Crappy salary, and no pay for call?!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Dec 13, 2005

That sux! Best wishes to you in the hunting :)

Trauma Columnist · Dec 13, 2005

I too have a salaried job where I work rotating day/evening shifts, take call and/or work every other weekend and don't get paid for being on call! Can't wait to get out of this one. However, it worked for while I was in school and I have learned a lot.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

The thing is, I have been a nurse for 13 years, and RN for 6. I am so bummed at being offered so little.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Dec 13, 2005

If there is a high demand for nurses in your area, then I say let this fish go. If not, and you really need the money and security, take it for the time being and continue searching for a better position.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

If there is a high demand for nurses in your area, then I say let this fish go. If not, and you really need the money and security, take it for the time being and continue searching for a better position.

There is a surplus of nurses in my area, few jobs. I've already been looking for over a year.

I have one more interview tomorrow, at an endoscopy practice.

If they don't offer me at least $20. an hr, I'm going to keep traveling.

It's hard to be away from home and hubby all the time, but I made more in 7 mos of traveling than that job pays in a whole year.

nurse4theplanet, RN · Dec 13, 2005

have you ever thought of relocating or is there a metro area close by to which you can commute reasonably? Usually, if one area has a surplus, there is another that is suffering from a shortage...but I also hear texas is a great place to live and many nurses complain about not being able to find jobs. What about using your nursing degree in a non-traditional way, such as pharmaceuticals, medical insurance auditing, etc.

military spouse · Dec 13, 2005

I had a job interview today for a case mgmt job in a P.A.C.E. program (PACE - Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). I will need to get T.I.L.E. certified to do it (TILE = Texas Index of Level of Effort)
The DON seemed really nice, but.....
Salary job, no pay for overtime. Salary is only $720. a week.
that would work out to $18./hr for 40 hrs, but what salary nurse works only 40 hrs?
Must take call one week out of the month, and NURSES ARE NOT PAID AT ALL FOR CALL.
I have been wanting to stop traveling and stay home for awhile, but this is rediculous!

It sounds like you are in Texas. Have you tried El Paso? Great market for nurses. I was making about $25 per hour and I knew plenty of people making over $30 (hours were more important to me). My best friend is a salaried LPN making $50,000.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

$18 an hour for an RN w/ 8 years experience is awful!!! I don't like the idea of being salaried w/ that little pay. You KNOW you will have to work just about every time you are on call, so what would the pay really turn out to be? I hope that your interview goes well. Good luck in the job search and don't give up hope!

lindarn · Dec 13, 2005

How do they get by not paying you for call? I thought that it you are required to be on call as part of your job, they are required to pay you according to the Federal Labor Laws. I would contact an Employment Attorney at discuss this with him/her. Nursings biggest problem is that they do not have an opportunity to learn anything about Labor and Contract Law as nursing students. In the ideal nursing program, it would be a requirement as an elective class. A little knowledge goes along way with hospitals. They know that nurses do not know what their rights, and they take advantage of/exploit this it big time.

There would be a lot less burnout in nursing if nurses graduated with the "ammunition", in terms of Labor Law, knowing how to deal with the abusive conduct of management and what is and is not legal. Again, there is not enought time in ADN and Diploma programs to cover classes/subjects, that would enhance the knowledge of nurses, and would go along way to alleviate/eliminate burnout from the abuse, and overworkthat has become the norm nursing. It would make bedside nursing a much more attractive career that it is now. There is more to a career that learing the 'nuts and bolts" of the profession. One needs to know how to survive in the working environment.

Kaplan offers a Legal Nurse Certificate, and the program offers "Employment Law", and "Administrative Law". I believe that some of the Legal Nurse programs also offer classes in "Contract Law". A little knowledge goes along way. Again, I would check with an attorney and see what they have to say about working/call, and not getting paid.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, WA

Q. · Dec 13, 2005

$18 an hour for an RN w/ 8 years experience is awful!!!

Actually, when I worked as a nurse educator, I made $19/hour and I have 6 years experience. I was also salaried.

The rationale for such low pay was that I don't have to work PMs or nights or holidays.

startmeup · Dec 13, 2005

How do they get by not paying you for call? I thought that it you are required to be on call as part of your job, they are required to pay you according to the Federal Labor Laws. I would contact an Employment Attorney at discuss this with him/her. Nursings biggest problem is that they do not have an opportunity to learn anything about Labor and Contract Law as nursing students. In the ideal nursing program, it would be a requirement as an elective class. A little knowledge goes along way with hospitals. They know that nurses do not know what their rights, and they take advantage of/exploit this it big time.
There would be a lot less burnout in nursing if nurses graduated with the "ammunition", in terms of Labor Law, knowing how to deal with the abusive conduct of management and what is and is not legal. Again, there is not enought time in ADN and Diploma programs to cover classes/subjects, that would enhance the knowledge of nurses, and would go along way to alleviate/eliminate burnout from the abuse, and overworkthat has become the norm nursing. It would make bedside nursing a much more attractive career that it is now. There is more to a career that learing the 'nuts and bolts" of the profession. One needs to know how to survive in the working environment.
Kaplan offers a Legal Nurse Certificate, and the program offers "Employment Law", and "Administrative Law". I believe that some of the Legal Nurse programs also offer classes in "Contract Law". A little knowledge goes along way. Again, I would check with an attorney and see what they have to say about working/call, and not getting paid.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, WA

I have worked a rotating 12 hour shift for 15 years. I've been required to be on call regularly and have never gotten paid. This was a manufacturing job before I entered nursing school. The topic of getting paid for on-call duty came up many times. There have been court decisions regarding this. As far as I know, the employer is not required to pay for on-call duty, legally speaking. Consider yourself lucky if you do get paid for it.