloud to be centrally located due to my spouse relocating for a job that will be traveling across the state of Minnesota regularly.

One question I have is is there a way to tell which hospitals are unionized? I'm also really curious I was browsing jobs in hospitals in in Minneapolis and I noticed at Fairview hospitals why does it show every nurse job as less than full-time hours? Why does it say for example 32 hours per pay period or 52 hours per pay period (2 weeks). When I thought 80 hours per pay period (2 weeks),was full time so are these jobs not full-time? The RN positions in Kansas are mostly 12-hr shifts and 72 hrs/pay period (2 weeks) is standard.

Another question is what is average pay for an RN who has 3 to 5 years of experience including charge nursing and working on a progressive care unit? I also am ACLS, BLS, and stroke certified. I've contemplating looking for 8a-5p jobs (ish) also, does anyone know what the clinic nurses make hourly? As well as any good ideas for which area to into for those hours?

Another thing I noticed was many hospitals in those areas have rotating shifts. Are there any that are just day shift? It's hard to go from working days for the last three years to rotating or only nights.

Also haven't checked into the licensing yet, if there is any info about that as well.

Would love some insight from those who are RNs in the area! Thanks! ������

[Lavender619]

I am new to the cities as well (from Rochester) and am in the midst of deciding between the positions I've been offered. I came in with 4.5 years of RN experience with multiple certifications as well and I can tell you that none of that was factored into my pay. Many of the hospitals are union (which has it's benefits), but even the ones that are not (in my experience) still decided my hourly rate only based on my years of experience, unfortunately. They have a scale used to calculate this so my hourly rate will be approximately 38.20 at all hospitals (plus $4 night shift dif). All the positions I was offered/applied to unfortunately were nights and if it's a union hospital I was told it would be nearly 10 years before I could work days. A few of the positions I have been offered have been 12 hour shifts, but unfortunately in the positions I want the most it's straight 8, every other weekend and nights (because of lack of seniority) I come from 12 hour Days as well. All the positions I applied for that were only .6 or .7 were willing to increase the FTE once on the job, so I won't worry too much about that. That being said, there could be some options (at least 12s) out there if you look!

Good luck!

[JkimRNkansas]

Thanks for sharing your information!