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Specializes in Critical Care at Level 1 trauma center.

I will be graduating in may from a pretty competitive school. Our professors tell us that we are known in the southwest part of the country for our outstanding NCLEX pass rate ~98%. My question is how much should I expect to make in my first year? I want to work in the ICU and I have a very high GPA honors and many nurses and doctors who will give me letters of recommendation. I was thinking 24-26/hr is this unreasonable?

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In Southern Cali a new grad starts @ around $27.00 @ the local hospital...it really just depends on where you live and where you start at?

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I know I'm not in your area, but local grads in Southwest Ohio area are starting around $23-$27 (low $30s at the VA if you can get in) It just depends on the network.

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I know I'm not in your area, but local grads in Southwest Ohio area are starting around $23-$27 (low $30s at the VA if you can get in) It just depends on the network.

I complete agree with Joe, it REALLY varies on which hospital you are in. I have a friend who works in in VA, and gets $19/hr. California is a great state to work in, but super saturated. In Southern Cali, they get around high 20s-mid 30s. Here in Northern Cali, it ranges from mid 30s - mid 50s, starting.

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Specializes in Critical Care at Level 1 trauma center.

Wow I know nursing is not about the money but there is no way I would go to school for 4 years to make $19 an hour. Here in the south west I could go work in the oil fields and make almost 30 without even graduating high school

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Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.
Wow I know nursing is not about the money but there is no way I would go to school for 4 years to make $19 an hour. Here in the south west I could go work in the oil fields and make almost 30 without even graduating high school

I am in FL it's around $16-21.50. I just interviewed for a position to be making around $20 an hour and a home health agency offered $16-18. The local hospital starts at $21.

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It is very difficult to snag up an ICU spot as a new grad. Not saying that it can't happen, but keep an open mind to other positions. A new grad starts around 22 to 24 an hour on days. There is often a shift differential after 3 pm, and another % higher for a night shift differential (after 7 pm). I'm in the St. Pete area of Florida. I would imagine wages would be similar where you are.

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I am from PA, and I am working as a GPN making $18/hr..so RNs here are starting at $25..I would first get experience working on a telemetry unit, or stroke unit. Because a lot of the patients I see getting admitted into the ICU are severe HA/CVA pts on life support. Or severely septic patients. And I work at a hospital in Pittsburgh where they require experience from either unit in order to work in the ICU

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

It all depends on location. Call the local hospital recruiter and ask them what a new grad makes. In CO where I live, they use a formula based on your experience. Grades, haircuts, how many puppies you've rescued, don't matter... Being a great student will probably give you an edge getting hired but won't affect your salary, sorry. Some hospitals will pay for certifications so you might be able to make $1 more per hour for CCRN for example, but other hospitals won't give you that. Good luck.

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I will be graduating in may from a pretty competitive school. Our professors tell us that we are known in the southwest part of the country for our outstanding NCLEX pass rate ~98%. My question is how much should I expect to make in my first year? I want to work in the ICU and I have a very high GPA honors and many nurses and doctors who will give me letters of recommendation. I was thinking 24-26/hr is this unreasonable?

I don't think you should set your expectations to high. The brand new grad does not have a lot of room to bargain their salary. You would be lucky to even get into critical care. I'm from North Carolina and all the new nurses across the board start at $20 an hour during on their first assignment. Get ready to work night shifts if you want that kind of hourly pay.

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Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.

I don't think you should set your expectations to high. The brand new grad does not have a lot of room to bargain their salary. You would be lucky to even get into critical care. I'm from North Carolina and all the new nurses across the board start at $20 an hour during on their first assignment. Get ready to work night shifts if you want that kind of hourly pay.

I am in NC as well. Im a nursing student who will graduating in May 2013!!! Rural southeast NC and I've never heard of any new grad around our area making more than $22/hr starting out. Of course almost everywhere in and around our area pays shift and holiday differentials for evenings, nights, and weekends.

As far as going into a specialty area. The local hospital where I have worked PRN the past 3 years, and where my school does the majority of its clinicals, the ER has hired and average of 10 new grads per year the past 3 years. ICU about an average of 5 new grads per year for the past 3 years.

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