New Grad sign-on bonus negotiation

montroyal · Apr 9, 2003

Originally posted by sitterwoman
I am looking for a new grad residency in Seattle and I haven't seen any sign-on bonuses advertised here. Has anyone heard of new grads negotiating for them when they aren't advertised? My best friend sells real estate and she thinks I'm nuts for not trying.

There are very few hospitals anywere in the US that offers true sign on bonus. A true sign on bonus comes with no strings attached(ie. time comitment). Alot of hospitals offer retention bonuses that they try to pass off as a sign on bonus. " We'll give you $2000.00 but you have to stay for a year or two, if you leave you must pay us back". Take this as your first warning sign that management will play games with you! Also, remember that bonuses are taxed at 40% for federal income tax. You are better off negotiating a higher salery which will give you alot more money in your pocket in the long run. A full time nurse works 2000 hours a year. A salary increase of a dollar or two will have you earning more money than that falsely advertised sign on bonus can give you. Any nurse who accepts the initial salary offer without negotiating for a higher one probably pays sticker price for a new car also.

Angella Walker · Apr 9, 2003

The hospital i just accepted a nurse intern position just offered me a 15,000 bonus. I am still a nursing student. The only thing is that I will have to offer a 2 year commitment with them after graduation (which will be in 1 1/2 years). Sounds like a pretty good deal for me. They also offer tuition reimbursement while I am working there. This is the hospital I wanted to work at. Maybe you should relocate to Wisconsin. They are begging for nurses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW they will reimburse me if I pass my NCLEX-RN provided that I pass.

Keep Looking!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 9, 2003

Angela where is this hospital??? I'd be happy for them to push that money off on me too!

nimbex, RN · Apr 10, 2003

I couldn't negotiate bonuses, but I hagled until I received a better hourly pay.... try that approach.

glow_worm · Apr 11, 2003

The hospital in my area is offering 15K for a 2 yr commitment + $17.50/hr + shift/weekend differentials (up to $10 extra for weekends). Also, NC pays off nursing school loans in their entirety if one agrees to work in this state for every year of aid taken out. It's a great deal.

But regardless, I'm moving to Seattle simply b/c I would love to live there....

MrsK1223 · Apr 11, 2003

I always get a little leary when a hospital offers big sign on bonuses....to me thats a red flag that something just ain't right with the facility but I could be wrong. It would be nice to be offered one though. Where I work...they are offering, get this, the nursing students a 2500$ sign on bonus if they agree to stay 6 months and another $2500 for the other 6 months but I had a couple of years experience and wasn't offered anything, no one thats not a student nurse gets offered anything. That makes a lot of sense. Not!

Shell7280 · Apr 11, 2003

More sign on bonus was actually $4000 AFTER taxes taken out. And so was the bonus for passing boards. And this is in a very prominent hospital in East Texas, but they have to offer bonuses cause they other hospital here does, so who'd chose the one with no bonus?!