why is the pay so low?!?!

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I recently got my license, I have not found a job as an LVN yet. Right now I am currently a cable guy. I have been searching for jobs as an LVN and have noticed that many of the places are paying as low as $15 hr!! *** is that?!?! So I went to school and took out loans to make $15 hr? its ridiculous. I am making more now doing cable, if I want to be a nurse it seems I am going to have to take a pay cut. I want to be a nurse but bills need to be paid and is more of a priority in my life so I am kind of torn on what to do. Continue doing cable and making more $$$$ or take the loss and be a nurse. the only benefit I can see is that long term nursing will pay more once I gain experience. I cant make up my mind what to do, any advice?

Specializes in Public Health, Teaching, Geriatric, M/S.

I agree with EmergencyNrs. Get your RN. I made an $8.00 increase in pay going from an LPN to an RN. Well worth the extra year at a community college!

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You dont have to be restricted to LTC. Some readers had great ideas when they said prn or hospitals. When I am done with school my plan is to apply for Correctional Nursing. If I dont get into that I am going to look else where, but in your case as a LPN/LVN Corrections, Psychiatric nursing pays good. Even at a Methadone Clinic.

I understand. I work full-time too, and when u are not being financially supported or when ur the only bread winner u cant just take anything. Some young ppl can or can just go straight to RN when u have so many responsibilities. You will decide soon

that was my plan too, to get into corrections, problem there is they require at least 1 yr experience.

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So can you take the pay cut for 1 year and then apply to corrections?

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Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

Want to know the sad thing? I have a BSN and a Certification. 14 years of experience. My son with no college makes twice the amount I do, working in the oilfield.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I am in southern california
The pay is so low because of your location. Even though southern California is a region with a high cost of living, the area also suffers from a glut of too many unemployed LVNs that have been churned from the private trade school programs into the local job markets. There are more than 100 private trade school LVN programs in southern CA that continually produce new nurses every few months when there's really no demand for them.

If an area has truckloads of unemployed LVNs, then workplaces can get away with paying lower hourly wages because they know that many people out there are desperate enough to accept jobs at $15 per hour.

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Specializes in LTC.

Wow were are you at , and what type of setting are you in???

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Check out Excelsior's RN online program. All told, it cost me $6K and took less than one year. I did it while working as an LPN 50-60 hours/wk and family. My pay went up $6/hr, so it more than makes up for the cost. Plus, you have many more opportunities as an RN.

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Specializes in LTC, AL, Corrections, Home health.

He can't do excelsior, unless he is wanting to move and never work in CA again, because it is not accepted in the state of California BON, not even by endorsement. Not unless it was started by a certain date in the past.

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That is too bad. I was one semester from finishing an RN bridge when we moved (my husband's job) so it was my only option. I now live 220 miles from the school I was attending, in a tiny town 70 miles from the nearest McDonalds.

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Definitely worth it to get your RN. At least, that's what I am doing...even if it means 1-2 classes at a time (pre-reqs) and having a part time job. Sadly, I have been an LVN for almost 1 year and my pay is $10.65! I am employed at one of the biggest hospitals in our town too. The pay for south Texas is not great for nurses unless you are an RN, have been a nurse for 30+ years, work at a nursing home or work PRN. It's very difficult to make it with these wages especially when everything is going up in prices. I am definitely considering moving to a more populated area where the pay is slightly higher and cost of living isn't terrible either.

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