Salaries/benefits form one health job to nursing

[lab211]

Dear fellow nursing students and nurses,

I am just throwing this out here. I am a senior nursing student who so happens to have 20+ years experience as a certified health care professional in another field. Looking at the posting of starting salaries for graduate nurses my current base pay is substantially higher. I am wondering if someone else out there has been in my shoes. I am wondering since I have been at the same institution for 14 years and have reached the top of my payscale what are my chances of starting out at or close to my present salary when I start as a graduate nurse next May?? Don't get me wrong I did not get into nursing with my eye focused on money. I believe and have been told by those who know me that I have the potential to be an effective nurse. I wanted to major in nursing when I started college but my parents did not believe nursing was an appropriate field for a male (I had to go along with them since they were paying for my education). So I stuck it out and finished another health care course. So when this opportunity presented itself many years latter, here I am in nursing. Please advise.

thanks,

lab211

[llg, PhD, RN]

No offense, but I think you should have explored that issue before you invested in a nursing education. While there may be a few exceptions and/or a little "wiggle room" in your compensation negotiations with your hosptial, if you want to work as a nurse, you will probably have to accept the pay of a nurse. Some benefits, like vacation time, etc. are often based on seniority in that institution and do NOT depend on the specific job category. So I doubt you will see a decrease in those types of benefits. However, the salary range for RN's is typically based on years of experience as a nurse and years of work experience in other fields is generally not included in the calculation.

As a beginner-level nurse, you will have the same responisbilities and limitations that other beginner-level nurses have. You will be in the same job as the other new grads, with the same expectations and compensation -- or very nearly.

However, the good news is that your previous background may help you qualify for unique nursing jobs and/or advancement positions more quickly than someone without that work experience. In the long run, you may see gains in your compensation within nursing that would be unavailable to you in your current field.

Finally, try to think of it this way: How would you feel if some new grad in your current field were to begin employment at the same rate of pay you are currently earning just because they had experience in another field?

As a general rule, you have to take a step backwards whenever you switch fields. But in the long run, the education in 2 disciplines can work to you advantage.

llg