I'm a new graduate nurse, but I have worked for the hospital where I'm interviewing as a CNA for 2 and 1/2 years. I am fairly confident that I will be offered the position, and I was hoping to be able to negotiate an extra $2/hour on my salary. I know it may not seem like much, but I don't want to start low, since I have invested so much time here as it is. I will be happy with an extra $1/hr. Any advice on how to negotiate this? I have never negotiated an hourly rate before, only an annual salary, which is much different. Will I be turned down because Im a new nurse? Will they retract their job offer based on this?

Its been my experience (it could be different somewhere else) that there isn't much "room for negotiations" Most facilities have a set rate based on time of experience. For example (hypathetical figures) New grad = $20.00/hr, 1 year experience $21.00, and so on. Also a lot of places do not account for prior experience as a different title. For example your 2 years of CNA experience won't get you extra pay as new grad RN vs the other new grad with no CNA experience. Or even 2 years of LPN experience won't get you extra pay when you become a new grad RN.

I completely agree with the PP - hospitals have very rigid compensation structures. This is an absolute must in order to maintain equitability in the face of such a diverse workforce.

There will not be any room for negotiation, and a new grad who attempts to do so will probably incur some very negative perceptions. New grads have a finite skill set and are essentially interchangeable, from the employer's perspective... don't risk your job with this futile effort. Instead, find out whether there are opportunities to increase your income and take advantage of them as they are available; things like additional certifications, cross-training, picking up extra shifts, etc.