Pay scales

NurseKatie08, MSN · Jan 14, 2009

I am a nursing student and woulf appreciate a few bits of advice. My plan is to work med-surg for at least a year after graduation and thought that I might want to get into a specialty after that. I am interested in cardiology and GI. I love Med-Surg but to be honest it seems to be one of the most demanding realms of nursing with the worst schedule and pay. I want to know what else is out there and where should I look. I want to plan ahead in the most efficient manner possible. I know I am really "green" and hate to ask others their pay but I would ideally like to make $30hr. Is that possible? What should starting pay be for a new grad and what can I expect. Also what are the thoughts on 8hr shifts vs. 12hr? What about burnout?

How much you make will completely depend on your facility and the area of the country you plan on working in. Try the regions forums, to talk with nurses from your home state, or state you intend on working in.

drenny · Jan 14, 2009

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drenny · Jan 14, 2009

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MB37 · Jan 14, 2009

Pay varies WIDELY from region to region. Rural Mississippi versus NYC or San Fran is a huge difference. If you live in the South, you won't start at $30/h as a new grad. If you line in a CA or Northern metro area, you might. I live in FL, and I make less than $30 as a new grad. By working nights and weekends, I can get to about $26. It doesn't matter where I live what unit/floor you work on - med/surg pays exactly the same as ICU, L&D, and everywhere else.

Also, at my hospital, med/surg offers the MOST flexibility in scheduling. I work critical care (as a new grad - if you want a specialty it doesn't hurt to try for it right away), and our only option is to work 3x12 shifts a week. We have to staff the same on nights as we do on days because of the acuity of our patients, so 8 and 16 hour shifts don't really work on my unit. They're both options on the floors and in the ER. I prefer to work 12s anyways - once I've gotten out of bed and gone to work, I'd rather stay all day and have 4 days a week off - so it works well for me.

Does your school host a job fair? Go and talk to the recruiters (and dress like you would for an interview). Stop by the nurse recruiting office at the hospital you do your clinicals at this semester. Ask the nurses you work with at clinical these questions (not their salary, but if they know what new grads start at). Ask them if they recommend med-surg first even if it's not what you want long-term - you'll find opinions on this vary widely. If you do choose to work on the floor, aren't there dedicated cardiac and GI floors? There are at my hospital, and we don't have a GI-specific ICU (it would me MICU or SICU, depending on the issue).

You'll do better asking your questions locally, or on your state's board on allnurses. Good luck!

JMDRN09 · Jan 14, 2009

Thanks for info. I am in the midwest and currently hold an intern position on a med-surg floor but am told there is a hireing freeze going on and am not guareenteed a position upon graduation. I work for a very large heathcare corporation and am given the opportunity to move to another location as a transfer just was not sure if specialty areas hire new grads. Again thanks for the info. Good luck with your life journey.