Question Regarding Hourly Rates for RNs

vortex72 · Nov 25, 2004

Guess I'm spoiled, but I refuse to work for less than 30/hour and I live in TN which has a moderate cost of living.

Actual base rates around here are 20-22/hour for day shift and regular staff hospital jobs. I firmly beleive that RN's should make a minimum of 55-65k/year based on the responsibilities we have. I will not work any job that pays less than 30/hour.. PERIOD! If that requires me to be an independent contractor or to work agency, I will.

I'm extremely lucky to have an acute dialysis job now that pays me per treatment. My hourly rate averages out to 35-40/hour with full benefits. I should make around 75-80k this year.

Nurses, if your local jobs wont pay enough, then work for a staffing agency or check into being an independent contractor. Either that or travel. Go to hospitals that are hard-up and offering big shift diffs(crisis pay or double time) or sign on bonuses.

I follow the money, screw being "loyal" to a hospital. Most hospitals dont give a crap about you. Your patients should come first and your money second. The hospital is on the bottom of my list :rotfl:

bellcollector · Nov 25, 2004

I am an LPN going for RN. I make $14.45hr + $3hr shift diff nights for total of $17.45hr. Work 5 12's per pay paid + 8hrs baylor pay at base rate. Considered full time with all the bennie's. Paid $57,000 for 2 story house with upstairs apt. Nice neighborhood good schools. Cant complain.

RNAssociates · Nov 27, 2004

I replied to another thread this morning - about essentially the same issue...the writer to whom I replied couldn't understand the apathy among nurses regarding our insulting payscales. Neither can I. I, for one, am VERY angry and feel incredibly powerless - when, in fact, nurses as a group could (and should) have the most powerful lobby opportunity of any group since Martin Luther King announced he "...Had a Dream." If we had a leader like he was - and a group who believed - like his group - we wouldn't be hearing the "oh well" and "big sigh" comments. We wouldn't "compromise" (would your husbands or brothers "compromise" if offered a pay they knew was insulting less than the value of the work they do?) - read what I wrote to Johnson & Johnson - and to our other listmate.... and tell me - honestly - that "compromise" is the answer - that "not working in your preferred area" is OK - that settling for a "lesser salary" because you perceive yourself to be in a "lesser" nursing job is OK.

Tell me - honestly - that lessening your nursing expectations in your choice of jobs and the salary you accept - has not also lessened your passion for your work - your advocacy for your patients. Tell me that - and then look at yourself in the mirror and tell it to your face.

Read what I wrote - and tell yourself - "I am the same nurse I was the day I walked into my first job - was told by my first patient with trust in her watery blue eyes that I'd be the best nurse ever - that I still honor the oath I took at graduation...."

I wrote:

Having just read the pay statistics for RNs on your site(Johnson & Johnson) - following the "It Pays to be a Nurse!" I would like to enlighten you....

I am a practicing RN (28 yrs. clinical experience) in Connecticut - one of the richest states in this country. My average annual salary (not counting the "extra shifts" and work I do) is close to your statistics. However, the young man who picks up my trash once a week earns more. He drives a 'robotruck' which picks up the can (which I haul to the curb) via a robotic arm. I pick up what drops to the street...He is 'not allowed' by his job description to lift more than 75 lbs.; a good thing then, because the trash can - empty - weighs more than that. He gets time and a half after 8 hours; double time on weekends and nights (sanding icy roads - blocking streets for the fire department...that kind of thing) and triple time on holidays...considered 'emergency work.' His benefits are completely paid by the town, he gets an hour for lunch sitting in his heated or air conditioned truck at the local beach....and his only license is a CDL. He can only read to the 4th grade level (not a requirement for this job)....he can sign his name -but not understand what he is signing. If he makes an error (like forgetting to pick up trash on a particular street) no one dies and he doesn't lose his license. If he doesn't come to work one day the trash gets picked up late - or the next day. He's 29 yrs old. I am 62. It has taken me 20+ years to earn what I do --- he started at the same wage two years ago - after being out of work 4 years and collecting welfare. He graduated from a GD program - with a 4th grade reading level. I graduated from a diploma program with two kids and a husband to take care of at the same time - and I was in the top forth of my class and the top half of the state on my boards - which I passed the first time.

Does it not strike you as ludicrous -even insulting - that such a situation not only exists but is lauded because "if we don't pay them like that we can't get them to work." and that "no one else will do it [pick up the trash]." Well, Sirs; as a nurse I can tell you, the shortage is because not only can no one else DO it - no one Wants to do it....why spend $15-20000 a year (or more) to graduate into a $30000+/- (to start) and have to co-pay your own benefits? AND do nights, holidays, weekends and live with the daily fear that some patient you were breaking your heart to care for is suing the doctor and the hospital - and because you were "there" you get named too.....and you need to pay for your own lawyer.

If you want to recruit young men and women into this glorious field - and, despite it all, it is; I love what I do - you might want to lend your considerable industrial and political weight to the issue and help make it the Profession it should be - the Profession which - if it didn't exist, would bring the much of the world to it's knees; the Profession which hourly lifts and moves it's own weight and more in the quadriplegic former cop, or one/one hundredth it's weight in the preemie crack baby; which holds the weight of a dying mother's hand [after punching out because OT is frowned on] - because her own grown children are too busy to come be with her...

No, it isn't about money - not much. But just as 95% of nurses are female - a huge % of those women are single parents - I was, by the time I graduated. And within 6 years had two kids in college - a house and a car...on $19,000 (gross) a year (1980). Was I earning more at nursing than I could at McDonald's? Yes. Was I then (or am I now) earning more than the highschool drop out who picks up my garbage? No. Can I retire? No. Why? Because with all my grand earnings - after 28 years in the "Profession" - my monthly SS benefit is $946.00 - before taxes - a month. I can either eat or have a roof over my head - or get my CDL and pick up garbage, have an hour for lunch and get OT ...lots of it if I work late.....You choose.......

Nurse Entrepreneur · Nov 29, 2004

I work in rural Kansas part-time in two different office settings as a sedation nurse. I have over 15 years experience as an RN. I earn $20/ hour working for one office, $32.50/hour for another office but 95% of the work is at the $20/hr office. I've been making $20-21 per hour since 1997 when I have worked for an employer. What keeps me at the $20/hr job is I love the people I work with, I love the work and the hours are flexible, which is important to me with 4 kids under 11.

I also am self-employed outside of these two jobs as a nurse consultant, where I earn between $60-$100 per hour. Multiple streams of income and working, at least part-time, for myself, have not helped me feel a little less bitter about my RN salary when I work for someone else. It works for me at the point I am at in my nursing career.

Your knowledge and experience about life and about nursing are valuable. If you look hard enough, you will find people and businesses that are willing to pay you what you are worth. It just might not be in the most traditional nursing roles.

TweetiePieRN · Nov 29, 2004

Wow, I think a nurse with that much experience deserves ALOT more than $23/hour. I am a new grad working nights in Med-Surg and I make $30.75 an hour. We need experienced nurses where I work. Tell her to come to New York. :)

New grad RN also here. Grad in May 2004. I make over 33 an hour and am getting a $2/hr raise in January!! I only work part-time, but get full benefits of med, dental, vision for me and hubby. 3 weeks after graduation I was able to afford to buy our 1st home, pay for a nice vacation, furnish my house, and got a "family car". Come to Northen California!!!!! Cost of living up here is much less than southern cali or the bay area, but we get paid the same or very close.

TweetiePieRN · Nov 29, 2004

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.

Is this wage for new grad LVN or RN? I live in Nor Cal and make 10 more an hour than that and I am a new grad RN. Our cost of living is VERY comparable to central cali, becuz I used to live in Central.

quiltingnurse · Nov 29, 2004

Wow, I think a nurse with that much experience deserves ALOT more than $23/hour. I am a new grad working nights in Med-Surg and I make $30.75 an hour. We need experienced nurses where I work. Tell her to come to New York. :)

Hi,

So where in NY do they need experienced RNs??? I did a 10 week assignment in Staten Island and it was the job from HELL. Loved the site seeing on off days would consider coming back. quiltingnurse:)

eternity1 · Dec 6, 2004

I was afraid of going down to the low 20's an hour but guess not! So, I originally was going to post the location difference on my reply but I just found out that it is not too much a difference. hope this helps!!

I live North of atlanta, and know the prospects look good for the new-grads in this area. I think the average is about $20/he. How do you get started in Cath Lab? :rolleyes:

vernonpillay · Dec 7, 2004

I live North of atlanta, and know the prospects look good for the new-grads in this area. I think the average is about $20/he. How do you get started in Cath Lab?

Hi thank you for the reply eternity1.Well to answer your question: You usually need to have some cardiac care/ccu experience in order to work in most Cath Labs.The rest you can usually learn on the job.It is really important though to have a good working knowledge of the CVS and ECG's.By the way the hourly rate in California averages between $25 -$35 depending on experience!