Does experience help RNs get paid more?

Editorial Team / Admin · Dec 11, 2014

This is going to depend on the facility and your negotiation skills. Some facilities will take into account experience in other healthcare professions, some will not.

estrellaCR, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2014

It may help u get an RN job but not be higher on the RN pay scale...as the RN pay scale is for RN experience only. You would start at the base salary (plus any shift as in evening or night differential pay) and salary would increase with each year of RN experience you get. And having a 2yr degree (ASN) will be easier to get jobs upstate. In NYC people with a 2yr degree have an even harder time finding job than those with BSN.

caliotter3 · Dec 12, 2014

Have never seen prior experience at the LPN level count for an increased rate at the RN level.

Nursing pursuit · Dec 12, 2014

So what about if your an aide? Does that account to an increase in pay for RNs?

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2014

I worked as a CNA for 4 years prior to becoming an RN. It made ZERO difference in pay, a new grad is a new grad. All new grads without RN experience start at the new grad rate.

Nursing pursuit · Dec 12, 2014

So it doesn't make a difference paywise but employers would rather take people who are "more ready".

MeiLana · Dec 13, 2014

Pretty much. In this job market, "more ready" and "previous experience" just mean you get a foot in the door or face time or a call back or a slightly higher chance at the job. Many people consider that the same as coin. I do.

It doesn't equal increased starting pay.

seconddegreebsn · Dec 14, 2014

It can also depend if the facility is a union one, since the union tends to negotiate pay rates with experience factored in.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2014

It may help u get an RN job but not be higher on the RN pay scale...as the RN pay scale is for RN experience only. You would start at the base salary (plus any shift as in evening or night differential pay) and salary would increase with each year of RN experience you get. And having a 2yr degree (ASN) will be easier to get jobs upstate. In NYC people with a 2yr degree have an even harder time finding job than those with BSN.

Not necessarily. For my first new grad RN position (per diem) I was on the rate scale of a new grad even with my LPN experience. It helped me land the job but not get a higher rate of pay.

However, my part time RN position as a new grad RN(in another hospital) they took into consideration my years of LPN experience and paid me at a higher rate than the new grad scale..as well, my 6 months of RN experience pushed it up even more. The years of LPN did not equal the rate of pay for an RN with the same amount of years. My three years of LPN came to a years worth of 'experience' toward the RN scale. As well, my 6 months of working as an RN pushed it up just a bit more.

It just depends on the hospital. Some do not use LPN experience to increase the pay rate, some do but have a ratio of years as LPN. Some hospitals don't look at LPN experience as counting you as an experienced nurse while others will.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2014

Have never seen prior experience at the LPN level count for an increased rate at the RN level.

It did for me for one of my positions (got a higher pay rate due to my LPN experience. I was hired at new grad rate but they added my experience as an LPN which pushed it up, so I am being paid more than a new grad with no experience. The other place I work didn't push up my pay scale due to my LPN experience but did look at my LPN experience as having nursing experience.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2014

Oops...I just noticed this was posted in the New York forum. I'm sorry. My info is about hospitals in CT. Can't speak for any NY hosptials as I've never worked in NY.