Hi all! So I am relatively a new graduate (3 months prior experience) before landing a job at a SNF. I have only been there for a week and although I was told during the interview that I would be working nights, my manager wanted me on the 3-11 shift to learn admissions for a month. I've been working with this RN for about 2 days now and shes really nice. We talk about out personal lives and etc. (For example she had a daughter by someone who is the same ethnic background as me..etc). So I'm explain my experience from my last job at a large teaching hospital and simply mention that I am taking a pay cut but its worth it because I want the experience. She then asks "Oh what are they starting you at." I stupidly tell her my wage (37) and didn't think anything of it. I explain that I usually leave the part on the application where it says to put your desired wage blank but this time around I put a high wage (I was getting paid 5 dollars more at my last job than this one.) She then says oh wow your very lucky and that they didnt start her at that wage and she put 38 on her application but management told her that they couldn't afford to pay her that. Anyways she says I'm lucky and we leave it at that.
My next day, I notice that she is acting a bit different but didn't think anything of it...it is a stressful job however. I do notice however that we dont seem to see eachother at all and that she didn't teach the the computer system (the most important part) but is teaching the other new hire the computer system. When I sit down to observe so I can learn the phone rings. She quickly looks at me and says "Can you answer the phone in a dismissive tone." Again, didn't think anything of it.
When night shift comes on, one of the night nurses says its her last day. No body knows why it seems very VERY abrupt because nobody talked about it before. I see her and this other nurse(my preceptor I suppose) kind of talking privately. This nurse that resigned was a nice girl and I ask "Oh where are you going?" All she says is "Somewhere." which again I thought was a bit odd.
The next day my manager comes up to me and asks me to meet him in his office. By his tone I can tell something was wrong but have no idea. He asks me if I told anyone my wage and I said yes to my preceptor. He then informs me that 1 nurse (the night nurse) quit because of it and that 2 more are considering quitting. I explain that it was naive and I didn't know i confided in her. He tells me she is not your friend, she went and told everyone and that she is already treating you differently. He then says next shift you will be on nights, I need to get you away from them. EVERYTHING now makes sense to me.
Sorry for the long post but what should I do or is there anything that I can do to rectify this situation. Should I confront/talk to this nurse who went and talked about me to everyone? I do not know how much the other nurses are making and had NO IDEA I was even making more than them. IDK if its because I have my BSN or bc they knew I wouldn't have accepted a job or a wage any lower when I was making $5 more at my last job. I feel HORRIBLY about this especially because our SNF is already so short-staffed.
Well then, I guess you have a certain level of suspicion/aren't too trusting, I suppose if I had that I wouldn't be in this situation (:
It seems the pay is much higher in CA,...even higher than the last time I checked....which wasn't recently. Good for California...just didn't immediately believe it or look it up. I stand corrected on California pay ranges.
Well then, I guess you have a certain level of suspicion/aren't too trusting, I suppose if I had that I wouldn't be in this situation (:
Well, this *is the internet. Not all things told are truths here. But I now believe you make that- in general. I should have looked it up to see pay had indeed gone up. Good luck with your situation...It seems you have a chance to work it out or at least stay a while longer to get some time there.
I don't agree that salary is taboo. If salaries are secretive, it can lead to nurses being taken advantage of and paid low wages on management whim. Hourly employees should not have to hide their pay.
I don't agree that salary is taboo. If salaries are secretive, it can lead to nurses being taken advantage of and paid low wages on management whim. Hourly employees should not have to hide their pay.
Erin
Taking that a step further, do you feel that one should be obligated to tell one's salary to any nurse who asks? In the interest of keeping employers transparent?
Nope. Still having a hard time believing that rate. Sorry. If you do actually get that rate, good for you.
I guess it's a good thing she doesn't need you to believe her? Lol.
I've never experienced bullying/problems in nursing, but seeing how some people respond on here, I can see why some experience the whole "nurses eat their young" issue.
Lmao I think it's funny that you don't think its possible to make that much. Because of my expectations, 37 is seen as low for me. I live in California btw. Nurses in top hospitals in the Bay Area start can start at $50. Please do your research before doubting anyone. Cost of living is high as hell over here too.
But it what baffles me is why you think I have any reason to lie on an anonymous forum, and especially about my wage which has been the cause of my distress. Goodday
Yes, I thought the claim it was "accidental" was a bit much. The OP has been there a week and has already antagonized her colleagues and her boss. She may move to a different job, but I cannot help but wonder what else she might "accidentally" do "in all innocence" that might antagonize her new colleagues. The takeaway here is a bit more complicated than "Don't disclose your salary and now you know why." The takeaway is also not to get too close to someone to quickly, not to fully trust someone you just met and don't brag (and humble bragging counts.). Team building is just as important as learning skills, and I hope the OP has learned all of those things from this discussion.
I'd advise the OP to do plenty of self-examination before she starts the new job lest she poison another set of working relationships.
She didn't "antagonize" them. They have misplaced anger and that's their own fault.
NPs in my state make (average) $35.00 but most are on salary so you have to divide it out. I have 10 years experience as an NP and I make $32.00/hr (although I am on salary so I divided by my average # of WORKED hours/wk, no compensation for on call 24/7/365.)
Sounds like NPs where you are are grossly underpaid. I'm a new NP and was just offered a job making 6 figures- no call.
I am shocked there are so many clinging to the antiquated idea that discussing salary is gauche especially because it is exactly why women and minorities have been historically paid less than white men. I'm forever thankful to the colleagues who shared their salaries with me and I pay it forward every chance I get. The salary spread I have been privy to among my NP graduating class has varied by $60,000-yes a year. Any idea how much that adds up to over the course of a career? I'm grateful my colleagues weren't like some of the smug posters here who won't share their rate with others. Hopefully they aren't assuming they are making so much that they don't want others to be jealous because that might be incorrect but alas they will never know.
I always love your insights! And, in fact, a comment you made years ago encouraged me to negotiate my pay in a previous RN position
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I don't agree that salary is taboo. If salaries are secretive, it can lead to nurses being taken advantage of and paid low wages on management whim. Hourly employees should not have to hide their pay.
Erin
You don't have to hide your pay if you don't want to. But you discuss it at your own risk.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I guess it's a good thing she doesn't need you to believe her? Lol.
I've never experienced bullying/problems in nursing, but seeing how some people respond on here, I can see why some experience the whole "nurses eat their young" issue.
Yup. It went there. When you cannot think of anything new, interesting or helpful to contribute, just throw in NETY. There's a good strategy.
Taking that a step further, do you feel that one should be obligated to tell one's salary to any nurse who asks? In the interest of keeping employers transparent?
No because it is not the employee who needs to be transparent but the employer.
The employee should not have to feel as though they have to disclose any information but the employer should disclose internally that A position pays B salary scale modified by C, D, and E variables etc.
This is not a new or weird concept, literally hundreds of thousands of government employees have an open salary structure.
newrn93
80 Posts
Well then, I guess you have a certain level of suspicion/aren't too trusting, I suppose if I had that I wouldn't be in this situation (: