Moving to Tennessee- info needed

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Hi, I am a LPN in NC. I will be moving to Tennessee by February and need to transfer my License HOWEVER I am having a difficult time navigating the TENN website to start paperwork ... can anyone provide a link to help get me started please. THANK YOU!!

*Also ... approximately what is the REALISTIC pay hourly for LPN's ?

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

other than Tenn boardcof nursing main web site.

i have worked in both states, 4 decades ago, you dont want those salary ranges, even for a RN ;)

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Specializes in Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse.

I thought that North Carolina and Tennessee were both compact states? Meaning, if you live in North Carolina and work in Tennessee, you are allowed to work under a multi state license. I believe you have to have a license in whichever state you live in, and you have a specified amount of time to get it. If you are moving to Tennessee, just check the TN Dept of Nursing website. I google everything :D

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Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.

Chare has left you with the link you need regarding transferring your license.

Just a clarification on another post in this thread: the nursing compact is more for people who live near a border. I am close to MO and KY; if all states are part of the compact, I can commute to work in any of those states without having to seek out a license in each state. However, if you move from one state to the next, you have to get licensed in that state. I only know this because I moved to Texas early in my nursing career and thought I wouldn't have to get a Texas license if Texas was a compact state :facepalm:.

Pay rates vary widely and depend on if you are in a rural or city locale (I have worked both in TN). Most long term care facilities pay $15.00-$16.00/hr in rural West TN though I've had one offer me as low as $14.00/hr. Bigger cities like Nashville or Memphis will offer $16.00-$18.00/hr for LTC and usually offer other benefits like shift diff, weekend diff, etc. Private Duty offers the exact same pay rate in rural and city settings ($18/hr) but again cities have more incentives and benefits. The highest pay rates I've seen for LPNs were $20 or more and only achieved with shift diffs, weekend diffs, and PRN diffs added. You are looking at an average base pay of $15-$17/hr. And of course, hospitals and clinics generally pay much less than that.

The most I've made yet has been $20/hr on a rural vent PDN case where the patient was awful and ran off all his nurses. I only had that job for 6 months because he ran off so many nurses, the company had to drop him because no one would go out to his house anymore. The least I've made is at my current LTC job where I'm making just over $16/hr (and that's with having been an LPN for 7+ years).

Good luck!

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Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.
other than Tenn boardcof nursing main web site.

i have worked in both states, 4 decades ago, you dont want those salary ranges, even for a RN ;)

My mom started out at $8.00/hr as an LPN in LTC in the early 1980s so I don't even want to think of what the pay was like BEFORE that :eek:

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Thank you all for the info. I am looking at Rossville which is outside Memphis. Tennessee is a compact state with North Carolina but I will still have to register there once I am a resident .... hence trying to get the paperwork started so I don't have to wait 2 months for licensure before being able to work there.

North Carolina pay range from $14.00 to $20.00 so it sounds like Tennessee may be the same depending on where I specialize. (I really need to get going on my RN!)

Any info on places to NOT apply for would be helpful if anyone is around that area. :)

Thank you again

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Assisted Living in Memphis generally start off at 18 to 19 an hour. Always more for LPN's in Private Duty sector. Check Craigslist and indeed.com . Good luck!

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