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 critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

in SE Tex, I have paid my Adon, Lvn Mds nurse 25/hr......in SNF/LTC, but they did have decades experience

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Actually, I was making 25 an hour as a LPN with a background in business as a case manager before my RN. It just depends. So relax and try and focus on posts that are relative to what your looking for. GOOD LUCK‼️

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Like I said earlier, maybe if you started your own private duty you can make that amount.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not arguing you make that. I'm just stating that the average STARTING salary is lower than $29. Also that it is better than the states but not as much after all of our taxes are deducted. We have 15 -20 % deducted right off the hop, plus everything we buy has a 15% tax. By the time deductions are calculated you only see roughly 65% of what you've earned. That's all I'm saying. No need to argue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

Based on the OP's posting hx, she already IS in Canada......not the US.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ok, that doesn't mean I know they're from Ontario. And I also don't understand even if the poster is from Ontario why my statement is a problem...I still have no idea what in my post made anyone defensive. I simply stated that we pay more tax which is why we get more on paper but it tends to average out to those that work in the States.. And yes, there are exceptions who make more than the average but that is not the norm. No idea what in that statement caused any problem for people.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Im a 20 year old newly grad LPN and make $25 a hour .... I work for a home health agency . Only way u will get what your asking for is with a private agency.... But thats just my advice/opinion . (Im from florida) diff areas pay accordingly

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Ok, that doesn't mean I know they're from Ontario. And I also don't understand even if the poster is from Ontario why my statement is a problem...I still have no idea what in my post made anyone defensive. I simply stated that we pay more tax which is why we get more on paper but it tends to average out to those that work in the States.. And yes, there are exceptions who make more than the average but that is not the norm. No idea what in that statement caused any problem for people.

? All I said was, in response to your comment "come to Ontario, CA, we make more than those south of us" etc, that she already is in Canada, not the US. Nothing more to read into that, so not sure why the reaction....?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My starting LPN salary was $14/hour, and now with 6 years experience I'm at $18/hour, and that's high for an office setting in my area. Most places are wanting to pay around $15-$16 here. And that's one reason I don't agree with fast food workers making $15, because they shouldn't make what a licensed, skilled professional should make, but that's another story.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

Where on earth are you working that they start that low?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My starting LPN salary was $14/hour, and now with 6 years experience I'm at $18/hour, and that's high for an office setting in my area. Most places are wanting to pay around $15-$16 here. And that's one reason I don't agree with fast food workers making $15, because they shouldn't make what a licensed, skilled professional should make, but that's another story.

This is also the reason why I don't agree with fast food workers making $15 an hour. It makes me think of what a chump the LPN is that accepts the $14 an hour 'opportunity'.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

Well, you need to look into RN school if you want $40/hr. $25 is feasible. So's $30/hr.

But, $40...? I don't know about that. Maybe private sitting or working a lot of OT...?

See, here's the crux of the situaiton: a deeply experienced LVN can run circles around a newish RN for a good while. A deeply experienced LVN, limited by their BON, could hold their own on the floor with RNs - but let's not get delusional, here.

Given opportunity to pay an LVN $40/hour? I'd just hire an RN.

LOL

Why, you ask?

Uh, why...not? LOL Listen, I'm no 'hater'. Kudos to the LVNs out here gaming the system and getting money but there's just no way in hell that I'd pay an LVN that much. You would need to be a "high-speed" individual with vast amounts of knowledge, a degree and some impressive experience -- in this case, BETTER than the best RN -- to get $40/hour (or the equiv for high COL areas) out of me

Anyway, it's not THAT hard to earn $25/hour as an LVN. Just depends on what your aptitude, your experience/certs, your networking skills and what local market will bear.

I started at $20/hr with my main job and resigned with $20.80. I did attend school with folks who started a bit higher than me (psych). Some areas of the city offer higher wages.

My PRNs ranged $18-22/hr and I worked facilities, primarily. I'm in Texas. There are LVNs who earn more than me. There are 2 year old RNs earning $75,000/year and they do NOT work crit care/hospital, either. Heck, there are RNs who top $100,000/year out here. I know them. I'm related to some of them. Listening to some of these low-earners on AN, you'd think it an impossible thing.

Some nurses do better because they live in better areas. Some nurses don't sell themselves short.

I'm in Florida now and the pay is similar. Yes, I have been low-balled but I've got this thing where I feel as though - every year, I must improve. I need better skills or MORE money. So, no, I will not do nurse work for

A few positions/specialties that pay decently:

- LTC/SNF "Management" positions. LVN ADONs clear $25/hr easily. Friend of mine was in charge of a memory unit and he started at earned $25/hr

- Psych.

- Corrections. Friend of mine earns $24 c shift diff at the state prison.

- State facilities. ESPECIALLY PSYCH. LVNs (II) earn 2200-3300/mth and they don't do crap but pass pills. It's a cake job. The RNs do all the work.

- UM/UR

- MDS. Pays well. It's an RN position but they hire LVNs so they can save money,I'm sure. You may not earn as much as an RN but you'll earn better than your peers.

That's about all that I can think of. Doesn't require years of exp. I re'cvd a callback for an interview for an MDS/LPN position - never went because I'm trying to get into dialysis. have an interview with them on monday, in fact. hopefully, Illl do well -- and I'm sitting on 2 years. With the exception of the ADON position, every nurse that I spoke of in my examples had 2-3 years of experience. Like me. My coworker who managed the memory unit had 6 months of nursing experience. They kept him on until, while interviewing him for a spotlight in the company newsletter, they realized that he was a new nurse (they assumed that he'd had more). The more experienced nurses got wind of it and had a problem with it. He didn't know how to play politics -- and he's a guy so he's unaccustomed to dealing with or even recognizing "female aggression" -- so he was forced out of his position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment