Just wondering how many of you "homesteaders" are in the nursing field? I am starting an LPN program the end of August with hopes of bumping up to a 2 yr RN after that. My state has a mandated "fast track" option for PNs to become RNs, so my PN schooling will transfer to any state funded RN program. Hubby & I are hoping that being in the medical field will open things up for us to move to a small community where I can work in a small hospital. I am aware of the nursing shortage and pay scale in my area, but would love to hear the scales from some more remote locations. Any advice, suggestions, etc would be appreciated.

-- Elle (hotging@aol.com), June 29, 2000

Answers

Elle, I don't know how rural your location is so I can't be sure how my income will compare with your area - I know if I compare it to Indy, etc..., I come out way low.

I am an RN (AAS degree) - started out as a new grad in a 200 bed hospital last year at $14/hr, plus shift differential of $.90 and $1 for working 12 hour nights (per hour). Nursing homes pay just a little higher, but I prefer the hospital - for many reasons! I work three nights a week, and could easily find another part time job in my area were I needing money more than I need time. I also get time and a half over 40 hours, and different areas of the hospital pay different wages, more skills also increases your wage. Don't stop with the PN program, get your RN - NOW! Before they decide that you need a BSN to be an RN.

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), June 29, 2000.

Ah, Nursing...30 years ago I graduated from Nursing school....I agree that you'd better hurry up and get your RN...a nurses' worst enemy is the almighty American Nurses Association imho....who knows what string of extra initials they will require in the future as they work to produce "professionals"..Sorry, a real sore spot with me..Now to the topic...Rural PA salaries start at around $18/hr...here in AL, they start around $14/hr...good luck...

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), June 29, 2000.

Hi, I am an operating room nurse. I earned my ASN degree six years ago, and started at 12.10 an hour ( I kid you not). With my certification pay and annual raises I make close to $20 hour now, work three twelve hour shifts during the week, no weekends or call back. Most people in the operating room here take call, and make a lot more money than I do. The twelve hour (sometimes 13 and 14 hour) days do get long, but I am compensated by the time off I get. I live in southeastern NM. I agree with everyone else, go for your RN, it's definitely worth it. LPNs cannot work in a lot of areas in my hospital (ER,OR,ICU for example). The surgical technicians make more than the LPNs do. Good luck.

-- Gina (inhock@pvtnetworks.net), June 29, 2000.

Appears (from the outside looking in) that many vacancies/opportunities are available in rural Australia (and urban, for what that's worth). I would guess that with aging population there will be an ongoing shortage worldwide for a long time. Nursing used to be the best way for young girls to work in Europe (mostly Britain) a long time ago - may still apply for people who want to get that world trip in before settling in a rural area.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), June 29, 2000.

I've been and RN for about 15 years. Was an LPN first and then got my RN right away. Worked in nursing homes as a staff nurse, rehab nurse, and assistant director of nursing, I was close to making $40,000 as ADON but finally got tired of all the frustration that comes along with nursing home regs and supervision responsibilities, and on-call. Now am working with a medicaid waiver program which assists nursing home eligible people to stay in there homes instead of NH placement. Took a big pay cut, I make around $30,000 a year but well worth no weekends, or on-call and the stress of being torn apart by state surveyors every year no matter how well you try to do your job. Also with this job I am working mostly out of my home which is about as close to a home business as I will ever get in nursing.Sorry for getting on my soap box but usually after you have been a chief you enjoy going back to being an indian, but everybody has too try it. There are many options good luck

-- cynthia (chemenway@hotmail.com), June 30, 2000.

Roanoke, Virginia--RNBSN--$28.03 pr hr.--shift differential and weekend bonus included.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), July 01, 2000.

Go for the RN while you have the chance. I am not sure what staff nurses are making working the hospitals anymore, haven't done that for a couple of years. I got my certification in case management a little while back. Being an RN gives you a lot more choices if hospital nursing turns out not to be what you want. Good luck!Mary

-- Mary (mlogan298@yahoo.com), July 01, 2000.

Lesley,

I am not a member of the ANA - nor do I plan to be. Not only are their annual fees out of sight, but their lobbying to make only BSNs RNs really annoys me. I don't know about everyone elses' areas, but where I live most of the RNs I know are either diploma or AAS (ASN) degree RNs.

In the hospital that I work in, all Nurse Managers a required to either have a BSN or get one within a certain time period. Out on the floor, I do the same job as a BSN. My director keeps pushing me to go back for my BSN, but I suffered through enough nonsense classes while getting my other degrees to want to put up with that stuff again - intro to lit, literature of women, comparative religion, ethics and logic (which are neither eithical or logical) and so on. What makes me laugh is that I'm NOT required to take courses in Microbiology or Pathophys, or others that WOULD be a help in nursing - assuming of course, that I still wanted to do REAL nursing, rather than push papers all day!!

Do you suppose if all the AAS and diploma nurses dropped their ANA memberships and started their own association, we could get the academically elite to back off?? And after that, we could go to work on the AMA to require MDs' to be have to take Nutrition, human relationships and oh yeah - a handwriting class to be taught by Catholic nuns!!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), July 01, 2000.

I agree with Polly. I don't belong to any of the nurses associations because they seem to have there own agenda and just want my money. I'm an ADN and at the present time have no desire to go back for my BSN. I am not even interested in all the classes Polly talked about because you really do not use them in your everyday work. I also had my certification as a geratric nurse for 10 years, it never got me any raises or special treatment but I got to put a C behind my name and had to pay alot of money for that "C" I think about $500-600 in all it could have been more and now that I don't have that "C" behind my name my knowledge base is still the same and I saved $200 to renew it. I just became a new Mom in December and I guess my piorities (sorry spelling is not the greatest) changed for the better. Oh and by the way my greatest "teacher" on the job was an LPN. I learned a great deal from her.

-- Cynthia (chemenway@hotmail.com), July 02, 2000.

Have to agree with most of the respondents, go for your RN asap. When (note I said when, not if) the ANA requires a BSN degree, you will probably be able to grandfather in without to much BS. I'm a BSN only because I wanted to go back active duty military and that's what you need. It didn't work out that way and now I'm working at a 105 bed hospital in southern Indiana (God is good.very happy here). Last I heard, new grads were starting around $15.00 in hospitals in this region. ADN = actually does nursing BSN = Bull**** nursing MSN = More of the same nursing PHD = Piled high and deep You can always work as a nurse. This is a major plus for families who are or want to be rural based. Pay is OK. Benefits are usually available if you want them or need them. I am the only income earner in our household of 5, and we are doing OK. Yeah, you can make a little more money per hour in a city setting, but not as much more as you would think. Don't let any one fool you that being at a rural hospital is boring either. Let me know if you have any specific questions. John

P.S. To all the other RNs....when was the last time you used the Kreb cycle at the bedside?

-- john (jsmengel@freewwweb.com), July 02, 2000.

Huh!? What's a Kreb cycle?

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), July 02, 2000.

Go for your RN as soon as you can. I have found if you take a break sometimes you get sidetracked and so busy working as a nurse it starts to become less importantand you don't have the time. Loved your Response John about the ADN/BSN thing never thought of it that way. The most important thing I can tell anyone about nursing is you have to have common sense. I have seen may of nurses with very good knowledge base (book wise) and fall on there faces in the real world and most of what I have learned didn't come from books, that just the basics you gain much more from experience but you have to sit thru the bull**** to get to the expierence. I don't think I spelled that right sorry English was not my best subject.

-- Cynthia (chemenway@hotmail.com), July 03, 2000.

Wow! There are obviously lots of RNs out there in the countryside! :-) Thanks for all the great info, I recieved many more emails than I had counted on. I do fully intend to get my ADN/RN, just wanted to avoid a 1 1/2 year waiting list at the local college. The other area college has no wait list, but only offers a "fast track" program for LPNs to get the ADN/RN using advanced placement. Since I have a LPN techincal school not too far from me I felt the best answer was to go there first and than transfer to the fast track program. I was not aware of all the pressue put on ADNs to get their BSN. I did plan to try for a BSN down the road since I already have an Associate of Arts, but will probably do that part time while working as an ADN (we need the moola). There is a huge RN shortage in my state (colorado) and wages seem to be pretty good. I worked at a community college and can tell you in my state starting out ADNs usually make more $ than most 4 yr college grads do! Heck, in my area I could work as a CNA and make $9 - $14 depending on experience.

-- Elle (hotging@aol.com), July 05, 2000.

Well, Elle I'am starting an LPN progam May 21,01 and my community college don't offer "fast tack" But i really want to be come an LPN thats all i ever want to be is an LPN. People tells me how hard it is and I'am scared of being SCARED.I wish to GOD that I pass this nursing field. If any one out there can help me pass this stage and give me a few pointers please HELP my time is short any advice,would be appreciated.

-- DEMETRIA NUNEZ (MECHI96@BELLSOUTH.NET), March 24, 2001.

I'm an OR nurse with my BSN. Graduated 2 years ago... When I started I was making $18.50 an hour. Now I make just over $21. My wife just graduated and started at about $19. This is a good time to get into nursing. This is in Southern Oregon at a 168 bed hospital.

-- Tom Trubenbach (trube@looped.com), January 18, 2002.