Starting rate in L & D

tntrn, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2005

Kind of hard question to answer, because with no if you have no L & D experience you would probably need to get into a residency for training. Where I work, nurses with years of nursing experience (another factor in what your pay is) do residency programs, and I don't think their usual rate of pay changes during that time. Currently, there is no premium for working L & D here.

If you were new to the hospital, you would get credit for years of nursing experience but without L & D experience or a residency, the likelihood of getting hired for it is dim. And I imagine that it varies from place to place, even facility to facility.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 17, 2005

I am an ER nurse , and was wondering what is the starting pay for L&D nurses?

Try posting in the California forum, so that you can get a more specific range. Or try salary.com ..............Good luck :)

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 18, 2005

Mostly the same as an ED nurse, most places.

Most places dont' offer "speciality" pay much anymore----you may find an OB nurse is paid the same as you are, based on seniority.

http://www.salary.com

good resource to check general wages in your area. If you want specific hospital wages or to know if sign-on bonuses apply, you need to check with their Human Resource Departments. Good luck.

CA CoCoRN, RN · Dec 19, 2005

Hmmmm...well it depends.

Unlike Smiling's facility, we actually DO pay specialty pay once you have completed the "residency"/training in L&D and taken an AWHONN test.

Then, after so many years in L&D and obtaining one of several competencies, and an RN-C, you could move up to a Specialty II RN in L&D. I'm working on that in the coming year. It'll mean a SIGNIFICANT (~$4/hr) bump in my wage. I'll really like that!!!! :coollook:

Your "regular" wage depends on your number of years as an RN. However, due to our union restrictions, you can only be hired on at/up to a certain rate.

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 19, 2005

Like CoCo points out, it does depend on facility. Most around here pay NOTHING extra for specialities, meaning a med-surg nurse will make exactly what an OB nurse does, if both have the same years as an RN and time/seniority in the facility. If a med surg moves to OB where I am, s/he will not get any premium for doing so, just moving from one unit to another.

Like I said, your best bet is checking with the specific HR departments where you plan to make application. As you can see, you will get conflicting information here, which won't help you much. Particularly with the specifics you ask for.

Good luck!

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 19, 2005

I WISH my unit paid as well for Rn-C. It's only about 1.00 an hour. Hardly seems worth it, in a way.

palesarah · Dec 19, 2005

Like CoCo points out, it does depend on facility. Most around here pay NOTHING extra for specialities, meaning a med-surg nurse will make exactly what an OB nurse does, if both have the same years as an RN and time/seniority in the facility. If a med surg moves to OB where I am, s/he will not get any premium for doing so, just moving from one unit to another.

Same here, I don't know that any of the hospitals in my area pay extra for a specialty. Some pay a little bit extra for a certification, but it's not much, and not all the hospitals offer it.

Dayray, RN · Dec 20, 2005

We get $200 a year for RNC here =( hospitals don't hold specialty or education in very high regard it seems. RN's are just a license to corporate types