I graduated in August and due to financial issues wasn't able to get licensed until December. I have been looking hard for jobs and have had 4 interviews with two of those extending job offers, but the pay is just so low. ($17 at one and $18 at the other)
I know I dont have much room to be picky since I dont have actual nursing experience besides clinicals (I do have over 10yrs of CNA experience) but I feel like I deserve a little bit more than they have offered. I've been told by some seasoned nurses that I should wait it out for atleast another month but I dont want to lose out on what may be the only offers that I get.
Is anybody else in the same situation or do you have any words of advice or encouragement?
When I first graduated I had a similar situation. It was very frustrating to get any company to take a chance on me. My first job I landed was working in an independent living center making 16/hr basically being a glorified med tech. It sucked, but wanted any experience I could get, I did that for 6 months then started on the job hunt again and landed a job in a LTC/Rehab facility making 20/hr. Be patient, it will come, unfortunately in the interim just take what ever position is willing to take a chance on you and gain whatever "experience" you can. Best of luck
I totally understand. After I graduated and got my LPN I was getting the same offers $17-$19. I felt very frustrated. Especially because as a CNA I am making $17.50! I kept searching and was able to land a job making $25 an hour. The only bad thing is it is only part time but that is ok because I am still working as a CNA doing home health which I have had the same clients for 8 years and I don't want to give them up.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
$20/hour starting out for a new grad will be difficult for you to find. I live in the Midwest but the SOL isn't far off from Georgia and my first job as a new grad was $17.25 at a deplorable nursing home. You gotta put in the grunt work, hang out for a year, then start applying other places with higher starting wage.
I totally understand. After I graduated and got my LPN I was getting the same offers $17-$19. I felt very frustrated. Especially because as a CNA I am making $17.50! I kept searching and was able to land a job making $25 an hour. The only bad thing is it is only part time but that is ok because I am still working as a CNA doing home health which I have had the same clients for 8 years and I don't want to give them up.
Thank you, for understanding my original post(I changed my account, couldn't remember my password for the old one to change my name!) That was basically my same issue, as a CNA I was already making close to $18.
$20/hour starting out for a new grad will be difficult for you to find. I live in the Midwest but the SOL isn't far off from Georgia and my first job as a new grad was $17.25 at a deplorable nursing home. You gotta put in the grunt work, hang out for a year, then start applying other places with higher starting wage.
Thank you for the reply but I did get offered over $20 at three jobs in the metro Atlanta area.
I truly think many were misinterpreting my post. I have no problem working hard etc, I was just hoping to make a few dollars more than I made as a CNA. I know that some experience is better than no experience, so I definitely wasnt going to go 6 months passing up jobs if I wasn't getting the pay offers I wanted! I understand when you start something new sometimes you have to start at the low end of the pay scale.
I also know a few places that pay $22-24 for new grads but they are too far for my liking. So yes it is very much possible, but that wasnt my issue. I just wanted to know if people in similar situations as mine, who made a wage close to some of the LPN offers waited a month or two to get the pay they wanted or if they took the first job offer and ran with it.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Here in the DFW area (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas) you will start out at $22-25 an hour
Although I've been living in the D/FW area for the past 10+ years, it cannot be compared to other nursing employment markets where pay rates are lower.
Yes, I earned damned good money as an LVN in Fort Worth ($27.04/hourly in 2010, my final year of working as an LVN). However, new grads in other markets must take whatever they can get unless they are willing to relocate.
Congrats on passing NCLEX and surviving nursing school. I definitely understand the pay situation, but I think that you should take the job to get your experience. We all have to start somewhere and when a greater opportunity comes along and trust me it will come then you take that but for now please take the job and begin building your nursing experience
Congrats on passing NCLEX and surviving nursing school. I definitely understand the pay situation, but I think that you should take the job to get your experience. We all have to start somewhere and when a greater opportunity comes along and trust me it will come then you take that but for now please take the job and begin building your nursing experience
Thank you. I have gotten many offers and I have gotten offered the pay that I wanted so I will not be taking the low paying job. As I have previously stated, my original post(yes I changed my account) was misinterpreted. I was really trying to see if others that have made close to the nursing pay, they were offered waited for a better offer or just took the low pay. I know I need to get nursing experience and I know with that experience better opportunities will come.
I made $13 an hour starting out in 2012 in Virginia. TAKE THE $17
Thanx, but I definitely did not take the low paying jobs. I got a higher offer that I accepted. In 2012 I was making $16 as a CNA, so I am coming from a different place in terms of pay, but thank you for your reply.
I definitely understand the pay situation, but I think that you should take the job to get your experience. We all have to start somewhere and when a greater opportunity comes along and trust me it will come then you take that but for now please take the job and begin building your nursing experience 
CalB.LPN
2 Posts
When I first graduated I had a similar situation. It was very frustrating to get any company to take a chance on me. My first job I landed was working in an independent living center making 16/hr basically being a glorified med tech. It sucked, but wanted any experience I could get, I did that for 6 months then started on the job hunt again and landed a job in a LTC/Rehab facility making 20/hr. Be patient, it will come, unfortunately in the interim just take what ever position is willing to take a chance on you and gain whatever "experience" you can. Best of luck