New Grad RN program $15/hr

allnurses Guide · May 20, 2014

At $15/hr, it is actually pretty good considering you are not giving the hospital ANYTHING yet at that point. You are in a learning situation. They get to watch you and judge you and decide if you are someone they want to hire in an RN capacity. I would assume at that point....the point where you are taking patients and are a benefit to the hospital.....you will be brought up to RN wages.

My hospital pays a $2000 monthly stipend to the new grads in our internships. They are not employees, not accruing PTO and not eligible for benefits. At the end of the internship they are either hired under a 2 year contract or not hired.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · May 20, 2014

I would also find the terms of the contract too. Are you stuck on one unit or would you be eligible to transfer after a certain amount of time?

sadiemae1123 · May 20, 2014

You might want to find out if the $10,000 payback is pro rated over time and if there is any kind of an out clause - like if your spouse gets transferred across the country and you need to move.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 20, 2014

As part of my internship, I had to do take classes, spend time in the sim lab, spend time with the wound care nurse, the EKG tech, perform trach care in the IMCU and spend four hours in ER doing iv insertion. I also had to present a project at the end of the internship. 10,000 may sound like a lot, but this facility is offering you a great sounding position. And you did mention the pay will increase to $22, which is I assume, the starting wage for new nurses in your area. What's the problem here ?? I graduated a year ago, and some of my classmates are still looking for their first nursing job.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · May 20, 2014

I did a 6 mos residency and had to sign a 2 year commitment. I got paid for the classes that I to take for residency. I don't make a great deal of money, but I do get tuition reimbursement (split-1/2 after 1st year and 1/2 after 2nd year). I work weekends to make a little extra money and try to pick up an extra shift/week, but I am glad that I chose this course, I work at a great facility and get to see rare cases and cutting edge surgeries. It sucked the first 6 months because of rotating shifts, but it was worth it. I am an older new nurse and sometimes it pays to be patient. If this is a great learning experience and will make you a better nurse, then go for it, but be enthusiastic-don't treat it as something to endure. You've come this far, just a little more :)

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · May 21, 2014

As part of my internship, I had to do take classes, spend time in the sim lab, spend time with the wound care nurse, the EKG tech, perform trach care in the IMCU and spend four hours in ER doing iv insertion. I also had to present a project at the end of the internship. 10,000 may sound like a lot, but this facility is offering you a great sounding position. And you did mention the pay will increase to $22, which is I assume, the starting wage for new nurses in your area. What's the problem here ?? I graduated a year ago, and some of my classmates are still looking for their first nursing job.

After asking around your orientation sounds a lot like what my orientation would be if I accept this job. And after talking to my family, it does sound like a great opportunity. I think if I'm offered I'll accept. Thank you for your insight!

Guests · May 21, 2014

I recently passed my NCLEX and was given information about a new grad RN program that my hospital system has. It starts you out paying $15/hr (only $0.25 more an hour than I was making as a CNA at the same hospital system) and requires travel to a large metropolitan area to take these classes and do sim lab just like I did during nursing school. They won't cover the costs of mileage to and from the metropolitan hospital (it's 2 hours away from me). After completing the couple weeks of travel 2 hours one way I get placed in Med-surg, PCU, or Tele, or IMCU and have to sign a 2 year contract. If I leave before 2 years I owe them $10,000.00.

Right now this is the only job I'm being offered by this hospital system. Is this standard as to what is being offered new grads?

To a degree, it doesn't matter... whether it is "standard" or not, it is what is being offered to you.

In a sense, I'll respond and say, "No, it's not standard. Standard is to not offer new grads jobs at all."

The last several years have revealed that we're in an evolution of what is "standard"... a regressing evolution.

I might have a position offered at another hospital, I need to contact them first though.

Be careful... the grass which seems greener now may prove to be crabgrass a year from now.

I just don't see how this new grad RN program is at all beneficial to me or frankly anybody else!

Setting aside the obvious (that the organization is looking out for what benefits *them*, not *you*), I still have to say, "Really? You don't see any benefit?"

Let me see if I can help...

$15/hr is an infinite percentage more than $0/hr...

You will be paid while you're being trained...

You will be trained and not just thrown out on the floor...

You will have a professional nursing gig once you finish your training...

You seriously don't see any benefit? That is very concerning and makes me think, "WannaBNursey? Not 2 badly, U don't..."

WannaBNursey, ADN, ASN, RN · May 21, 2014

To a degree, it doesn't matter... whether it is "standard" or not, it is what is being offered to you.
In a sense, I'll respond and say, "No, it's not standard. Standard is to not offer new grads jobs at all."
The last several years have revealed that we're in an evolution of what is "standard"... a regressing evolution.
Be careful... the grass which seems greener now may prove to be crabgrass a year from now.Setting aside the obvious (that the organization is looking out for what benefits *them*, not *you*), I still have to say, "Really? You don't see any benefit?"
Let me see if I can help...
$15/hr is an infinite percentage more than $0/hr...
You will be paid while you're being trained...
You will be trained and not just thrown out on the floor...
You will have a professional nursing gig once you finish your training...
You seriously don't see any benefit? That is very concerning and makes me think, "WannaBNursey? Not 2 badly, U don't..."

WOW! Thank you for all of your "help" Gee, I guess the way you say things with such a nasty tone makes me really see things differently now.

You're right, I guess I don't REALLY want to be a nurse because I want to make sure I'm not getting scammed or totally messed over. Awesome argument. And really, thank you for you encouraging words.

Yeah, I expect that while I'm employed somewhere I will get paid, I guess that's a foreign concept now? Any way you dice it, there's no need for an attack.

calivianya, BSN, RN · May 21, 2014

Take it with a grain of salt. In fact, I'd keep applying other places until they actually have you sign the contract. I signed a contract like that at the job I'm at now. $10,000 seems high. Mine was $12,000. A lot of the residencies in the desirable hospitals I applied to were around $5,000.... I am wondering if anything higher than that indicates an awful work environment. You might want to see if you can find people who work there, ask around, and see if it's a toxic environment and that's why they've put the cost of the residency so high.

Yes, it's experience, but I personally have been so burned by the place I'm working that I'm probably just going to pay off my contract to get out. I have a job interview later in this week and if they offer me that job, I am going to take it and probably end up paying my current job $7-8k or more, since the two years didn't even start until I got off orientation. See when your two years starts - that's important. If I could have avoided paying all of this money to get a new job, if I could just go back, apply more places and wait and not sign the contract, I would do it in a heartbeat. Two years is nothing, really - but it's a long time if your work environment is totally horrible.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 22, 2014

WOW! Thank you for all of your "help" Gee, I guess the way you say things with such a nasty tone makes me really see things differently now.
You're right, I guess I don't REALLY want to be a nurse because I want to make sure I'm not getting scammed or totally messed over. Awesome argument. And really, thank you for you encouraging words.
Yeah, I expect that while I'm employed somewhere I will get paid, I guess that's a foreign concept now? Any way you dice it, there's no need for an attack.

The new face of nursing is a frightening one....a large facility by me has this....

The Department of Nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital is running a New Graduate RN ICU Residency Program for six months. RN residents will be hired and trained to work successfully in an intensive care setting.
Qualified applicants MUST have:
- a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing
- a current MA RN license
- less than 10 months of professional RN experience in a healthcare setting
- completed a clinical practicum in an ICU or experience in a patient assistive role in an ICU.
RN Residents will be eligible for benefits and paid a salary of $11.44 per hour. The schedule will be 40 hours per week with five 8-hour shifts. Day/Night rotation with weekends and holidays required.

There are residency programs that are asking grads to ay them. It is the harsh reality of nursing today when there is no shortage of new grads.

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · May 22, 2014

Take it with a grain of salt. In fact, I'd keep applying other places until they actually have you sign the contract. I signed a contract like that at the job I'm at now. $10,000 seems high. Mine was $12,000. A lot of the residencies in the desirable hospitals I applied to were around $5,000.... I am wondering if anything higher than that indicates an awful work environment. You might want to see if you can find people who work there, ask around, and see if it's a toxic environment and that's why they've put the cost of the residency so high.
Yes, it's experience, but I personally have been so burned by the place I'm working that I'm probably just going to pay off my contract to get out. I have a job interview later in this week and if they offer me that job, I am going to take it and probably end up paying my current job $7-8k or more, since the two years didn't even start until I got off orientation. See when your two years starts - that's important. If I could have avoided paying all of this money to get a new job, if I could just go back, apply more places and wait and not sign the contract, I would do it in a heartbeat. Two years is nothing, really - but it's a long time if your work environment is totally horrible.

You made a great point. I too was asked to sign a 15 month contract, but it started after my orientation was complete. So essentially, I'm only two months into my commitment :-( but the cost of breaking my contract is only $1500.

Nonetheless · May 23, 2014

I disagree that if you turn this job down you don't want to be a nurse enough. Whether you take this job or not is your decision to make, and does not make you more or less passionate about nursing!