New Grad Pay in Virginia...

ER_RN07 · Nov 25, 2007

I heard new grad RN's at Sentara start out at $19.50/hr.

foreverLaur · Nov 27, 2007

I heard new grad RN's at Sentara start out at $19.50/hr.

that is a joke, right? i made $26/hr as an intern when I was a sophomore in college working in business. my starting offer was significantly more than that.

that is also about what my mom makes as an LPN (Ohio).

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 27, 2007

I don't know the exact figure, but the $19.50 sounds about right. That's not counting differentials for evenings, nights, weekends, etc. Those can add several dollars per hour to that figure.

I believe the salaries on the Penninsula (Newport News, Hampton, etc.) are a bit higher becuase of competition from the Richmond pressure.

While the cost of living on the southside is not extremely "low" compared to the national average, it's not "high" either. It's actually about average. But there are rural areas within communiting distance where the cost of living is lower than average.

al7139, ASN, RN · Nov 28, 2007

Hi,

I live in Norfolk, and work for Sentara. I graduated in May of this year. My starting rate was $19.60/hr, BUT since I work the 3pm-11pm shift, I get a shift differential, so I actually make $27.60/hr. The night shift (11pm-7am) gets a diff of $9.00/hr. If you work only weekend days you get $6.00/hr diff. It may not be as high as I would make as a new grad in another part of the country, but llg is right in that the cost of living is lower here (although that has been changing recently).

I have been told that the other hospital system in the area, Bon Secours, pays better, but my clinical experiences in school at their hospitals convinced me that Sentara was the way to go.

Amy

al7139, ASN, RN · Nov 28, 2007

Where do you go to school?

Amy

delvenia · Nov 29, 2007

Where do you go to school?
Amy

Medical Careers Institute. Do you work 36 hours a week or 40? I wanted to work a 7pm to 7am shift on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (36hrs), but I dont know how I would make my 40 each week. I have seen listings for those shiftd, but do they schedule you another 4 hours another day or something? Was it difficult getting the job? How do you like it? What school did you go to?...

al7139, ASN, RN · Nov 30, 2007

Hi,

I graduated from TCC.

Most f/t nurses that work 3 12 hour shifts are scheduled for 36 hours. However, you must realize that you make the extra 4 hours up in staying over. I cannot count the times I was at the hospital later because I had to chart, etc. Just because you are scheduled to work 7p-7a does not mean that you walk out right at the end of shift. Plus, there is ALWAYS opportunity to work extra shifts (these pay OT) if needed.

Getting the job was easy, and yes, I love it!

BTW, there are several MCI grads on my unit and throughout the hospital.

Good luck! Stay in touch!

Amy

delvenia · Dec 1, 2007

Hi,
I graduated from TCC.
Most f/t nurses that work 3 12 hour shifts are scheduled for 36 hours. However, you must realize that you make the extra 4 hours up in staying over. I cannot count the times I was at the hospital later because I had to chart, etc. Just because you are scheduled to work 7p-7a does not mean that you walk out right at the end of shift. Plus, there is ALWAYS opportunity to work extra shifts (these pay OT) if needed.
Getting the job was easy, and yes, I love it!
BTW, there are several MCI grads on my unit and throughout the hospital.
Good luck! Stay in touch!
Amy

Thank you so much. I am very happy to hear that. What hospital do you work at?