RN Salaries: Hospital vs LTC

[nursein2012]

I have been trying to do some research on the pay differences between a new grad RN position at a hospital and a new grad RN position at a LTC facility and have been unsuccessful.

In your area is there a significant pay difference between the two locations? As a nursing student in today's economy I am being realistic and the possibility of not finding a hospital position after graduation (2012) and am just curious on the differences in pay in the different settings.

Thanks to everyone who helps!

[Crispy Critter]

LTC facilities in east central Indiana pay quite a bit less than hospitals. I worked briefly at one that started RNs out at $22/hr. They paid 50 cents for 5 or more years experience. This was for charge RN. This was one of the better paying LTCs.

[reinvention]

I too am a recent BSN grad and found differential in upstate NY/western CT in favor of hospitals. Starting salary for a "bridge to practice" program at a hospital (NY state) is $30/hr, at a good LTC in nearby western CT is $24.50. Both offer shift differentials and I was told by HR at the LTC that pay is less at LTCs in CT than at hospitals.

Thanks to everyone else for their contributions - I'm curious about pay for new grads in Maryland and Oregon where I am thinking of moving.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

here in NH I interviewed for both hospital positions and LTC positions and all the LTC positions started at, on average $3-4 below the starting base pay for a new grad in the hospital.

[Margielpn2014]

I am an LPN in LTC, I started out at 18.56/hr and now make 19.81/hr, I was recently offered a position at a hospital that is about the same distance as the LTC facility that I work at with about a 4 dollar an hour pay cut in the PCU. The idea is to enhance my skills as a nurse and use the skill that I have productively. The hospital does offer better benefits (this particular hospital in general), and they offer tuition reimbursement if you go to school after your hire date. I am currently in school my self and hoping to get into the advanced placement nursing program this fall so I'm not sure that I am going to take the position even to just refine my skills. But I would say that the nursing homes in my area pay the best. --from IL