LPN pay in LTC

Nurses LPN/LVN

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I would like to know from you nurses that work LTC how your raises are figured. I have been working at the same facility for almost 3 years now. I was hired right after getting licensed. It has come to my attention that my facility now has a 2 tier pay scale. They had to do this to attract nurses to fill vacant positions. What it amounts to is I am on the old payscale and new hires are getting substantially more pay. I'm talking dollars, not change. They are not raising the pay of those who have been there before the new scale. I am limited to 3% per year raise. No cost of living has ever been given out. I guess I don't have to tell you I am more than a little PO'd. Nurses I graduated with who work other facilities have surpassed me in pay. I told one of my bosses I wanted a raise in pay. She laughed! I told her I wasn't kidding, that I was aware of the new payscale and want to be brought up to "speed." I could tell by the look on her face she wasn't happy I knew. She said she would get back with me. The facility is not exactly where I want to spend the rest of my life, but it is the closest to home and serves a purpose for now. But I am willing to leave to make my point (not that they would get it!). Anyway, I appreciate any info or thoughts you have to offer on the matter so I can negotiate.

Todd

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Hi Todd,

I have a friend that works in L&D (LPN) and when they upped the new grad rate and it was more than she was making after working there a year. She called HR and said she wanted the bump and despite not being happy about it they did it. How can they not? Good luck, Jules

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Specializes in LTC, rehab, and now office nursing.

The LTC facilty I am working at did the same thing- new grads making more than me! So frustrating- especially on nights. They are paying weekend night nurses $25/hr even with no experience! When I approached them about this, I was told "you are not supposed to discuss payscales. Don't beleive everything you are told". I told them I saw thier paychecks and I know they make that money and I want to know why. I was also told they would get back to me. So I am leaving- I don't think it is fair to give new hires better pay and weekends off. Yeah they also told me when I started that EVERYONE had to work every other weekend- not the new hires. Some work no weekends at all! Some only work 1 a month. Not fair.:nono: If you can't get equality then move on- you deserve it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

My friend works at a facility where the new pay rates have been increased in order to attract and retain nurses. She is an inexperienced nurse with less than one year of experience who earns $20 hourly for the evening shift. This place also gives one dollar raises per year. Some LVNs who have worked at this place five years are earning $25 per hour.

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The LTC facilty I am working at did the same thing- new grads making more than me! So frustrating- especially on nights. They are paying weekend night nurses $25/hr even with no experience! When I approached them about this, I was told "you are not supposed to discuss payscales. Don't beleive everything you are told". I told them I saw thier paychecks and I know they make that money and I want to know why. I was also told they would get back to me. So I am leaving- I don't think it is fair to give new hires better pay and weekends off. Yeah they also told me when I started that EVERYONE had to work every other weekend- not the new hires. Some work no weekends at all! Some only work 1 a month. Not fair.:nono: If you can't get equality then move on- you deserve it.

Exactly. So they allow you-with experience at their facility-to leave and then they have to replace you with a new hire at the higher rate of pay when they could have paid you the new scale and retained you. I don't get it.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Exactly. So they allow you-with experience at their facility-to leave and then they have to replace you with a new hire at the higher rate of pay when they could have paid you the new scale and retained you. I don't get it.
I know this might sound fallacious and illogical, but many healthcare facilities solely focus on recruitment. They're main concern is the recruitment of new nurses, not the retention of current nurses.
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Two weeks ago the facility had a leadership class. One of the points was when you tell someone you will look into something give them a time frame. Well, when I told my supervisor I wanted a raise I was told I would have an answer in a week. It has been more than a week and it looks like the tactic is avoid the request and hope it goes away. LOL-SOS! Anyway, with new grads being hired at $1.50 per hour than I'm making I guess it is time to update the resume.

Todd

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