Contract, negotiable at all?

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

Hi all!

I'm a senior in school right now, graduating in December. I'm absolutely happy to say I have secured a job in the hospital after graduation. Thanks to AN, I realized that the job market was awful and would have to really start looking early.

I bugged all my loved ones, and kept asking them to keep their ears and eyes open for any opportunities. Anyhoo, after two to three months of networking, I've tentatively have a RN spot in the hospital waiting for me after graduation.

However the manager mentioned I would have to sign a contract, since they had issues with retention of nurses bc it's critical care and people use it as a stepping stone to CRNA school. I have zero intention or desire of leaving the area or becoming a CRNA, so I have no qualms about signing a contract.

My question : is there any room for negotiating salary or benefits with this contract? I feel like there should be some employee benefit other than employment (even though I'm over the moon about that) with a contract saying I have to stay with them for a specified number of years.

Insight? Thank you everyone.

[CaptScrubs13]

Probably not, more so because you're a new grad. You have no experience with which to bargain on. Most places have a standard pay scale for new nurses with very little wiggle room. I'd just be grateful to have an offer so soon out of school and leave it at that! With experience comes more ability to negotiate.

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

Thanks Courtney for your input! :) I am very grateful to have a job offer, even though our area is not quite as dire as California and some other places.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

You could definitely try negotiating: after all, if you don't ask you don't get.

But the reality is that you are a new graduate, so unless you were a prior LVN/CNA in critical care, it's not as though you are bringing any special skills or experience to the table. And there are hundreds of others that would jump into your shoes for even less than what you are being offered...and the hospitals know that. So honestly, I doubt you'd get much, if anything, out of it.

You have nothing to lose by asking though...but IMO, if they're not biting, don't push it.

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

Great advice meri! I am normally very meek when it comes to negotiating and the like. But I know it's my loss when it comes to never speaking up or never politely asking for "more".

It burns me up when I hear about males getting paid more than equally qualified females because in general, females don't negotiate!