Salaries for experienced LTC RN-Dallas?

[Malignancy]

Here is my scenario: I had been working in SLC, Utah as a LTC-SNF RN for the past two years. I was started at $26/hr but petitioned and received a raise after a year for an hourly rate of $27/hr.

I've since moved to Fort Worth and am curious as to what I should ask for compensation here. Utah is pretty low paying and over saturated but I was able to negotiate a fairly decent salary as a new grad.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The pay rates for LTC RNs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area range from $23.50 on the low end to $33 on the high end. Companies such as Kindred, Sava Senior Care, Trisun, and Stebbins Five tend to pay on the higher end, whereas most other corporations who own LTC facilities in the area tend to pay on the low end.

I would say that the average is about $27 hourly.

[Malignancy]

That seems a little low to me. I applied to a LTC facility in Bedford. The DON asked how much I was making in SLC and when I told her I was making $27 she said, "Woah, well if you work here you'll make considerably more than that!”. I didn't want to sound greedy so I didn't inquire as to how MUCH more is "considerably more".

Also, am I correct in my assumption that hospitals pay less in Dallas than SNF?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

The D/FW-area hospitals pay new grads between $22 and $25 hourly, so an RN with 2 years of experience would only earn in the mid to high $20s hourly at most area hospitals.

However, the LTACHs (long term acute care hospitals) pay more competitively, in the high $20s to mid $30s hourly.

[Malignancy]

I've never heard of a LTACH. Is that a TX thing? Would a typical pt be a trach or NG tube pt? In SLC, I worked at a SNF that had both long term care and some more aute pt's like would vacs, etc. Same thing?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

LTACHs (long term acute care hospitals) are across the country, although more prevalent in certain states.

LTACHs have ICUs, pulmonary units, med/surg units, etc. The typical patient population at these facilities has been discharged from an ICU at a major hospital, but was an unsuccessful vent wean, so there was nothing more that the major hospital could do for them.

Many LTACH patients are on vents, have trachs, nephrostomy tubes, wound vacs, TPN, NG tubes, etc., and tend to stay there anywhere from four weeks to six months (or until they expire). The nurse/patient ratios can be anywhere from 1:3 (ICU) to 1:9 (med/surg).

BTW, you previously mentioned that SLC has an oversaturated job market with many nurses. The D/FW area of Texas is also saturated with too many nurses due to many nursing schools pumping out new grads twice a year combined with masses of nurses having relocated here during the past few years.

[Malignancy]

I've never seen, nor heard of these LTACH's. Thanks for filling me in.

SLC had (last time I checked) 16 nursing schools. SLC and surrounding suburbs equal a population of less than 3 million. Most of the schools are tech schools/private colleges that have graduations every 4 months. It's clear that all of these colleges have capitalized on the "nursing shortage", crammed it down our throats with marketing, so much over the past 5 years to the point that there isn't a shortage anymore.

I started working on my prerequisites 6 years ago when hospitals would take anyone with a pulse and a license. Pages of want ads in the papers. Now you’re lucky to find 1-3 ads and they want 3 years exp, BSN, ACLS, and membership to everything organization in the book. Someone needs to inform those still looking to go into nursing.

[krob0729]

that would have been my first question...lol