Makes no sense

I'm starting a nursing program at Mt. Saint Mary's College in Los Angeles, CA. In the meantime, I thought I'd look for jobs in the nursing field to apply what I'll be learning. I found an extern nurse position for $11.66 an hour...With mortgage, car payment and starting out our life together (boyfriend and I), $11.66 will not cut it. I make about $20 an hour working for an entertainment company. Point of my rambling: I just don't get it. As a nurse extern (working as a nursising assistant), I would be helping patients, staff, doing so much good and living my goal of working in the nursing field...and get paid ~$12/hr....but then, I work as an assistant now, checking emal 20x a day, chatting with friends, paperwork, nothing life threatening for MORE money?! What type of life are we in now....Just depressed me...I would have left my job in a heartbeat, had it not been for the huge salary cut. My plans now are to stick to my current job and just wait till I get my RN to go on a job hunt for a nursing position. I'm definitely hoping the financial situation is better when searching for nursing jobs after nursing school...I bet it will be, just, MAKES NO SENSE!

what also makes no sense to me is that a travel nurse is paid up to $1500 a week in L.A. w/ all expenses paid (travel and hotel) to work in LA, where there is such a shortage. I hope they pay you well as an RN out there, since the travel nurses are getting paid SO well. I also realize that your cost of living is SO VERY HIGH out there. What part of LA are you in? I do tissue screening on the phone with a lot of the LA hospitals.

I'm in the city of LA, to be exact: monterrey park, around East Los Angeles (a stone throw away from downtown LA). I didn't realize travel nurses made that much...! I'm new to the whole nursing "lingo" (tee hee), what DOES a travel nurse do?

The market fluctuates greatly from city to city. Call around. Bargain the hospitals with the greatest shortage. They frequently do tuition reimbursements, stipends, bonuses, etc to get a commitment from a new nursing graduate. Call chief nursing officers, recruiment offices, human resources depts. Don't quit till you find something substantial. Good luck!!!

I'll definitely look into it, thanks Karen I sooo wanted to just find a job where I'd be applying everything that my nursing heart has to offer....just was a bummer to hear that the salary would be so low for a nurse extern/nursing assistant. Overall, I'm keeping my patience nearby and just seeing what comes up. I should be done with my RN in about 2yrs, tops...so, have something to look forward to!

Hey Norma, I am a nursing student as well in MA. I do currently work in L&D so that helps. I only make 13 an hour but I work 7p-7a so i make 5$ more an hour for a differential. I love my job and am lucky enough to only work on weekennd so I do not have to find childcare. I know it may not seem like much $$$ but the benefits and the patients make it all worthwhile. i hope to eventually go to Midwifery school but one thing at a time right I hope all goes well with you-good luck. B

Man! I only made $12.30/hr when I graduated from nursing school!! That was i***** in St Louis Mo