Big sign-on bonus, no incentive...

[abend]

Any advice for what to do if you're working for a hospital unit that offers a huge sign-on bonus for new hires but only gave a 50-cent annual raise to current, experienced RNs? BTW, management doesn't seem to understand how outrageously demoralizing this is and still sides with physicians over RNs on a regular basis. And half the staff has left. I think I know the answer, I just want a reality check.

[elkpark]

Umm, resign your job and then immediately reapply?? :)

But, seriously, it doesn't sound like a place I'd want to work (which is typically exactly why employers are offering big sign-on bonuses in the first place -- they are having trouble getting staff).

[DoeRN]

Umm, resign your job and then immediately reapply?? :)

But, seriously, it doesn't sound like a place I'd want to work (which is typically exactly why employers are offering big sign-on bonuses in the first place -- they are having trouble getting staff).

Exactly! Large sign-on bonuses are NOT a good thing.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

Yeah, the facility where I see my patients just finished offering a sign on bonuses for both CNAs and Nurses.

They just hired 15 new nurses. I predict 75-80% of them will have disappeared within a month, bonus or not.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Exactly! Large sign-on bonuses are NOT a good thing.

Definitely a red flag in the current employment environment. In the future when a true nursing shortage appears? Maybe then I'll be attracted to a place offering a sign on bonus.

[llg, PhD, RN]

My hospital has no sign-on bonus ... and the standard raise for each year of experience is $.40. There are additional "cost of living" raises, but they don't match inflation.

But I agree -- sign-on bonuses are a sure sign that the place is a bad place to work.

[mikkie1317]

Hello

I have come across a lot of job postings in indeed with up to $11,500 sign on bonus, what's the deal?

RN-Operating Room FT Nights-$20K sign-on bonus

Job Number:

08936-50116)

Work Location

: United States-Colorado-Lone Tree-Sky Ridge Medical Center

Schedule

: Full-time

RN Emergency Room Sign on Bonus & Relocation Package(

Job Number:

03166-46300)

Work Location

: United States-Colorado-Denver-Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center

[h=2]Schedule[/h]: Full-time

[abend]

On my floor it's bad managers who blame nurses for decreasing patient satisfaction when really... it's bad systems and a decrepit building a scary unsafe EMR. But it's easier to blame nurses. We are expendable.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

Yeah, the facility where I see my patients just finished offering a sign on bonuses for both CNAs and Nurses.

They just hired 15 new nurses. I predict 75-80% of them will have disappeared within a month, bonus or not.

Rite! 😓 we nurses are seen as an easily replaceable commodity! It's horrible! But it's life!

[RedInScrubs, ASN, RN]

I've noticed places that have sign-on bonuses tend to not be places to work. If you have to offer a large sum of money to get people to be there, chances are the ones that are already there won't stay. Same with places that have you sign a contract agreeing to certain terms like mandatory overtime or a specific number of years. Incentive to stay comes from a healthy employee support system, not money or contracts.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'll qualify what I said earlier about sign-on bonuses being a sure sign that a place is not a good place to work. There are a few situations in which a good hospital may offer a bonus for a good job, such as:

1. It is located in an area where there are few nurses -- few/no nursing schools in the region, etc. They need to pay a bonus to help new employees cover their expenses of moving into the area.

2. Places located in towns that are not attractive to work in -- and the bonus (and high salaries, etc.) is an incentive to get people to move there

3. A place has recently expanded and needs to attract a large number of people in a short time -- and don't produce enough possible candidates to fill their need for new people

Stuff like that can be a legitimate reason to use a bonus of some kind (either a sign-on bonus or some other type of exceptional benefit). Investigate carefully before making a commitment.

[Argo]

I've received a bonus at every full time job I have had. That's not the problem here. The problem is that they aren't willing to incentivize the current staff to stay, they should if they are doing sign ons. I would personally leave and go across town to collect a sign on elsewhere.

Hospitals have zero loyalty to staff anymore, staff has to lose the loyalty to the organization. Be there for your patients and for you. You will always have patients at other hospitals to care for.