Negotiating pay

[CrazierThanYou]

I am an RN with a year and half experience. I am considering changing jobs to a different hospital closer to where I live. A friend of mine works there and she told me yesterday that her nurse manager told her that I can negotiate my salary since I have a year of experience.

I have never been in a position to negotiate salary before. I don't even know where to begin. $1 an hour more, $2? I have no idea. This is a med/surg telemetry floor nurse position.

Any advice?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hospitals normally have a very well defined compensation structure - with specific ranges for each and every job. They have to keep a tight rein on it, because they are vulnerable to claims of discrimination if they pay different wages for the same type of worker doing the same job. You may be able negotiate, but it won't be very much. On the plus side... you can be assured that you are paid fairly & no one will be more than you simply because of their negotiation skills.

[schnookimz]

I totally disagree. I know many people who made several dollars an hour more, up to 6 per hour, than others who didn't negotiate at all.

I would say, ask for 2-3 dollars an hour more than you are currently making.

[krisiepoo]

your friend works there so she can give you an idea of what nurses make there. If you go too high, you might outbid yourself from a job. Is there anyway you can find out what the general hiring range is?

[CrazierThanYou]

Their website has the pay ranges but my friend is a new nurse and was offered more than what the website indicates for starting pay. I guess I'll just wait and see what happens. Thanks for your responses!