Asking for salary raise.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2015

Sure you can ask, but most likely the answer will be no. Clinic nurses make less money than floor nurses usually. Plus most large healthcare facilities are very corporate and just give out 2-3% raises to keep the profit for the CEO! By us we aren't even told what are raise will be till after the eval when the corporation tells them what the budget is. In my experience only union facilities have open and equal raises where everyone gets the same if they meet expectations. Low raises are the norm, some places don't even bother. And the pay for performance practice has nothing to do with rewarding workers, and everything to do with keeping the budget down. The plan works like this there is a 2% budget and the rare exceptional person gets 4% and another gets 0% to balance to 2% so most people end up with 2%. You have to be a pet to get an exceptional and obviously there is not a lot of wiggle room to give out the higher raise since otheres will have to receive no raise to balance the budget! Some corporate practices even penalize the older, experienced worker by giving them a lower raise than a new worker to help the company save even more money! Hard to believe, but true. You are lucky they were able to be upfront with you and tell you what to expect! Sometimes places give additional adjustments if they feel a worker's pay is low in comparison to other health systems, but that is up to their discretion. There is nothing wrong with asking for more money, but I wouldn't expect to get it. Let us know how things work out!

nursefromcali · Jan 7, 2015

Because if they don't raise me for even a dollar I'm going to start to look for other job that pays me well even I'm not charge nurse or whatever lead nurse position

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 7, 2015

Because if they don't raise me for even a dollar I'm going to start to look for other job that pays me well even I'm not charge nurse or whatever lead nurse position

Just don't say "if you don't give me a $1.00 raise I will quit." They will very likely say, "there is the door. Don't let it hit you on the way out." They aren't doling out raises because many clinics and hospitals know they can lose a nurse, and replace her pretty easily. That is why wages have grown stagnant, and in many cases raises have become non-existent.

I am not saying to sit back and accept crappy wages if you aren't happy with them, just don't use a threat in order to get what you want in a buyer's market. Just a piece of advice and not saying that this is what you were implying, but mainly because I've seen a lot of nurses where I work in HR demanding exorbitant raises in this economy because they bought a new house, want a new car, little Sally is going off to college, they want to buy a French bulldog puppy (seriously, a true story), etc instead of listing off their attributes as an employee that would make them worthy of a raise to begin with.

featherzRN, MSN · Jan 7, 2015

You are a professional - you need to ask for a raise in a professional way. Write up a proposal or a list of 'talking points' where you show that you have researched salaries in nearby facilities and that your salary falls short. Also include points about how you have helped the organization, how you have improved patient care/satisfaction/etc. (If you can't come up with anything, chances for a raise are slim either way).

Saying "gimme a dollar or I'm out" is not going to do anything for you.

Keep in mind, as others have said, that most healthcare facilities have a cap on raises and just may not be able to do anything for you, but your best chance is to prove why you deserve it.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2015

One more "don't". Don't mention your long commute as the reason for needing a raise. Your employer doesn't care about your commute and is certainly not going to pay you more than the nurse who lives a block away.

It's your job to professionally request a raise, then privately make up your mind as to whether you are making enough to support your commute, along with all of the other issues that go into that decision.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2015

One more "don't". Don't mention your long commute as the reason for needing a raise. Your employer doesn't care about your commute and is certainly not going to pay you more than the nurse who lives a block away.

Exactly, and I was going to mention this. For me, personally, I find the "but I have a long drive to work" explanation as a need for a raise, or a reason why someone cannot make it to work in inclement weather (not you, just saying in general)....ridiculous.

You knew where the building was located when you applied, interviewed, and accepted the position. It didn't move further away after you got the job, right? So....the commute is a 'zero sum' reason.

As far as asking for a raise, of course you can ask, but what exactly are you going to use to support the reason they should give you one? You CANNOT simply say "but other nurses make more" or "I can find work somewhere else closer to home". Won't win you a dime.

Detail how you are more valuable today than the day they hired you, give specifics of increased education, increased experience --documented, not just "I've been here a year". And then keep in mind that the raise you are expecting is more than MANY will get this year, regardless of what they have to offer the employer! Profit is profit, and nurses are a dime a dozen

Libby1987 · Jan 7, 2015

We have staff who are never late and perform beyond expectations, be prepared for that to come up. If you are an experienced nurse and difficult to replace it might not be a big deal, but if this is your first year in nursing as well as there, I think it might.

caliotter3 · Jan 7, 2015

Any time I ever brought up the subject of income disparity with my peers, the person I was talking to always looked at me like I had four heads and six arms. In other words, they were letting me know that they were playing me for a fool and expected me to continue in the role. The worst that can happen if you ask for a raise is the same negative attitude toward you. Then you decide whether or not to look for a new position, keeping in mind that the job market is not so great.

Fiona59 · Jan 7, 2015

Aren't your pay increments outlined somewhere in your employment contract?

As for a 35 minute drive? I have co-workers who drive 100km to get to work every, single day. I live in a city and some days it takes me 90 minutes to get home.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jan 7, 2015

You need to make yourself stand out to deserve any sort of a decent raise. Even then it is highly unlikely that you will get the raise you are looking for. It sucks. I am way underpaid myself. My raises are pitiful and the cost of my benefits just keep going up. I won't stay in my current position forever, but for now it (usually) pays the bills and keeps health insurance on my family. Good luck!

featherzRN, MSN · Jan 7, 2015

I haven't called off sick in two years, am NEVER late (usually an hour early), have earned a BSN and AACN certification in the last year.. My raise? Zip. Zilch. Nada. I'd be thrilled with pretty much anything.