Wife getting ready to Graduate. Worried about her pay!!! CALIF.

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:cry:Hello all- first off let me inform you. I am currently in my last year of the navy and my wife will be done with her RN in about the same time. What I was hoping was that she would begin her job and I would go to school (Kinda opposite of what we're doing now)- but what she's been hearing lately was that nurses don't make too much at all, less than what I make now as a matter a fact which was a huge disappointment to both of us seeing as how we have two little girls (Child care) and bills that she would have to take over. Could someone please shed as much light as possible to put our hearts at ease. We currently live in San Marcos CA. We understand that taxes take a huge chunk of change out but for an RN I figured we'd still be ok for me to go to school financially.

Sorry if this seems as an ignorant thread I really don't know anything out the pay. I've tried to search but I'm unfamiliar w/ these forums. Please help as best as you can. Thank you in advance.

What area of Ga. are you looking into? I lived there for many years.

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What area of Ga. are you looking into? I lived there for many years.

Well somewhere near Macon GA, although when driving through ATL my wife all of a sudden wanted to get her masters at a school up there? But family lives in Macon so I would assume there. I know theres CGTC for one- But I don't know what courses they could provide or if the GI bill would cover it.

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Only1Balto, I do not know what the GI bill pays for but college will be instate tuition if you go to college in the state you enlisted in. I do not know if that might make a difference or not.

(another old time vet here)

Good luck

Sandy

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Hi there, I don't have too much to add by way of salary info for your wife, but wanted to mention the new GI Bill recently signed into law. My husband (in the military also) was just talking about it the other day as I am trying to get through school while he is in and then work when he gets out so he can finish school. Anyhow, it says:

"Eligible students also will receive a monthly stipend for books of up to $1,000 per year and a monthly housing allowance of about $1,000. The housing stipend will be tied to the Pentagon's basic allowance for housing rates."

http://www.military.com/news/article/bush-to-sign-new-gi-bill-today.html?col=1186032325324&ESRC=marine-a.nl

Perhaps the new benefits can help you maintain here in Cali while she gets some nursing experience? Another poster mentioned the VA hospitals, a great idea, she can try looking at usajobs.com for salary info as far as what they pay and where the RN jobs are. Also, my mother worked for the CA dept. of corrections for several years as medical staff, and RN's are compensated very well (if she is willing to work in that environement). Perhaps she could also check the CA state website, it will show VA hospital openings, corrections, and so on and give upfront info on pay scales. Plus, there are very good medical benefits, something you'll need after you separate from the military, especially with children.

http://jobs.spb.ca.gov/wvpos/search_p.cfm

I hope this info was helpful for you, best wishes to you both!! :D

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Sorry I did not reply after I posted a question. Off to tend to the horses-our vet arrived early....

Macon is a nice area, so is Warner Robbins. The cost of living will blow you away after living in Ca. I actually lived about one hour south of there and was in my glory! I have lived all the way from the north Ga. mountains, in and around Atl., to south Ga. If we could move back to Ga. we would, but my husbands firm is here. As you know, you live where the mortage gets paid!!

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Thank you SO very much for your guidance- I appreaciate every word that was said. I take it you've seen this before/ done this before?

Yes - been there, done that. Got my husband through bachelor's up to doctor after he left Navy. If you have any specific questions send me a pm.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

I'd love to read all the posts on this thread, but the 12 hours shift has got me a little down and tired tonight. I'm new and not use to 12 hrs. So I don't know if someone mentioned the possibility of overtime.

I work 3 days a week, so I'll say that working a 4th day with OT will be something like $40 + per hour. It's very easy to get overtime with working only 3 days per week. Have you thought of it that way?

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.
Ah don't worry about being blunt- I can take it:D. I'm the type of person who would would like to be prepared for anything so I always look at things from a perspective that would allow leeway. I in NO MEANS wanted to go to school full time while my wife works full time supporting the family- that would be down right degrading. I was just more focused on what she would be able to handle as far as her salary. Please forgive me if I gave the wrong impressions. My school would be for around 3 years but I'd be working either part/full time depending on the job. As far as staying in the military- my father was in the military and him being gone for most all my life left me tarnished. I'd want to be hear to be a great father and dad to my little girls, ESPECIALLY now a days. Thank you so much for your guidance and tough love;)

Thanks for clarifying. I will say that I have been around enough to know that many, many people get out of the military without some sort of plan - accordingly, most end up regretting the decision to leave. Please make sure you plan for the worst, especially with the economy as it is today. The best gift you can give your children is being happy!

I graduated in Dec. '06 and after taxes, 401k, etc, I bring home around $1700 biweekly working 3 12's on nights. I do well for myself and my family, but nursing is certainly not the career to get rich from. Not sure what wages are like in Georgia, but this is what you can expect from SoCal RN wages. And raises are about once per year, averaging about 4% of base salary. We are also lucky enough to receive retention bonuses every six months, but once taxes are withheld it only ends up to be around $1000. But hey, it's better than nothing! ;)

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Specializes in Infusion Nursing, Home Health Infusion.

Please consider contributing to the TSA. Many hospitals match up to 6 percent and this will also lower your tax burden. It grows fast too.

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Specializes in Staff nurse.

If you are now in the Navy, won't you be going to school with some sort of GI Bill to help with tuition and costs?

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

Hi! first i wanted to say Thank you for your service! (My daddy was Navy, and I"m an Army Wife) :) and second I just wanted to give you another option as well... once your wife takes her NCLEX and gets licensed, if you were to move right after that, she can endorse her license to GA and then work. I did this after LPN school, i took my test in ohio and then hubby got back from iraq and we were stationed here in texas. I had no trouble finding a job even though my education was from another state, AND cost of living was way cheaper here than ohio anyway!

Also we plan to do the same thing you and your family are doing in 3 yrs. I am working on my RN now, and hopefully once he gets out of the Army I plan on working and supporting our family of 4 while he is going to go to school and take care of the kids. If he has to he will work part time only. But i'd work myself into the ground if it meant he was home safe and never had to deploy again!!! Some people dont get how even when the service member is home, he's alway training or working late nights and preparing to deploy again...blah...ok i'm off topic,

anyway, i think you guys will be fine on just her wages depending on how you all shop, and the "extras" that you can live without. Also I think someone mentioned that the new GI BILL was passed, that $1,000 extra a month could be your "housing" money and then her income could pay for the rest of the bills...that way it's like the Navy is paying for your housing again (because that's an expense most of us are not used to when you are in the service) I honestly could support our family her in TX on my LPN wages alone (I make $18/hr) but cost of living is soooo much cheaper!

Good luck with what you guys decide to do! And congrats to your wife for getting though RN school ...it's tough when you are military and move so much! =)

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If you are now in the Navy, won't you be going to school with some sort of GI Bill to help with tuition and costs?

The GI Bill does not go as far as people think it does. It almost certainly will not pay for a full bachelor's degree and all the expenses that go along with one.

College tuition has been increasing to some outrageous levels. Top that off with books that cost a hundred or more EACH, and any other supplies you need, extra fees for library & computer use (even if you never use them while you are enrolled) and the numerous other fees that colleges are imposing to try and make money.....even with the new GI Bill plan things will tight and even more so when you have children to think about.

I am proud to be married to a vet and be descended from vets on both sides. I am happy that there are still some people willing to give up so much to protect this country and let me live in a house with electricity. Unfortunately, our military members are not taken care of like the general public thinks. Many Navy personnel and their families live in substandard housing - if they can get base housing at all. The medical care is not always cheap and it certainly doesn't last the life of the veteran much less their families. Just ask all the people on waiting lists to try to see a VA doc while their diabetes gets out of control. Military personnel often get the short end of the stick and certainly not what has been promised over the years. The public would probably be surprised at the number of enlisted personnel who require government assistance like food stamps.

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