Salary talk

U.S.A. Colorado

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I am looking for advice on salary and benefits. I started my nursing career in Denver as a new grad at a HealthOne facility. I loved it! Minus the pay...but it was a job. I stayed there for almost 3 years, and over that time my pay rose from a base pay of $22/hr to a little under $26/hr. I've been travel nursing for about the past 1.5 years and, obviously, am making a lot of money now. But, I'm looking to head back to Denver. I've been offered my old job back, which I am happy with. I love my boss, my co-workers, and my unit. (Don't try to talk me out of it. I know it's HCA, but when you are happy with your co-workers and boss, that's hard to not go back to.) I am going to go into the negotiations part next week with HR and am wondering what I'm worth now? I have quite a skewed view on pay right now, coming from the lowest paying company as a new grad to start, to travel nursing. As someone with 4.5 year of experience, what's reasonable to ask for in Denver now? And, what about accrual? Thanks so much for your help guys!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Most hospitals in the Denver metro area I believe use a formula for the number of years of nursing you have. They might have a narrow range of leeway. I would flatly ask if they use a formula and what it is. Do you know anyone from the old days who has stayed? You could see what are making now. Good luck.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Most hospitals in the Denver metro area I believe use a formula for the number of years of nursing you have. They might have a narrow range of leeway. I would flatly ask if they use a formula and what it is. Do you know anyone from the old days who has stayed? You could see what are making now. Good luck.

Except that the longer you stay the worse your pay looks compared to newly hired people.

I bet you can get low to mid 30s

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

You are correct, hopping jobs is the best way to boost your pay. Especially now there is a bit of a price war going on with UC Health.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I'd be curious as to an update. I was at UCHealth for 3 yrs, left last May '17, was making 28.10 hr base at that time. Went to MS,planned to stay, but d/t a family emergency had to come back to CO a few weeks ago. I'm currently job hunting... I talked pay with Healthone facility for super float pool (fulltime, benefited), I was told 36.75 hr for days, 40.75 hr for nights, extra dollar for weekends. I also talked with HCA for their C.A.R.E. float program (PRN position) that they are starting up, was told mid 40's an hr to start. I have an interview with Banner and UCHealth in the next couple of days, wonder what they pay scale will be like with them. Anyway, I have 5.5 yr experience, med/surg, MSN/MBA, so I don't know if that all makes a difference.

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Specializes in ICU + Infection Prevention.

Superfloat is the only way to make money at HCA/H1.

HCA/H1 has the lowest pay in Denver. University was the second lowest (unless they've increased substantially. Centura and SCL are in the middle. Denver Health and VA have the highest pay. After your differentials you'd probably make in the 50/hr at the VA.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Superfloat is the only way to make money at HCA/H1.

HCA/H1 has the lowest pay in Denver. University was the second lowest (unless they've increased substantially. Centura and SCL are in the middle. Denver Health and VA have the highest pay. After your differentials you'd probably make in the 50/hr at the VA.

I can't speak for how it is now, but in 2011 when I went from UCHealth (was just UCH then) to Children's, I took a $1/hour-ish pay cut. So Children's has to be in there on lowest wages as well.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Quick update, Banner Health offered 33 hr base, with 4 dollar diff for noc, and 2 dollar diff for weekends. This is a float pool position (travel between 3 hospitals), full time, benefited as well. Just throwing that out there. Thanks for the updated input.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Quick update, Banner Health offered 33 hr base, with 4 dollar diff for noc, and 2 dollar diff for weekends. This is a float pool position (travel between 3 hospitals), full time, benefited as well. Just throwing that out there. Thanks for the updated input.

That is awful. That is very similar to what I do and my base is 10/hr more.

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new grad rate for HCA is 25/hr . +4 nights ; for centura 27/hr +4nights

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Back in 2010, Centura had a "regional float pool" where you floated to a minimum of three different hospitals of your choosing. For specialty units, I wanted to say it was a flat $42/hour (unbenefited).

Do they still offer something like that?

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Back in 2010, Centura had a "regional float pool" where you floated to a minimum of three different hospitals of your choosing. For specialty units, I wanted to say it was a flat $42/hour (unbenefited).

Do they still offer something like that?

Yes. My buddy is in it, ER at least. Like you said it is unbenefited and you aren't guaranteed hours until you are in one of their full time slots ( which are rare ). You do get full control over your schedule though which is nice.

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