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2/23/2011 2:57:02 PM EDT
Just interviewed for two R.N. positions at a hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Interviews both went well.  Waiting for a phone call either way.  Starting pay there is $20.80/hr.  Seems kind of low even for starting pay in Iowa.  What say you????

AV1611 out.....

P.S.:  Yes, I'm a new grad and this would be my first nursing gig.
2/23/2011 4:04:45 PM EDT
[#1]
I hear the bennies are quite nice if you find a job at a hospital.
2/23/2011 4:07:03 PM EDT
[#2]
Quoted:
Just interviewed for two R.N. positions at a hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Interviews both went well.  Waiting for a phone call either way.  Starting pay there is $20.80/hr.  Seems kind of low even for starting pay in Iowa.  What say you????

AV1611 out.....

P.S.:  Yes, I'm a new grad and this would be my first nursing gig.


Pay is right in line with a brand new, just starting out RN around here.  My sister is up to around $24-26/hr after a pay fair and 6 years as an RN.  Started out $20-21/hr.
2/23/2011 4:12:46 PM EDT
[#3]
What's the shift diffs? Is overtime freely available?

I really couldn't tell you what new grads should make, but one piece of advice...

GO WITH THE BEST "EXPERIENCE" OFFER.

In two years, you can up your salary by switching facilities if you get some really good experience under your belt.  Focus on building a good resume, getting your clinical skills and time management down, then don't hesitate to test the waters in a couple years to see if you can land a sweet gig.


2/23/2011 4:19:15 PM EDT
[#4]
I got hired as a new grad RN in January 2010 for about the same, but with shift differential & weekends it raises it to about $22.  So that's a realistic figure these days.

Good luck & have fun.
2/23/2011 4:21:49 PM EDT
[#5]
I knew an ICU RN with two years experience only making $21 an hour.  I'm just a shit head respiratory therapist and I was a shade under $18.  That extra $3 an hour wouldn't be enough for all the shit nurses have to swallow.  
2/23/2011 4:22:22 PM EDT
[#6]
Wife hired in out of school at $25 an hour, hospital, med surg.  She just took a clinic job (M-F, 8-5, 5 miles from home) for $21 an hour, after working at the hospital 6 months.  Local nursing home starts new RNs at $23 an hour.
2/23/2011 4:27:11 PM EDT
[#7]
2 years after my sister started her nursing career, she was promoted to charge nurse. Making some $40 /hr i believe. She usually works more than 3 days a week and make alot on overtime.
2/23/2011 4:27:25 PM EDT
[#8]
Shift diffs are $1.00 for 3pm-7pm, $1.60 7pm-11pm, and $1.80 11pm-7a.m.  + .30 an hour for weekends.

Paid leave accrues 23 days/yr.  403(b) = 3% employer contribution + 50% of every dollar contributed by employee up to 4% of pay.  3 health insurance plan options, 2 dental, plus a program that pays for an additional 25% of your health care premiums if you maintain certain health parameters yearly (I assume, weight, BMI, blood pressure).


AV1611 out......

Edit:  Yes, OT is readily available.  One job is 3 12's.  The other is a mix of 8's and 12's.  Both are on a 6 week block schedule.
2/24/2011 5:03:27 PM EDT
[#9]
ouch, your shift diffs hurt my wallet.  

In dallas I made +$3.50 for night shifts (7pm-7am) and +$9 for weekends (friday 7pm-monday 7am).  Granted this was in Dallas where nurses make more than typical cities in Texas.  That said, moved to Austin last year and the shift diffs are $2.00 for nights and $3.00 for weekends.  That and the hourly pay here in Austin is not competitive as Dallas.  My current hospital here luckily matched my hourly pay from Dallas but repeatedly told me I was making what they considered the pay for nurse with 5 years more experience than what I currently have.

Once you get a few years under your belt, don't overlook a PRN home health gig.  It's not as glamorous as an ICU or ER gig, but the pay and flexibility is GREAT!  I can make more in a laid back 8 hour home health shift on a weekend than I do an OT 12 hour shift in the ER.  If you get experience in maintaining PICC lines or maybe some experience/certification in administering chemo you should look into a PRN home infusion therapy gig.  The money in those fields is great considering the stress and workload!  A good friend of mine landed one and stated she reads books about half her day while sitting next to the patient waiting on the infusion to complete.  They are a little harder to come by, but there is a reason nurses don't want to leave. ;)

2/24/2011 5:06:12 PM EDT
[#10]
This thread is of interest for me.
2/24/2011 5:10:05 PM EDT
[#11]
Starting RNs make 21-22 at hospitals in louisville, KY. and slightly less across here in indiana.  I hire home health RNs for medicaide home care and you needc 1 year of experience and we would pay 18 or 19.
2/24/2011 5:23:17 PM EDT
[#12]
I know many RN's in the area are making $30+ for PRN w/ marginally experience at nursing homes. $23 seems to be about right for the starting hospital positions.

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