Practical Nursing - salary raise?

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Hey there,

I'm a college student looking into practical nursing. I know $25 an hour is good money but I was wondering how many years of experience I need and how difficult it is to raise my salary? When I mean raise I mean raise an extra $10-$15. I'm not really a school person, I'm more hands on and the type who likes to work so I'm not interested in the doing the bridging to RN program so please don't mention that. Would I need any extra training? If so, is this training paid? Is it likely that I'd be able to get a big raise like I want? How does it work?

Thanks,

Sally

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The only way I earn that kind of rate is being specialty trained (infusion, pediatric trach/vent, medically fragile/complex) well established reputation in two agencies on the call list. If I can be at a case in less than an hour ready to go with only a verbal report on the sickest children I can make. 1.5-2x my base rate. It's rare. In the past 3 years I've made call premium rate maybe a dozen times. One job gives the 1.5-2x rate. The other gives up to $5/hr more.

Expecting $25/hr is unrealistic as an LPN in the US.

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I live in California that is over saturated with nurses. That rate can be achieved if you work in corrections and are able to find a job. Cost of living is extremely high here.

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I would say come to Ontario, Canada! Our wages start around the $18-$23 area but we're taxed out the ass! In the end it averages out to about the same as our southern friends! :( ****** all around.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Your expectations seem pretty unrealistic to me. There are plenty of areas in the country where RN's aren't touching $25.00/hr starting wage. There may very well be areas that an LPN makes that, but what is the cost of living in those areas? Raises are not automatic anymore, and when they do come they are certainly not in the $10-15/hr range. I can't think of any place that will hire an LPN at $25.00/hr and then offer a raise that brings that up to $35.00-40.00/hr.

PS if you are indeed lucky enough to find this magical place, please let us know. I am sure there are LPN's here that would move to get that kind of pay!

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In my area, doing the type of nursing that I do, wages have decreased for LVNs in the past 10 years. There are nursing assistants in some settings that earn more.

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Specializes in Pedi.

You will not make $40/hr as an LPN. I don't even know where you'd expect to find an LPN job making $25/hr. I live in a state that pays well and LPNs do not make that here.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
You will not make $40/hr as an LPN. I don't even know where you'd expect to find an LPN job making $25/hr. I live in a state that pays well and LPNs do not make that here.
To be fair, I earned $27/hr as an LVN at a dumpy LTC facility in Texas in June 2010, which was my last LVN position prior to earning my RN license. My starting pay rate had been $23/hr when I was first hired in February 2008.

However, your point is otherwise salient. $25/hr LVN wages are few and far between in the area where I live, and $40/hr LVN pay rates are nonexistent around here. Someone who hopes to earn $40/hr in this area will need to become an RN, PT, OT, ST or look into some other occupation.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

My pay as an LVN ranged between $18-$22/hr. You need to find a different career because unless you plan to bridge (I made more than my best friend when she worked in a hospital as an RN) you won't make that much money.

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My friend just got a job making $25 an hour at a plastic surgeons office. But she'll be a nurse esthetician. She's been an esthetician for a long time and just got her LVN. I'm a new grad making $23 an hour and that is pretty good for a new grad LVN. I think your expectations are too high.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
I would say come to Ontario, Canada! Our wages start around the $18-$23 area but we're taxed out the ass! In the end it averages out to about the same as our southern friends! :( ****** all around.

I'm in Ontario and I make $29

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Yeah, the extra training is called RN.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I did post earlier, but didn't address this question:Would I need any extra training? If so, is this training paid?

To answer this. There are many certifications available to both LPN's and RN's and in most cases, no they are not paid. If you want to pursue them they are on your dime. Some employers will reimburse the cost so look into this if you are interested. Some states require CEU's, there are many free ones available out there. Sometimes being certified in a specialty will get you extra pay, but certainly not the $10.00 - 15.00/hr you are looking for. CEU's won't increase your wage, they are however a requirement to remain licensed in some states.

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