[Kristex]

I am considering trying out travel nursing - I am a pedi nurse with 9 years experience. I have an offer in Cali which I guess is not so unusual. I was actually looking for an assigment in Cincinnati, Indi, or Northern Kentucky as I have friends close by (near Cinci). I understand the pay is usually less than in Cali but I am wondering HOW MUCH less? Any feedback? kris_tex3@yahoo.com

[oh hd rn]

i am a former employee and the figures i am about to quote are 10 years old, but the philosophies and discrepancies are the same...

"working with the children is a privelege and you should not expect the same compensation as your peers with similar experiences in the adult facilities..."

raises are "pay for performance..." who cares if you worked there 20 years? if a new grad walked in the door, she could very well be paid as much or more than you (depending on how bad they screwed you in your pay raises over the last 20 years...)

there is no such thing as a cost of living raise

if the base pay increases to attract new employees, current employees do NOT get an equivalent raise as retention incentive or to maintain the balance between a 20 year vet and a new grad...

10 years ago, University Hospital was the pay standard for the area (probably because of the Union) and base pay of the salary range was $15 hour (for a new grad) and ceiling was $22-23 hour... 10 years ago at Children's Hospital Medical Center, base pay was $11 hour (for a new grad) and ceiling was $19... and many 20 year employees were making less than $15 hour...

CHMC has a clinical ladder:
CN1 does not have to be degreed or certified, and WAS hourly, 10 years ago that was changed that OT would be paid ONLY if you sayed over for 2 hours or more past your shift (ALOT of nurses were mandated to stay and let go just under the 2 hour mark so as not to be paid OT) and this was NOT cumulative (i.e. staying over yesturday 1.5 hours and staying over today 1.5 hours could NOT be added together to make 3 hours OT) many nurses were working 57.5 hours per week and getting paid 40...participates in the unit level of government...want to go to a convention?!? HA!!! i'd like to see you try...

CN2 EITHER has a degree OR a certification in the specialty, and the position is salary...no OT paid, but much OT mandated...participates in the unit level of gov...might get to a convention ONLY if it applies to getting a certification...

CN3 is degreed AND certified AND published, is salaried, and participates in the hospital level of government... these are the people who get to go to ALL the conventions, seminars, forums and quorums across the nation, receive their salary while they do so, all expenses paid by the hospital, etc, etc, etc...

THAT was the good news...Dayton Children's pays even less...