Are nurses with a few years experience able to negotiate their hourly rate or is it a take it or leave it situation?I'm considering leaving the hospital for a potential opportunity in a private office and when I asked the hourly pay, the ballpark figure they gave me was a little lower than I'd hoped.She then asked me what figure I'm looking for.Does this mean it might be open for negotiation?
xtxrn, ASN, RN 4,266 Posts Aug 16, 2011 Are nurses with a few years experience able to negotiate their hourly rate or is it a take it or leave it situation?I'm considering leaving the hospital for a potential opportunity in a private office and when I asked the hourly pay, the ballpark figure they gave me was a little lower than I'd hoped.She then asked me what figure I'm looking for.Does this mean it might be open for negotiation?To a point.... but mostly the negotiations are "will you take $XX--yes or no?" End of negotiation.....at least IME. :)
Altra, BSN, RN 6,255 Posts Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU. Aug 16, 2011 Her comment leads me to think that there may be some room for negotiation ... but be prepared -- office jobs are almost always lower-paying than hospital nursing jobs, because of the more desirable scheduling.
klone, MSN, RN 14,490 Posts Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership. Has 17 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 IME hospitals, especially large entities, have a pay range that's totally based on concrete things (years of experience, certifications, etc) and they don't deviate from that. Smaller private companies and clinics might be willing to negotiate, but probably not more than a couple dollars/hour.
xtxrn, ASN, RN 4,266 Posts Aug 16, 2011 Yeah- but it's not much....you definitely won't be getting acute care salaries (at least from what I've seen in the past). You might be able to wiggle a few cents- maybe a buck....but I'd be really surprised if they would go higher. THere's a lot more per capita overhead in a smaller facility/office that isn't part of a network/corporation- and the hours are considered a huge benefit.... if you don't want it, someone else will take it at what they want to pay.
adpiRN 389 Posts Specializes in L&D. Has 3 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Thanks! That's sort of what I figured....I'm prepared for a pay cut. But the high end of what she quoted me would mean a 25% pay cut!So I'm hoping to negotiate for a little more than that....Which brings up another point - would you take a 25% pay cut for a good job, more relaxed lifestyle, better hours, no weekends, holidays etc?I haven't been to the office yet to meet everyone so there's still a lot to learn about the job, but it sounds good!And I calculated that by supplementing the office job by working a couple per diem shifts a month at my current hospital at their per diem rate, I could basically make my current salary.So as long as I like the people, the job, the benefits etc, I'll probably take it if they offer it, no matter what the pay. But a few more dollars an hour would be nice
linearthinker, DNP, RN 1,688 Posts Specializes in FNP. Has 25 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Which brings up another point - would you take a 25% pay cut for a good job, more relaxed lifestyle, better hours, no weekends, holidays etc?Yes, I would.
MrChicagoRN, RN 2,589 Posts Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care. Has 30 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 She then asked me what figure I'm looking for.Does this mean it might be open for negotiation?Possibly.Everybody has a range. Sometimes they low-ball you, so if someone does want more, they can come up; even if it's 25-50 cents. And sometimes what they offer is a final offer.Possible response:"I'm really excited about the opportunity to come and work here, but it is considerably less than what I earn at my current job. I was hoping that with my education and experience it would be closer to that amount."
allnurses Guide llg, PhD, RN 13,469 Posts Specializes in Nursing Professional Development. Has 46 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Which brings up another point - would you take a 25% pay cut for a good job, more relaxed lifestyle, better hours, no weekends, holidays etc?:I already have the good schedule... but ... "YES" .... I would take a significant pay cut for a positive work environment, less stress, etc. A good quality of life is definitely more important to me than a larger paycheck -- particularly if you could narrow the gap fairly easily.
PediNurse3 142 Posts Aug 16, 2011 Which brings up another point - would you take a 25% pay cut for a good job, more relaxed lifestyle, better hours, no weekends, holidays etc?I took a $3.25/hr pay cut to go to a clinic. Not 25% by any means, but still significant when you're a single parent and every penny is accounted for.It was well worth it to me though. Better for me and my children, no weekends, no holidays, no 12-hour shifts. :)
JJTRN 98 Posts Specializes in ED. Has 7 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 Absolutly!Go high. Hopefully they will come down to the figure that you were looking for.The SouthEast is typically pretty stingy with $$$. Good luck
EmergencyNrse 632 Posts Specializes in Emergency Medicine. Has 17 years experience. Aug 16, 2011 I negotiate each and every time. Pay is only one facet.If you have any serious years experience go after benefits like extra time off each year. I tell them I don't expect to be given the blank 2-weeks of a new hire. 1-2 weeks more vacation benefit adds to your annual income.Medical coverage, 401K/403B matching, continuing education, seminars... Go for it! You will never get 100% of the things you don't ask for...
