Question Regarding Hourly Rates for RNs

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2004

This is why I will be glad when I finish graduate school and will be able to get out of nursing. As an LPN I make $18.00/hr at an embarrassingly simple job of sitting with a woman in her home from 7pm-7am. I sit on the couch and watch movies most of the time. I will be finished with an ASN this spring but since I have landed this new job I am wondering what's the point? This agency does not hire RN's so it isn't like I can move up the ladder in pay, and the couple of dollars more an hour I would make as an RN anywhere else wouldn't make it worth the trouble. Just because I like to finish what I started I'm going to complete the ASN, but I'm not going to give up my job I have now as an LPN to work as an RN, even when I become an RN.
Nurses get no respect. It's shameful.

If all you want to do is sit on the couch, then you are being very well paid. It's a waste of time getting your RN if that's all you want to do. Aren't there any other places to work where you live? Your RN can be the door to a much more interesting life, even if you are planning on grad school.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2004

I so cannot stress enough that hourly rate alone is meaningless without location and cost of living information. I have friends in NJ who make 30$ an hour but a small house in their town costs half a million. I make less than that (about 26$ an hour) but bought my house in WI for 50,000$. I'm better off.

Economies of scale, people!

dianacs · Nov 9, 2004

really! that's a pretty hefty bonus! i'll have to share this with my friend.:)
i met someone else today who told me barnes-jewish does not pay good either, so what else do they offer over the other hospitals in st. louis?
what are ssm hospitals?

ssm--that would be st. mary's, cardinal glennon, st. joseph's, depaul; there's a few others.

the thing about barnes-jewish is that they're a magnet hospital as well as the biggest hospital in st. louis. how does that relate to one's day-to-day working experience; i.e. is it a good place to work? i don't know because i have no experience with that hospital, nor have i heard much about it either.

live4today, RN · Nov 9, 2004

ssm--that would be st. mary's, cardinal glennon, st. joseph's, depaul; there's a few others.
the thing about barnes-jewish is that they're a magnet hospital as well as the biggest hospital in st. louis. how does that relate to one's day-to-day working experience; i.e. is it a good place to work? i don't know because i have no experience with that hospital, nor have i heard much about it either.

hi dianacs,

thanks for your response. i've heard good things about cardinal glennon (as far as children's hospitals are concerned). i used to do pediatrics, but no more, so i wouldn't apply there for work for that reason.:)

i don't know much about barnes-jewish either. guess i should check it out. i do know from personal experience that just because a hospital has "magnet status" doesn't make it a "good" place to work. the best information about a hospital comes from people who actually work there (or worked there). :)

i'm still checking out various illinois hospitals. the cost of living in belleville and the surrounding suburbs is just as expensive as it was in other places i've lived, so i still do not understand why the nurses who work here or in st. louis are paid so cheaply.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2004

I so cannot stress enough that hourly rate alone is meaningless without location and cost of living information. I have friends in NJ who make 30$ an hour but a small house in their town costs half a million. I make less than that (about 26$ an hour) but bought my house in WI for 50,000$. I'm better off.
Economies of scale, people!

youre right. in kansas city (where i am starting at 19.50/hr) one may buy a one-story, 3br house with basement for about 130,000 in a decent neighborhood with excellent schools.

Shed13911 · Nov 10, 2004

I was an LVN here in Texas until I got my RN. I was also doing home care in the clients home which was easy money. I wanted to keep both liscenses(sp) active so I could do home care too. I was told that by law when you become an RN, you are no longer considered and LVN and can not function as one. You can not choose to be an LVN one day with decreased responsibility and be an RN the next. :stone I guess it makes sense if you think about it. If you sit for boards as the RN, you better check that the law is the same in your state!

This is why I will be glad when I finish graduate school and will be able to get out of nursing. As an LPN I make $18.00/hr at an embarrassingly simple job of sitting with a woman in her home from 7pm-7am. I sit on the couch and watch movies most of the time. I will be finished with an ASN this spring but since I have landed this new job I am wondering what's the point? This agency does not hire RN's so it isn't like I can move up the ladder in pay, and the couple of dollars more an hour I would make as an RN anywhere else wouldn't make it worth the trouble. Just because I like to finish what I started I'm going to complete the ASN, but I'm not going to give up my job I have now as an LPN to work as an RN, even when I become an RN.
Nurses get no respect. It's shameful.

bcjams · Nov 10, 2004

I graduate in 4 weeks...so far its running about 18 - 19 and hour to start plus a variety of differentials...i currently make base 12 plus 3 as a monitor tech that works the telefloor as a tech...(its easy parttime money while in school). i was making 14 base + oncall pay for being a fulltimer in the renal dept. as a lvn with 6 years exp.

I like nights so my start rate will be about 22 per hour +weekend diff.

I have been offered 35.00 + apt and per diem and insurance once I get one year RN time in ICU and 45.00 in Dialysis if I charge...My GF got 48.00 + apt in El Paso for her 10 years of varied exp....

I will be traveling 3 contracts/9.5 months a year and playing the rest of time.

I love this job....always have always will.

amyherb · Nov 18, 2004

We are in the Panhandle of Nebraska, Critical Access Hospital and we start our new grads at 18.50. One other thing with respect to experience and wages - it depends on how long they have worked at the facility. We found that we had some RNs with 35+ years of experience in OUR facility that had annually got there 3% merit increase that were making about the same as some of our nurses with 1-2 years experience simply because their starting wage was SO much lower 35 years ago and the medical profession is not very diligent about cost of living increases. I'm in management now and make in the neigborhood of $23/hr and have 5 years of ICU experience -BUT my rent is only $450/mo for a duplex that would be at least $1000/mo almost anywhere else.

bcjams · Nov 18, 2004

The above post confirms what I thought I knew.

Long term loyalty to a hospital is not wise.

Change jobs every 3 years. You can always comeback 6 months later and make alot more.

Kingbandit · Nov 19, 2004

I know a RN who has worked in Med/Surg for 9 1/2 years, and just started a new job in the midwest making $23.00/hour! Do you think that is too little per hour for nurses who have over eight or nine years experience?
Personally, I think it isn't enough. Your thoughts appreciated! Thanks!:)

I am a new grad with 10 years experience as a surgical tech and I started in our ED at $23.77/hr c $4.75 shift diff

Nurse_Narda · Nov 19, 2004

I live in Delaware. I have a little over a year experience as an RN and started in the OR at 22.23/hr. and am up to 24.05/hr day shift. But then again it all depends on the cost of living; I am actually making more than I ever expected to start out at.
Christine

Just to let you guys compare. In California new grads make 23.00 plus night/weekend diff. 10 years experienced nurses make 32.00 or more. 20 years exp. make $45 or more. Some places with Unions start new grads considerably higher, but are not that willing to train.

These are wages for Central California. In the Bay Area or Souther Cal, it is higher.

er_nurse2004 · Nov 19, 2004

That amounts to $7680.00/yr based on 40 hours a week. Lots of people prefer nights.

I'm not sure about the St Louis area, but Mo and Ks are not known for their high wages. New nurses start around $18.00/hr and not unusual for a 10 yr nurse to be around 23.00/hr. Good Luck:rolleyes:

Are there any Missouri nurses onboard? How much is a "reasonable hourly wage" in that state? Do nurses who live in the northern part of the state have higher wages than those in the southern part of the state?

I'm in Illinois now, but have heard of some good hospitals to work at in the St. Louis area, but from what I learned from the nurse who is only making $23.00/hour with her nine years of med/surg experience, I'm not sure if I want to check into those hospitals. But, then again, I'm NOT hearing much good about the wages in southern Illinois either. :rolleyes:

Anyone have any recommendations of hospitals to work in around these parts (the southern part of MO and the southern part of Illinois)?

Would working the 12 hour nightshift be a good idea just for making the $4.00 an hour increase in pay? My friend works the dayshift, but is thinking of switching to nights just for the increase in pay?

Thanks for your input nurses! :)