Starting Salary 2nd Career BSN, Detroit Area

Tweety, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2008

Very good questions. More than likely you're gong to have to start as a new grad with an entry level position. Sometimes a bitter pill for older experienced workers, but that's the way it is.

I'll move your question to the Michigan Nurses forum where pehaps some locals can advise you on the salary.

Good luck!

HealthyRN · Feb 12, 2008

Hi Dave,

Unfortunately, nursing is a profession that does not award previous education and experience, at least when you are first starting out. You would have to start in an entry-level position. I live in the Detroit area and I can tell you that the starting salaries for new grads in the hospital range from $22-24/hr. I've been a nurse for two years and at my last bedside job I was making $22.15/hr. This does not include shift differentials or weekend pay, which was only $1.00/hr at this facility. I know that some area hospitals pay a bit more than this.

I got burned out at the bedside fairly quickly and I recently transitioned into a position outside of acute care. I am a salaried employee and making significantly more than I was in the hospital- $58,000/yr, which is about $18,000/yr more than I was making at the hospital. So, the opportunities for pay increases are there, but it will take you some time. At first, you will be taking a significant pay cut. You also have to keep in mind that most bedside nurses work a 36-hour/wk schedule, but you don't get paid for 40 and overtime doesn't start until you reach 40. I think your background would definitely help you to move into management positions, if that is what you want to do. Good luck!

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 14, 2008

As was already mentioned, you will have to take a pay cut if you change professions and start as an entry-level RN. Previous non-nursing related education and work experience unfortunately do not count for anything. Fortunately for many RN's, one year of bedside experience can usually open doors for positions with better earning potential. Many nurses apply for per diem jobs as well as agency jobs after one year of experience in the hospital setting. In Michigan, the hourly rates for these positions can get as high as $40-ish/hr. This can be an option for you if you are willing to live on a tight budget for the first year of your career.

Firehawk734 · Feb 14, 2008

I don't mind the tight budget, just need to make suer i can MAKE IT AT ALL with the starting salary! lol

Thank you so much.

Spartan05 · Feb 15, 2008

Good Afternoon,
I am thinking about switching from an Electrical Test Engineer (been doing this for 8+ years) to an RN and possibly later a Nurse Anesthetist. I'm planning to begin pre-reqs in the summer 2008 and then start a 1 year accelerated 2nd career BSN program at Oakland University in Michigan.
I guess one thing is holding me back. It's the starting salary. I really can't find a good, solid, starting salary for my area. And I was wondering if having a 2nd degree as an Engineer (I am not a manager, but I am a project leader, so it is like management) would allow me to possibly get a larger starting salary. Problem for me is I'm already out on my own and I have a house, so I can't afford a major paycut to switch. I make around 57,000 now (pathetic for an engineer with 8 years experience) and was hoping I could not have to lose more than 7-10,000 on a paycut to switch careers.
Is this feasible do you thinK? It's a shame for me. I knew i wasn't going to like Engineering but I thought there was a ton of money and job security in it. What a crock. I always knew I wanted to do something where I was helping people and earning that gratification from my job.
I really apprecaite any advice someone can give. My heart is calling me to do this, but financially I just can't risk that much of a paycut. Thanks for all the advice in advance!
Dave
PS. ALso wondering if having my previous supervising-type experience from engineering would net me a move up into nursing management a bit quicker...would it be taken into consideration at all? Thanks.

Dave,

Is there any way you could live on less for even a few years? The reason I ask is that if you are seriously considering nursing anesthesia, you'll be making quite a bit more than 57,000/yr. I just spoke with a nurse anesthestist here in Lansing and they are paying new CRNAs 150,000/yr plus a sign-on bonus of $20,000 for a two year commitment.

I have a similiar path in that I graduated with an Engineering degree in 2005 and worked for a year before deciding to go back to school and into nursing. I know that short term it may be less money but, long term you'll come out ahead financially and more importantly, from your post it sounds like your new career will be a lot more fufilling than engineering.

Anyways, PM me if you have any more questions.

Firehawk734 · Feb 16, 2008

Spartan,

I got your PM asking if I got your other PM...I didn't get it, and when I tried to reply, it said you were over storage space. That might be why it didnt' show in your sent box. But, I didn't get it regardless...

RNDave · Feb 17, 2008

I'm a recent OU graduate (June, 07). The above is true, but... Working afternoons or midnights (which you will probably have to do anyway) will get you a significant shift differential in addition to your hourly rate. Also, depending on when you graduate you may see a cost of living, or greater, increase in pay sooner than you might think. Volunteer to work holidays and fill in when staffing is short. All this will get you closer to the salary you're leaving behind.

Dave

BillboSN · Feb 18, 2008

St. Johns Health System - 23.65

St. Joes - about 25.00

DMC - 22 something

RN1982 · Feb 19, 2008

Pay for new graduates is that same for nurses with ADNs or BSNs, hate to break it to ya. Yeah, you can go to school for CRNA after 2-3 years experience in SICU but not many SICUs will hire new grads unless they were externs on the unit. Second, the money CRNAs get is great but the schooling itself is tough and you can't really work because it's full-time program. Before you decide to do anything, think about it first and decide if its what you really want. Just because there is a shortage of RNs, doesn't mean that everyone should be doing it. Its not any easy profession by any means and you will see a lot of things you are not accustomed to.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 19, 2008

Salaries are not different for those with the BSN, perhaps a quarter, or up to a dollar, but not more. They are interested in the license and nothing more than that.

Once you have some experience under your belt, you can work agency, or per diem shifts at another facility and get more money. Those shifts are in the range of about $37 per hour and up in your area. And as others have mentioned, working afternoons or nights get you more money, as well as working weekends for some facilities.

Being a second courser, does not change the salary that you will get, you will be starting as a new grad in nursing and will start with that pay rate.

Best of luck to you.

Spartan05 · Feb 19, 2008

Pay for new graduates is that same for nurses with ADNs or BSNs, hate to break it to ya. Yeah, you can go to school for CRNA after 2-3 years experience in SICU but not many SICUs will hire new grads unless they were externs on the unit. Second, the money CRNAs get is great but the schooling itself is tough and you can't really work because it's full-time program. Before you decide to do anything, think about it first and decide if its what you really want. Just because there is a shortage of RNs, doesn't mean that everyone should be doing it. Its not any easy profession by any means and you will see a lot of things you are not accustomed to.

Kati:

Maybe its just me but this post seems really negative. I have heard of ICUs that hire new grads and also of CRNA schools that have admitted applicants with only one year of experience, nothing is really as set in stone as you make it appear.

Also, not only is the money in CRNA great but the work you are doing in sustaining someone's life and health during a surgery is important. With that being said I doubt anyone would expect training for such an important, well-paid position to be a walk in the park....I think more importantly than saying whether something is tough or not is saying whether the effort you put forth is worth it.

I hope you don't think I am coming down too hard on you and I think maybe your post was just to give people a dose of reality in that it takes a lot of effort, work, and drive to make it to something as tough as a CRNA (and not everyone can handle it) but, at the same time, from the experiences of people I have talked to, every bit of effort and energy you put into making it is rewarded by the benefits of the position (both monetary and nonmaterialistic).