I'm a career changer and was wondering if this was true - can RN's work 3-4 days/wk and make a good salary? All I need is about 50K and I'm golden! I have a degree in Biology and I'm considering, like a lot of people, RN/NP (Yes, I know there's a difference) vs PA vs MD. If I become a nurse, I'll do a direct entry, masters program and maybe make my way to being a NP. Eh...not sure.
So, basically, are these works hours reasonable? I'm all about having a flexible job that'll allow me to partake in my lovely hobbies. I'm hoping you guys can help me with this...
Also, how hard would it be for a new grad to get a job at a children's hospital? I've have helathcare experience and I know, for sure, that I ONLY want pediatric patients. Working in an adult hospital isn't an option.
I started working as a new grad one year ago and made $80,000 within the year. That's working less than full time.... I take lot of low census days (which means they call you and ask if you want to stay home and NOT work/get paid when the patient census is too low and the hospital has overstaffed itself). If I worked all 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts, no overtime, I would have made about $85,000.
P.S., just wanted to add that most of the nurses I work with, who have about 4 years experience, make well over $100,000 per year.
I started working as a new grad one year ago and made $80,000 within the year. That's working less than full time.... I take lot of low census days (which means they call you and ask if you want to stay home and NOT work/get paid when the patient census is too low and the hospital has overstaffed itself). If I worked all 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts, no overtime, I would have made about $85,000.
P.S., just wanted to add that most of the nurses I work with, who have about 4 years experience, make well over $100,000 per year.
Where are you located? I am a new grad in NC and what I was offered as new grad is NO where near $85k/yr! As previously stated I am at the wrong hospital!
I love 12 hr shifts! Right now, I am in the middle of my 14 day vacation... I only used 4 days of vacation pay. I've been a nurse for a long time now. I can easily pull in 80-88k a year, depending on how much OT I pick up. Nursing has allowed so much flexibility in my life. I worked PRN while my kids were little. Now, as a full-timer, I am enjoying perks like paid vacation and have picked up the health insurance for my family since it is better than my husband's.
Yes it can be very demanding and difficult work at times... my worst shift was just a few months ago.. I went in to work at 7pm and got off work at 1pm the next day....but I wouldn't trade my job for anything... I love it. My teenage daughter is planning to go to nursing school because she has seen how beneficial my nursing career has been to our family.
The Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital and Disney Children's hospital here in Orlando hire new grads. I have friends who just got hired in both facilites, after graduating last month. In fact, I just looked at the job board for Disney Children's hospital and they have new graduate positions in pediatrics and NICU posted now.
As for the pay, you could make $50K starting pay, working three 12-hour shifts per week... depending on what part of the country you are in. Here in Orlando, you'd make closer to $40K starting out. If you can get a night shift (which often has waiting lists because the shift differential is so good), then you'd be making over $50K to start even here in Florida.
Salary largely depends on where in the country you live.
I'm fortunate in that where I live, the cost of living is pretty low and the salary for nurses is more than decent. I should break $60k this year as a nurse hired with 1 year experience. I work my 3 days per week, but I've picked up an extra 18 hours so far this year...haha.
It's a challenging job because you're responsible for peoples' lives. Different specialties bring different challenges, so working conditions and levels of stress will also fluctuate depending on which area of nursing you decide to go into.
It's difficult to say what's hard about nursing because different people perceive it differently. But in many places working conditions are extremely poor. Hospitals are understaffed most of the time. You could find yourself running ragged every day you work. Most do.
There's the stress of dealing with death, even on floors where it's uncommon. The fact that each and every day you work you may be literally holding someone's life in your hands. And if someone else makes a mistake and you don't catch it you can be held just as liable.
You will see things that will break your heart, over and over again. But you'll learn to deal with it.
I'm not trying to make it sound like a downer or to discourage you. But people need to go into it with their eyes wide open.
It can be a very difficult job, and also the most rewarding.
As others have said .. pay rates vary greatly in different parts of the country, usually directly related to the cost of living. Check with local hospitals in your area to see what nurses typically make. Don't forget to include the "differentials" that are usually paid for night shifts, weekends, etc in your calculations. Most hospitals pay a "base rate" per hour and then add on extra money for working the less popular shifts. For example, a person's base pay might be $20.00 per hour ... and then get an addition $2.00 per hour for working during the evening ... or $6.00 per hour for working a night shift ... etc. Those differentials add up.
As for working in a children's hospital. Yes, it is possible to work in a pediatric hospital. Most children's hospitals hire new grads. However, you have to remember that there is a lot of competition for those slots as it is a popular specialty. To increase your chances of being hired as a new grad, it pays to work in the hospital (or at least volunteer) while you are a student. If that is not possible, at least find some way to work with children so that your resume shows that you have both a long-term interest in children and also experience in working with them. I work in a children's hospital and am involved with hiring and orientation. The vast majority of new grads we hire have either worked as nursing assistants in pediatrics or in some other capacity for a children's health facility, have done a student preceptorship in peds, done special summer programs in ped, or something like that.
It will also a lot to be an outstanding student -- and to choose pediatric topics whenever you have a choice in your school's curriculum. You'll need to stand out as an applicant and not be "just another new grad" with nothing special on your resume.
Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.
I started working as a new grad one year ago and made $80,000 within the year. That's working less than full time.... I take lot of low census days (which means they call you and ask if you want to stay home and NOT work/get paid when the patient census is too low and the hospital has overstaffed itself). If I worked all 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts, no overtime, I would have made about $85,000.
P.S., just wanted to add that most of the nurses I work with, who have about 4 years experience, make well over $100,000 per year.
WHAT???????
WHERE?!?!?
i frankly find this extremely hard to believe that a new grad RN can possibly make more than an NP!!!
i frankly find this extremely hard to believe that a new grad RN can possibly make more than an NP!!!
New grads in San Jose make $45-50/hr. Believe it. Thats without shift differentials or anything else. When I started a few years ago they were even offering a signing bonus. No more bonuses though. Its tough , very tough for a new grad right now. Hundreds of applicants for a handful of positions.
Thank you for all of the responses! Well, it sounds like working in a Peds hospital will be doable, as long as I structure my training around it...which I'd do b/c I know that's where I want to work. Thing is, I'd be working in Southern California; San Diego. Do you think that's a tough market? A few of you guys said Peds is a specialty that a lot of people want to work in...not according to the hiring mang at the SD hosp I talked to. She said, "...Peds is always hard to fill b/c not a lot of people want to work around kids all day." I'm assuming you guys disagree with that statement?
Also, I've heard a lot about new grads not being able to find jobs. I don't want to change careers, work my butt off in school and not be able to find a job. I know I'd improve my job opportunities by moving but I don't want leave San Diego. Clearly, who would? So, moving is not an option...
So, am I drastically limiting my options when I said I only want to work in San Diego and for a childen's hospital? I'm thinking no...as long as I work at a children's hospital during school, volunteer and do anything I can think of that would boost my resume. Agree or disagree?
Oh! And someone else mentioned that people are pretty much lining up to work the night shift b/c it pays more? I thought people were lining up to work the day shift? I'd only work the night shift if they made me. With that said, do you think it's unrealistic to go into nursing only wanting to work the day shift? I don't care how much money I can make working nights; I'm not interested.
*Yes, I know I have a lot of stipulations :chuckle
I have a degree in Biology and I'm considering, like a lot of people, RN/NP (Yes, I know there's a difference) vs PA vs MD. If I become a nurse, I'll do a direct entry, masters program and maybe make my way to being a NP. Eh...not sure. 
I know I'd improve my job opportunities by moving but I don't want leave San Diego. Clearly, who would?
JomoNurse
267 Posts
I started working as a new grad one year ago and made $80,000 within the year. That's working less than full time.... I take lot of low census days (which means they call you and ask if you want to stay home and NOT work/get paid when the patient census is too low and the hospital has overstaffed itself). If I worked all 3 days a week, 12 hour shifts, no overtime, I would have made about $85,000.
P.S., just wanted to add that most of the nurses I work with, who have about 4 years experience, make well over $100,000 per year.