16.50 Starting Wage for a Grad Nurse???? Oh No! Say it Ain't So.....

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I was having a conversation with my sister-n-law who graduated in May 2004 from UMC. She told me that she talked to some of her friends who graduated this year and they were getting jobs that only started you off with 16.50! I asked her shouldn't it be around 19.00? She said that is with shift differential included and that 16.50 is the base. This is the same woman who told my husband when she graduated that she started off with 19.00 an hour back in 2004 (and she works in a renal clinic, i.e. no overnights).

Is it just me or is this somewhat low for the Jackson Metro Area? I think my cousin, who just graduated as a Respiratory Therapist will start off with somewhere around that. Are the salaries that much similar. I mean that is only a 2 year degree. I have another friend who knows someone making 20.00 an hour as a Respiratory Therapist, which she's probably not a new grad though.

Does anyone know if this is the norm? (16.50 an hour for a new RN grad in Jackson Metro area)

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Specializes in ER.

Umm, I started at $17 but that was 15 years ago. Seems like we should have gotten a raise by now.

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]Unfortunately your information regarding base pay being at $16.50/hr is correct! That is not just at UMC, but at most area hospitals. New grads that had already been employed as SN may be getting more per hour, but I have not heard that from anyone. I just graduated from Hinds ADN program last month-job at UMC-$16.50/hr. Seems kind of low to me, but as new graduate I cannot very well point out experience that would get me more than that amount. Oh well I guess it could be worse! Maybe after a year or so of med-surg experience I will be able to move on to bigger and better things. :)

I was having a conversation with my sister-n-law who graduated in May 2004 from UMC. She told me that she talked to some of her friends who graduated this year and they were getting jobs that only started you off with 16.50! I asked her shouldn't it be around 19.00? She said that is with shift differential included and that 16.50 is the base. This is the same woman who told my husband when she graduated that she started off with 19.00 an hour back in 2004 (and she works in a renal clinic, i.e. no overnights).

Is it just me or is this somewhat low for the Jackson Metro Area? I think my cousin, who just graduated as a Respiratory Therapist will start off with somewhere around that. Are the salaries that much similar. I mean that is only a 2 year degree. I have another friend who knows someone making 20.00 an hour as a Respiratory Therapist, which she's probably not a new grad though.

Does anyone know if this is the norm? (16.50 an hour for a new RN grad in Jackson Metro area)

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Does anyone know if this is the norm? (16.50 an hour for a new RN grad in Jackson Metro area)

Yes, it is the same at St. Dominic

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Specializes in Critical Care.

base for new grads is : 20.50 in mid-Texas.

That's before shift diffs.

My shift diff is 1.00 evenings, 3.50 nights, 1.00 for sunday.

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base for new grads is : 20.50 in mid-Texas.

That's before shift diffs.

My shift diff is 1.00 evenings, 3.50 nights, 1.00 for sunday.

Now THAT sounds like a good starting rate!:)

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sorry, duplicate post

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Specializes in Case Manager, LTC,Staff Dev/NAT Instr.

I find that hard to believe and interesting Meridian is not close to being as huge as Jackson and they start off more.....

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Specializes in ACNP-BC.

Wow, that does seem pretty low. Maybe the cost of living where you are is lower? At my hospital in Mass the starting salary for new RNs is $24.33/hour, plus I am making $3/hour more because I''m working 3-11 PM-so I''m making $27.33 as a new RN. If you work the night shift, you get $5/hour more, and it's $1/hour more on weekends too. Of course, my apt rent is sky high too!!!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
Wow, that does seem pretty low. Maybe the cost of living where you are is lower? At my hospital in Mass the starting salary for new RNs is $24.33/hour, plus I am making $3/hour more because I''m working 3-11 PM-so I''m making $27.33 as a new RN. If you work the night shift, you get $5/hour more, and it's $1/hour more on weekends too. Of course, my apt rent is sky high too!!!

That is what it is around here as well. 16.50 seems too low IMO.

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$16.50!!!

Highway Robbery!

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The Baptist Hospital visited our school a few weeks ago and the flyer they passed out to all the students listed 16.50 per hour to nursing graduates. They did have other ways listed to increase that such as float pool, weekend only and differentials, but the base starting rate was 16.50. Everyone was saying how low it was. Well, I know of one place I won't be working when I graduate.:stone

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