When an employer asks 'what's the lowest wage you are willing to accept'...

[Nola009]

What would you say as a new (ADN RN) graduate ? Especially when you have student loans that will need to be paid on very soon ? I have been offered one job at a 'skilled' unit of a post-hospital care facility and the number is in the teens (19) when I was at least expecting 20 something/hr. The patient load will be around 20. Is that too much to ask for a new grad? No one told us it would be so difficult to find a decent job when we were in school.....

My class graduated in May and less than half have jobs. Idk if I should hold out for something better or not. In a perfect world, I definitely would.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

One hospital with excellent benefits pays 19.00 an hour. One hospital system pays 25. Another used to pay 24 but now only the union hospital gets 24. The other ones gets 21 an hour with an extra dollar if you work night shift.

[gcupid]

Retaliate...... Answering a question with a question. What is highest salary you are willing to accept at my level, Bc I plan on putting my best into this position as oppose to doing the bare minimum to get by without being fired.

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

What would you say as a new (ADN RN) graduate ?

I hope someone asks me that so I can say, "Whatever you are getting should be fine." And then stare deadpan at them when they laugh.

[RN_Sara]

I live in OH and I have two friends that have gotten home health care jobs as new grads. Both of them had inside contacts but I am guessing even having inside contacts would make them not be able to work there if what you heard is true. 19 seems low but that might be more standard for LTC facilities around here. Good luck to you.

[D.R.A.]

LTC typically pays more than hospital in my experience. In my area, new grads hire at $19/hr. I'm in the south. Cost of living in way low. For LTC they hire around $21/hr. Pay scale goes up for PRN and float pool.

Find some of your classmates who know the going rate. I requested the going rate for my required pay scale. Employers here don't use the terminology 'lowest wage' very often. I think its tacky anyway.

but I think they want to push the limits of safety too far... too many higher acuity pts. Taking pts w/ 'buffed' charts just to maximise profits. Not cool. Not cool at all!

I know this is a stale thread but...

I always chuckle when I read new grads making declarative statements about safety.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

In SE Texas i started LVNs at $18.50/hr

[AIR0812]

I think it depends upon the geographical area in which you work. I have 30+ years of experience but when I look back, after having to have at least one year experience and then take a post-grad critical care course (6 months) and if I passed I was allowed to work in ICU, CCU and earned (without shift differential) $6.25/hour. My girlfriend was a heavy equipment operator making $15/hour. Now, with my experience I won't touch anyone for under $30/hour. I don't know what area you're in but $19/hour seems awfully low. But it may be based upon geographics.

[Cuddleswithpuddles]

[suanna]

You must have some idea whay the going rate in in your area for new AD grads- it can be researched on the web in about 15min. I see several important points: if the place is offering you much less that the going rate- they are going to be on the short end in staffing, equipment and supplies as a business philosophy. With that to look forward too- unless you can stick it out for 6 mos to a year- I'd rather be unemployed. Student loans can be "deferred" arrangements can be made to negotiate payments, but once you start working as a nurse- they expect the $$$ to be paid back without arguement. "The job was A Living Nightmare, so I quit before it killed me or I killed a patinet" isn't going to cut much slack with the holding company for your loans, but "the market is very tight and I've been unable to secure a position that is in line with my training and experience may buy you a few more mos. The fact that you could do the job they offered you for a crappy wage for a short while, dosen't make it a job within your training and experience.

The other side- what you describe isn't too far outside of what I've heard is the norm for patient load in this type of unit. I couldn't do it, but I know new grads that have. Six mos as an "experienced" nurse and you can almost write your own ticket compaired to the next graduating class of new grads. If there are no other offers- even at the risk of working in a pergatory for 6 mos- it may be worth consideration-just for the right to put "experienced" on your next application. That is a job perk that's hard to turn down reguardless of the actual $ wages.

[smartnurse1982]

Take the job and gain experience,sheesh!

That seems like a no brainer to me!

you could also get a side,part time job.