Should I Try and Negotiate for a Higher Pay?

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Hello!

So my CNA instructor suggested I apply to this one LTC/Assisted Living Facility and she said it pays $14/hour. She says they're incredibly desperate for CNAs and I have uni classes on Tuesday and Thursday so that leaves about 5 days for me to work their 12 hour shifts. Should I negotiate for a higher pay and if so, what's the best way to go about doing that?

*Note: She said they pretty much accept you on the spot*

Thanks!

Wait, did you say 5 12 hour shifts? I mean, you will physically work 5 12 hour shifts? If so, is it even legal? I mean, if it is, how in the world can anyone work 5 12 hour shifts? If this is the case, I would say your concern should not be the pay, but the hours.

However, in terms of the negotiating the pay, I think 14 dollars an hour is actually a reasonable pay for a CNA. I'd just accept the pay and terms of employment without saying anything.

Specializes in NICU, RNC.

I'm in CA and the CNAs in LTC only make minimum wage. $14/hour is what acute care hospitals pay. From my understanding, you don't have past CNA experience? If not, I don't think you have much bargaining power, and $14/hr is a more than fair wage.

Wait, did you say 5 12 hour shifts? I mean, you will physically work 5 12 hour shifts? If so, is it even legal? I mean, if it is, how in the world can anyone work 5 12 hour shifts? If this is the case, I would say your concern should not be the pay, but the hours.

However, in terms of the negotiating the pay, I think 14 dollars an hour is actually a reasonable pay for a CNA. I'd just accept the pay and terms of employment without saying anything.

It's legal to work 60 hours! I sort of volunteered anyways. I've only got 16 credits this semester, all easy classes and somehow they all ended up on Tuesday and Thursday. So that leaves the weekend and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And I've worked 12 hour shifts beforehand in the burning hot sun dragging a lot of heavy crap around and have been on my feet that whole time. With the exception of a 30 minute break. I've had some pretty crappy jobs in the past that have prepared me physically for working 12 hours at a LTCF. Though I'm sure it's still going to be a bit of a shock for me haha.

Also it's alternating so one week I work 60 hours and 36 hours the next week.

Are they actually talking about employing you to work 96 hrs every two weeks? That would be a lot of overtime. In my experience, healthcare employers are not in a big hurry to volunteer to pay lots of overtime.

Unless you have some significant CNA experience and special expertise/skills, you're not in much of a position to negotiate a higher wage. But if you're going to be getting 20 hours of overtime every other week, you hardly need it.

Are you taking 16 cr in nursing classes? My nursing school advocated for no more than 16hr/wk working.

Please do not accept the requirement of 60 hours a week. You will burn yourself out.

I'm just taking prerequisites and electives to get out of the way before the nursing program in Fall. It's Spanish (I've taken 3 years in high school so the first semester didn't require much work), Pilates, Nutrition for Health Professionals, Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, and Nursing Statistics.

To answer your question, no, I would not negotiate for a higher pay. $14/hour is pretty generous for a CNA, at least in my area. Do they offer pay raises with each year worked or a performance based raise?

Also, please don't work that many hours. It is not safe.

Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I don't think you need to negotiate for a higher wage. $14/hour sounds incredibly reasonable for LTC.

Also do NOT pick up 5 12 hour shifts a week, you will burn out so quickly. You need to to eat, sleep, do home work, take care of yourself, and just to unwind from both school and work. If you want to work full-time (3 12s/week or 72 hours/biweekly) and are comfortable managing it with school go for it. But do not willingly sign up to work overtime every week until you know how you personally will handle the stress and balance the rest of your life with the job. Once you are comfortable, then sign up for extra shifts as you are willing and able.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

On what basis are you thinking that with ZERO experience you are in a position to negotiate?

Dumbfounded...

$14/hr for a CNA? And you think you need

$14/hr for a CNA? And you think you need to negotiate for more? CNA pay is often in the $10-11/hr range. Be happy with what you were offered.

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