Tampa Area New Grad RN Salary

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2010

It really doesn't help to post duplicate threads.

Might you research some of the other numerous threads on the topic. Plenty about FL pay rates.

I cannot provide a link but if you just use the "search" option for this BB, and put in florida new grad salary, they bring them up quite easily. One of the threads half way down the second page dated 12/09, has quoted rates from the three major Tampa hospitals for 20-22 dollars and some change.

Millerstudentnurse · Jan 12, 2010

Thanks a lot for your response.

Just could not find it via search but thanks for your help.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2010

I know that it does not sound thrilling, but those I believe are base rates. One can add quite a bit with weekend and night differentials. Some hospitals (not all) there will add 0.25 to 1.00 an hr for BSN.

Tampa is a middle ground of a sort for nursing in Florida. By middle ground, the conditions are not the greatest nor the worst. There are some places in Florida where the conditions are pretty abysmal. The WPB area maybe high brow and may be pretty, and may pay a dollar or more, but there are huge numbers of travelers/former travelers that wouldn't work there for any amount of money.

I started out as a nurse in Florida, and have worked in several regional hospitals just outside Tampa. I moved "upnorth" , because the work conditions left much to be desired, as well as the poor pay.

Nursing, is similar to medicine, in that when you leave school, no matter how good your education, you are still not ready to be fully independant. MDs have a defined internship, while nurses do not, unfortunately. Hospitals are aware of this, and pretty much across the Board consider the first year or two out of school, to be a sort of internship. There are a lot of expenses involved in this. And experience has shown that there is little difference in the ability of BSN vs ADN during this "internship".

However, if one accels in their orientation/first year, and demonstrates high caliber, they are much more able to negotiate: better position, more charge standing, better pay, all of which having a BSN helps with. After about two years, many people get certifications that also bring the pay rate up. And regular raises and COL (some on hold during this recession) or climbing the clinical ladder will bring the pay rate up. Though for some of us it means we max out fast.

If you note, most travel nurse agencies, most specialty certifications, some NP programs and most (if not all) CRNA programs, require a nurse to be experienced before dealing with them. while travlers require 1-2 years, most of the others require 2 years before testing/entering them. It is because they recognize the need for this internship.