Should I take this job?

[BarsAndLeanPRN]

I've been offered a job on a burn icu but the pay is really low (high 20s-low 30s per hour depending on differential.) I know it'll be good experience, and I know they say not to be picky for the first nursing job but I can't help but to think that the pay is pretty low. What do you all think?

[Anna S, RN]

Depends on the job market where you live.

I have over 20 years experience, and I'm making $29.00/hr.

[esipbisn]

In which state are you Anna S?

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

What do you all think?

I think you should take the job, especially if you have no other options at the present time.

The blunt reality is you're in California, which has one of the most horrid new grad nursing employment markets in the entire country. You need to take what you can get.

In addition, you have no valuable bargaining chips upon which you can negotiate as an inexperienced new nurse. The employer is lowballing the wage because they can. If you do not take it, there's a line of new grads who will accept the offer with no questions asked.

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

Accept it only if you want to work Burn ICU. Sometimes you have to settle on lower pay, a bad commute, & an undesirable work schedule to get a few years of experience under your belt so you can move onto bigger & better things. SoCal is not an easy job market for new grads so decide wisely.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

How do you know this is a really low rate?

What would be an acceptable rate to you?

What kind of nursing would you rather be doing?

How desperate are you for a job?

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

I don't know where you live and what kind of "costs of living" you'd be dealing with...however, I would assume any burn ICU would be in a fairly decent-sized city where cost of living is a bit higher. To me though, your pay sounds MARVELLOUS. Although you need to think about this...burn nursing works heavily on the soul. They probably are paying you well with this in mind.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

I started off lower than that as a new grad (east coast). Take what you can get. Seriously.

[turtlesRcool]

What were you expecting to be paid?

Also, what made you think the pay would be higher?

I'm not in California, so I don't know the market, but high 20s to low 30s seems about what new grads make in my area.

[BarsAndLeanPRN]

Thank you all! I'm taking the job =)

Finally hired!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Thank you all! I'm taking the job =)

Finally hired!

Yes! Congratulations on obtaining the job and thank you for returning to provide the commentariat with an update.

[nursepenelope]

Depends on what state you live in. That would be awsome experience. Money isn't everything and you can always move on once you get that 6 months to one year acute care experience you need. You might find you love it, and the money doesn't matter to you. I'd go for it if I were you! But that's just me who graduated in 2008 and still don't have that coveted acute care experience.