retrvrman

Where exactly is the North Texas Forum located? Thanks,

Howdy all, My wife is just finishing up her first year as a RN. We are thinking of relocating to Dallas, TX area. By the time we relocate she will have at least 3yrs as an RN. I was wondering if anyone out there would know or have idea of what an RN with (by the time we move) at least 3yrs experience could expect to make/get paid?? I know that base pay and total salary differ however what would the hourly wage be? Right now she makes $23 an hour. Thanks....

Thank you very much for your suggestions. I am thinking about a watch. I didn't think about the carry bag. On the flowers, what kind of arrangement would y'all suggest for a graduation like nursing school? Also, I have no idea about stethscopes....what kind? Aren't they expensive? were to go? etc....thanks, Greg

Howdy all, I am totally perplexed with what to get my wife for her graduation which is this Friday. After Mothers Day (I did get her flowers, and other stuff), her b-day was on 3 May. So now I am trying to figure out something that would be really special but at the same time practical and not break the bank. Any suggestions? I did order her a bracelet from Abernook that is for a nurse and I thought was very nice, pretty and practical. However, her graduation is Friday night at 1900hrs. Should me and the kids show up with flowers for her? Anything else? I don't want to overdo it however I am a hopeless romantic and my wife is not.... Greg

I guess most of y'all of probably right. We have three kids. Our oldest has cerebral palsy, is 12yrs old in 7th grade, makes straight A's, is in a normal class, but cannot walk on her own, she drives a powered wheelchair. Our younger daughter is 11yrs old and is in 6th grade. She is the middle child. Our son is 7yrs old and he has been diagnosed with childhood onset bipolar disorder. He is on abilify and lithium. I have asked her straight up, are you using me as a meal ticket so you can finish nursing school? She can not finish school without my support. Yes, my 14yrs sex addiction have caused her tremendous pain, hurt, anger, shame but according to our counselor she has alot of co-dependecy issues and is what they call a "love addict". I just want her to been "honest" and up front with me so I can move on with my life. I don't want to set myself up or have any false hopes. I have told her that all I want is for us to be totally honest with each other during all of this. No lies, no deception....I also have told her that I do still love her and that I will support her thru nursing school just like I have since she started. I really don't feel that she is going to be able to own her stuff and all the core issues that she has until she doesn go to counseling for herself without me. She has some names of some counselors but she has not called anyone. I feel that she is scared too...but I realize that only she can fix or take care of her and I can not. The other thing that is probably the most important issue is that we are not right now on the same spiritual level. I am working on my relationship with God and getting closer to him. I have been going back to church for a year now, she has not been, I have taken our kids. She doesn't like to talk to me about religion. I heard her talking to her mother the other day about religion and she was asking how is it that Jewish folks are Gods chosen people? She said that she doesn't believe in denominations that say you have to speak in tongues to be saved or that you have to be baptised, etc. She says and her mom does that she is saved and believes that jesus christ died on the cross for our sins, but she also says that she is a live let live type of person and that she does believe in morals and the Ten commandments, one of which is thou shall not committ adultry. I really feel because we do not communicate together on a spiritual level that is why we are still so distant.

Part of the reason is that we are having some marital difficulties (and I know that there are other forums for stuff like this but since most of y'all out there are women then I do appreciate your opinion), we are going to counseling as am I for myself, she has not started for herself yet. Like I said I am active duty AF, we currenlty live on base housing, and with the three kids. She has told me that she will make a decision or have to by next May when she graduates, she has said that doesn't mean she wants a "D" or separation, right now she really doesn't know what she wants to do for sure. It is just that the allure of sign on bonus, relocation pay, etc and her being able to live closer to her family gives her some sense of comfort.I have told her, and she doesn't like me saying this because it makes her feel bad, that I will move wherever she wants to work when I retire, regardless of our situation, just so our kids don't have one parent in one state and another parent in another. I have also suggested that I will try and move myself (get a waiver or something, find a job in my career field for the USAF) if she decides or finds something she cannot pass up.That is why I am trying to get educated as much as possible on the payscale for nurses right out of school here, AZ, etc so that we can then talk about it.She and I don't want to wait for three years and not work. I talked with a human resources lady today and nurses right out of school make $20.15hr at Penrose. I am trying to get a hold of Memorial and find out from them what their starting pay is for graduate nurses.

She just has heard that in Colorado Springs, nurses are not paid that well right out of school. I don't know how much information she has gotten or if it is hersay...They are opening two new hospitals here in the next year or two. I am trying to get all the information I can together and then we can make the best educated decision possible. I only have threes left in the USAF and then I can retire and we can go anywhere she wants....I really appreciate any and all advice and info that folks have...thanks,

From what she has told me is that there are jobs in AZ either in Flagstaff or Phoenix areas that will hire nurses right out of school that include sign on bonuses, pay off student loans, relocation bonus, etc. So if I understand what you are saying, she should get her resume' together now, send it to hospitals, people that might be looking for nurses, now??I am just trying to make things as easy for her as possible so that she doesn't get to frustrated. She seems to think that Colorado Springs pays nothing and I have heard that Denver pays alot more. I can I find out the payscale for nurses in different cities???

Howdy all,My wife will graduate nursing school here in Colorado Springs, CO at PPCC next May. She has told me that she doesn't want to work in the Springs because they don't pay nurses right out of school very well. I have asked her if she has looked up in Denver and she hasn't. I am also in the USAF active duty and I don't retire until Dec 09. After that I have told her I would move anywhere she wants to work. So I am being proactive and trying to find out from anyone that can help me where is the best place to go to find out about nursing jobs in Denver for nurses right out of school? Also, what is the pay scale like there? She has been thinking about going to Phoenix, AZ area because she has family there to work right out of school. Is that a better area than Denver? The thing is we also have three kids, my USAF committment, so she would be living with family and I would be here with the kids. I am trying to get all the info I can together so that I can show her that she doesn't have to leave right after school to work and to just wait three years for me to retire....thanks,