Regarding a job post on Craigslist for an LVN position..

[flowergrl]

I came across a job post from someone looking to hire an LVN. Its not private duty, its a facility looking to hire an LVN. Starting pay? $15/hour. I was so upset when I read this ad, "non-negotiable" is what really threw me off in terms of hourly rate.

Here is what I really wanted to say to this hiring person, whom I think is an RN.

_____________________________________________________________________

Hi,

Regarding the job post on CL for LVN.

$15/hour is an insult to nurses. Too bad that not only is our license on the line each day that we work as a nurse because we deal with medications, family issues, and overall stress of making sure our I's are dotted and our T's are crossed. And to be paid less than what a lab technician earns, is such an insult. Keep in mind, a lab technician program is only 2-3 months long.

If you're a nurse, and you feel its ok to pay an LVN $15/hour, there's something wrong with you. We, as LVN's, had to struggle to get through nursing school, we put in 8-10 hours per day studying for 1 year or more, and then take a state exam that has approx. 265 questions just to be licensed to get paid what we believe we are worth. And then we run into ads like yours, offering what you probably think is a great rate, based on what you wrote, "non negotiable" as if you're doing the LVN a favor.

And the sad part, you will probably receive responses from desperate nurse in search of a job. And she/he will feel totally worthless because you won't value that nurse enough to pay him/her what they are worth!

________________________________________________________________________

What are your thoughts??

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I am not sure what the job entails, hours, differentials on top of a base pay, that type of thing. $15.00 may not be ideal, but better than min. wage if the working conditions are good. Which one has no way of knowing unless they go visit the facility. Now if the same ad said $9.00 an hour, a different story. But if one has no clue what the duties are, then can't really judge if $15.00 an hour is fair or not.

[bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN]

I started as an lvn at 16 an hour. It depends on what type of facility this is. Nursing homes make more than clinics etc etc. also different states and areas have different pay scales think rural with no nurses vs urban area with plenty if nursing schools graduating 50-100 nurses each semester

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Right, without knowing location and cost of living, its impossible to say if that wage is fair or not. For instance, getting paid 30$ an hour as an RN is rural...um, Wisconsin for instance would be amazing (I think ) while that same hourly rate would be difficult to manage in NYC.

That's kind of the curse in nursing right now though, all across the board. Administration can treat staff like poop because they know there are tons of nurses frantic and desperate for a job, any job. They will take the poor conditions, the low pay, just as long as there is SOME money coming in.

Sad, but it's just how it is.

[bebbercorn]

Recently saw a post on Craigslist for an LVN who could lift 125 lbs. OMG. This is what we've come to...

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

What would you hope to accomplish by responding to the job posting and saying these things?

I agree that it depends on the location and job duties as to whether or not this is a fair wage.

[SuzieVN]

I saw an ad today ON CL for an LVN, $12.50, raise possible in six months, 'busy derm clinic'. My first LVN job paid $5.52/hour, 1987. That was good money. My last paid $26.50/hr. Now, in just a few years, I see the average is back down to $17. In a few years it'll be back to $5.52. But it's happening to everyone, in every line of work. And don't forget thet benefits are gone.