Two VERY low ball job offers in the last month...(management and leadership!)

[SweettartRN]

Ok, a little background. I have my background in management which is what I did before I became a nurse. I now have five years nursing experience as well as my ASN, BSN, and my MSN.

I have been interviewing for jobs in management and leadership as I feel that I am ready to be doing what I have trained to do as well as being paid what I feel I should be. This is apparently not going to be the case.

The first job, for a DON position with a start up homecare company they offered me a whopping $49,800, knowing that my salary requirements were MUCH higher than this.

The second one, an assistant DON position with a staffing agency, they offered $55,000 per year. Again, knowing that my salary requirements were much higher.

It's not as if I don't have the experience that they want. Where are they coming up with these horrendously low numbers? To say that I am insulted is putting it mildly. Hell, even floor staff make more than that.

I know that the market in my area is saturated with ASN's and because of this many employers are paying just above minimum wage, but this doesn't explain where the low-ball numbers come from for an experienced nurse in a leadership position.

Anyone have any possible advice here? Should I just give it up already?

[billyboblewis]

I work as a nite supervisor/case manager with title nurse consultant. I get salary of 50k, no overtime and am expectect to worik about 84 hours a 2 week pay period. Since there is no chance of pay increase I do only the minimum possible and do not go out of the way for this alleged non profit organization I work for. Home health and staffing are not leaders in salary an often owned by private individuals. A staffing job would be the least stressful and a good deal at that salary. If you are looking forward to a higher salary as a don/adon you are looking into a real mess as your work will often be 16 hour days and if something goes wrong the blame will generally be placed on you and solved by firing you. Good luck

[noc4senuf]

Typically, home health and assisted living pay less than a SNF. A hospital pays more than a SNF. It all comes down to the reimbursements to the different types of facilities. Five years as a nurse is not going to be looked at for a high paying management role even with other management experience in another field. From experience, they would start looking at around 10 years experience in nursing.

[ppfd, BSN, EMT-P]

Don't know where your at, New grads around me make $19.00 to $23.00.

I make near what the OP was offered working EMS 2 24 hour shifts a week. I left my last ED job as it was costing me money to work there.

I totally agree. Well said. OP, I'm not sure where you live but I don't know any new grad that makes "17-18/hr. Please don't be offended that some of us with ADNs make MORE than you. Five years is great experience but not sure if they would quailify you for more money. There are others with way more experience than you making what you were offered.

So my advice, is to take it or leave it.

[beeker]

I am appalled at what you wrote about ADNs . If that is how you truly feel, you probably have no business being in a management position. If one place offered you a low offer I'd say keep looking, but since it was two, I'd say it might be you. See what you can do to make yourself a better candidate. You need nursing management experience in addition to an attitude adjustment.

[SweettartRN]

I meant no disrespect to any ADN nurse. That's where I started, and worked my way up from. I believe that an education should be valued and taken into consideration, forgive me if that offends those of you who don't. I feel I have a great attitude, and I feel insulted that my willingness to not only work hard in my career, but further myself educationally is not taken into consideration. That's a lot of hard work for "nothing." It IS insulting, no matter how you look at it.

With paying student loans, and carrying the financial load for my family, I know where I have to be, not where someone else thinks I need to be.

BTW- Found a leadership position paying in the low 80's. I start tomorrow.

[salvadordolly]

Congratulations! I don't know where you live, but your OP sounded like you were low-balled. Good for you for standing your ground and looking until you got what you wanted. A lot of managment positions do pay lower than staff, which sucks. I won't do it unless I'm getting paid well because management is full of headaches. Also the student loans for the education.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

BTW- Found a leadership position paying in the low 80's. I start tomorrow.

Congrats,

Just curious,

Was this job similar to the ones where you received the other jobs, or were there differences in duties and responsibilities that resulted in the higher salary?

[Syhuggins]

Michigan, and I have five years management experience. I would never take any of these jobs for less than 68,500, which I feel is even lower than should be accepted.

I have no interest in either of these jobs because of the low ball offer, I simply feel discouraged and insulted at the clear difference between my expectations of salary and what is being offered. A DON in my area can expect to make at least $110K per year, an ADON, approximately $80-85K, just to give an idea.

If your experience in management is not in nursing it won't be considered. Highly unlikely you'd find anyone to hire you as DON with only 5years experience and none of that as nursing manager. You have to work your way up thru the ranks and gain the appropriate experience. I'm a nurse manager in a community hospital making $100Kt.

[nurseboudin]

It took me a few years to get the salary I wanted. I did a few things beyond getting my MSN, got a specialty certification, participated in Research, served as a representative in my local AORN chapter, volunteered for community service events... It helped my reputation as a leader and the networking was amazing. I care about my profession and my teams. As a result, the money followed. I never felt entitled to a certain salary. I always worked for it until I eventually named my price and they knew I was worth every penny.

You can try another market. I know we always want nurse leaders in Dallas. I was in leadership in a previous career, but this is a different industry and really- my previous leadership was NOTHING like nursing leadership- I have to send people - nurses and physicians- to peer review based on my own clinical knowledge and expertise in my area. This requires knowing the standards of care, facility policy and procedure, and the state's nurse practice act.

Maybe you should look at other nurse leaders credentials and experience in your area and see how you size up, I think you might find you are being offered what they think you are worth.