Can you negotiate RN salary?

[firefly443]

I had an interview for a RN (experienced) position and they offered me the job :)

But, they are still determining the final salary offer. It seems hospitals in my area base RN pay on years worked and that's it. So my certification, extra projects and clinical ladder advancement at another hospital mean nothing. A RN who does nothing extra for the unit will get the same pay.

Is is this typical in other areas and is there any way to overcome it?

Do other hospitals count years worked prior to RN if they were in patient care?

I think I would love the job, just not sure they are going to be able to come up on pay enough

[Sour Lemon]

I had an interview for a RN (experienced) position and they offered me the job :)

But, they are still determining the final salary offer. It seems hospitals in my area base RN pay on years worked and that's it. So my certification, extra projects and clinical ladder advancement at another hospital mean nothing. A RN who does nothing extra for the unit will get the same pay.

Is is this typical in other areas and is there any way to overcome it?

Do other hospitals count years worked prior to RN if they were in patient care?

I think I would love the job, just not sure they are going to be able to come up on pay enough

I once politely "demanded" to be off the pay scale that a nursing manager insisted she had to follow. My request was granted, although I'd already been working there for a while and assumed they would be interested in retaining me. Some of my co-workers tried the same thing and were refused. So I'd say it's possible ...but dependent on how much they like you, how strong you are at negotiation, and maybe even what the manager's mood is at the specific moment you ask.

Good luck! If you're not planning on taking the position at the lower pay rate, I don't see what you have to lose.

[firefly443]

Thanks for the insight. Glad to hear you were able to get around it.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hospitals (and other large employers) are extremely gun-shy about avoiding claims of discrimination. One of the most common factors that trigger this type of lawsuit is paying different salaries for the same type of staff doing the same job. So, your leverage will be to convince them that you are not the "same" as other incumbents in the job for which you've been hired. That's why they have those rigid salary matrices.

Make sure your argument is convincing. Because .... speaking hiring manager experience, a candidate's credentials are NOT an accurate measure of his/her quality of work or productivity; sadly, not even a guarantee of competency. Maybe you could add some type of agreement that is over and above the 'normal' job requirements. For instance, you could agree to lead a unit-based council or initiative of some sort that has value to the organization.

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out for you.

[Extra Pickles]

Do other hospitals count years worked prior to RN if they were in patient care?

throwing in a quick response, typically hospitals do not count years worked in patient care if they were years as a tech, or before becoming licensed as an RN. Sometimes they will consider LPN experience at half the time of an RN, so for example five years as an LPN would give the applicant the experience edge of 2.5 years. As a tech, nothing, as it's not nursing experience. just something to keep in mind.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

I had an interview for a RN (experienced) position and they offered me the job :)

But, they are still determining the final salary offer. It seems hospitals in my area base RN pay on years worked and that's it. So my certification, extra projects and clinical ladder advancement at another hospital mean nothing. A RN who does nothing extra for the unit will get the same pay.

Is is this typical in other areas and is there any way to overcome it?

Do other hospitals count years worked prior to RN if they were in patient care?

I think I would love the job, just not sure they are going to be able to come up on pay enough

The short answer is, "it depends." Often hospitals will consider national certification when determining where you fall on the pay scale, IF the certification is applicable to the job you are being hired to do. Other hospitals may have an internal clinical ladder program that provide financial incentives. Achieving national certification may be one step on that ladder. So while you would not be initially paid more for being certified, you are closer to professional advancement and bonus pay within the system.

The problem with compensating for work on unit-based initiatives and extra projects is that your new facility cannot guarantee that you will put in that kind of work when you are hired. It's not the new hospital's responsibility to pay you for work you did elsewhere unless they can guarantee you will do the same for them in addition to the job you were hired to do. Asking for a raise from the new facility 6-12 months after hire, once you have demonstrated that you are a more valuable employee because of your work on initiatives above and beyond your job description is more prudent.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

My headhunter negotiated a higher salary than initially offered, in my current position.

Still not quite what I wanted, but better.

[NotYourMamasRN]

I successfully negotiated pay at two of my hospital positions. I have worked a lot of Float Pool, but a few of the facilities I worked at did not pay all float pool the same flat rate with no raises. I have experience negotiating from my first career field so I felt comfortable doing it.

[Buyer beware, BSN]

OP,

Would it be too obvious to say this is a supply and demand issue.

Depite the education, the certification and years of experience, pay is a a proprietary issue and those books are NEVER opened to "just the nurse."

So in most cases take it, unless, of course, you can leave it.