2.5% annual raise - should I be as irritated as I am?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am an ICU nurse with many years of experience.

I very rarely call in. I think I called in once in the last year, but that may have been last year. I work extra shifts frequently.

I do not get involved in unit politics or drama. I work hard and do not get written up.

Other nurses treat me as a resource person.

With all of that, I got graded a 2.25 on a 1 to 4 scale. :mad: The person doing my evaluation is brand new and said my evaluation was done by "charge nurses" but would not name who did it.

I am getting a 2.5% raise due to this. This means I am really getting a pay cut due to inflation.

Putting my vexation about the review aside, do I have a right to be as irritated as I am about a 2.5% increase? What are y'all getting?

I'm trying to breathe deeply and get my head straight before I talk to the unit director.

Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

I have been working for 2 years for an insurance medical review company. I have not received any raises....there are many nurses working there that are at the 5 year mark who have not gotten a raise.

I also have several RN friends who are unemployed and are having a very difficult time finding a job, they would be estatic just to have a paycheck.

So, I really don't think you should complain too much.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

A raise? What's that? I haven't had a raise in 2 years. We also used to get a bonus @ Christmas. It was 2K for a couple of years, then it went to 1k, then $500. Last year it was a bottle of wine (I don't drink) and a gift cert to Bath and Body Works. Enjoy!

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Specializes in Government.

I am currently in a job I love that pays a fair wage. For the 5 years prior, I got no wage increases at all in my last job. Plus I had to take unpaid furlough days. Right now? A job is gold. I'm learning to be happy with what I have.

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Specializes in Oncology.

No raise, not even cost of living, here.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

I sympathize with you. It sounds like you deserve more than they're offering. I'm sometimes tempted to job-hop, because I know I could could get a bigger "raise" going to a new hospital. Maybe you should see what else is out there?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I would venture to guess that very few people get fair reviews even though they might be performing well in their jobs. Nurse managers and supervisors must remain under budget, and too many good reviews would cut into that goal due to the increased pay raises.

Ditto to that. It's happening in every industry. The whole annual review process has become a joke in most industries. It's all about budget; not about performance.

If you're a CEO, well, then, that's completely different. There is one CEO for a company headquartered in my area that received a 33% bonus last year (to the tune of millions), and this year, the board wants to oust him, but they missed by one vote.

Lovely, isn't it?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.
I'm sometimes tempted to job-hop, because I know I could could get a bigger "raise" going to a new hospital.

Ironically, job-hopping is the only way to see raises big enough to beat inflation. It's been that way for years.

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Now, I haven't started working as a nurse yet, but in my experience working low wage jobs, the best way to get a raise is to move on to another job. That's the only way I could get a boost in pay. Loyalty is a thing of the past.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I would love to get a 2.5% raise, or to get any raise at all. Even though I love my current job and hope to stay here, like others I have considered job-hopping to get more money. Not sure what I could hop to that would pay more (and still have the M-F 8:30-5 hours that I want), but if I find it I may be out of here. Meanwhile I'm grateful to have a job at all!

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Specializes in AGNP.

I work at a unionized teaching hospital. We are all frozen on the pay scale for the next year and if were at the top of the scale last year (been here for 10+ years) you didn't get a raise last year either.

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Hospitals are notorious for this. I have retired from that arena early in my nursing career. I wa working Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach Ca. It's a fine hospital, lots of money in and out of it. I worked there for 5 years. My last review? Prompted my resignation.

I was a staff RN with certifications in the following. Chemotherapy, Well Baby Nursery, Post partum, and conscience sedation which was a new fangled thing on our unit. I also trained new nurses and and was a mentor for student RN's. I didn't get any write ups this year either. Steller work perfomance.

Manager : Noey, you are an exemplary nurse. We appreciate you so much. I did your review and although we are able to score 5 I had to give you 3's on your review. Your wage increase is 3%.. Congratualtions you are now making $18.74 an hour. That's a 31 cent raise.

Noey. Thank you for your honesty. If I am an amazing RN as you say I am, I hold all these certifications including IV certification. I was offered a home health position with a $10K annual salary increase. Thank you for the merit increase, but I am giving my 2 weeks.

Are you fing kidding me? Go away hospitals. You are a JOKE

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Getting a raise at all beats no raise, or a decrease in wages, or getting laid off.

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