Tennessee Nurses!

[Kwyman1210]

Hello Everyone! I am curious about Nursing in Tennessee! Currently I am an Emergency Room Nurse in a North Eastern Hospital in Alabama, we are a level II facility and we do not have a Neurosurgeon and our trauma surgeons most of the time want us to send out our major traumas instead of coming in and patching them back together. Out of all the patients we see regularly (minus the seasonal swings) we see Psych pts!

I believe I have reached my maxim growth cap at this hospital. I have worked both as a staff nurse and a charge. This hospital does not offer incentives for sticking around. It's sad to say but most of the nurse here have not received a raise in 5 years! I am not sticking around to find that out on my own.

I have now started looking for my next position around the country and it has led me to Tennessee. I love the mountains, as my fiancee and I like to hike, canoe, and other various out door activities. But we cannot give up our need for a medium/bigger city with shopping opportunities and various house/apartments.

SO now I ask you. The two hospitals I am looking at are; Vanderbilt University Hospital (Nashville) and University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital (Knoxville). Both are a Level I trauma center, score well on http://www.hospitalsafetyscore.org/ and are Magnet Hospitals. If anyone can help me out on the REAL cost of living, the average starting pay for a nurse at these hospitals, and difference between towns, that would be amazing!

Thank you!!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

Your thread was moved to TN nursing where you will get the best response from nurses in TN..:)

[serenitylove14]

I can only give you the Vandy perspective. The starting pay will be around 21+ since you have experience. 3dollars nights 6dollars weekends. Time in a half overtime over 40 hours and Certain holidays. Tuition is reimbursement is ok but has changed dramatically. The cost of living depends on how far out you mind living from were you work and if you want to rent or own. Williamson county of course is the higher end neighborhood and cost the amount to stay there, so I suggest Hendersonville area.

Hope that helps.

[unionnurse12]

WOW Vandy only starts at $21 with experience??!?!?!?! Memphis ADN start fresh out of school at $23 base....Most of my friends have gotten jobs within 3 months of graduation!!!!

[serenitylove14]

Im not sure how much u will get with experience but that's new grad pay.

[readyforachangenow]

Vandy is one of the lowest paying hospitals in the area. Everyone wants to work there because of the experience you get. They have no incentive to pay more when thousands are applying for jobs there.