Do you get any raises? How do you ask for one?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

By some accident, our RCM did the evaluation for pretty much all the stuff 3 days before my one year anniversary. However she told me HR lost? all the evaluations, so she had to redo them for everyone. When asked if this comes with a raise, she replied "I wish. They gave everyone a raise in October". Hmmm, I remember seeing my rate increase whopping 0.9% an hour in October, I always wondered what the heck was that about.

So I got my "well above average" evaluation done. Now in two days I would ask for one, but now it's done, and I don't know what to do. Should I go to the DON and ask for one? I find that 0.9% flat out offensive, I need at least 3-4% like most people here get. I spoke with another nurse who works in my place, he said he didn't get any raises in 3 years working there. I spoke with yet another one, same thing.

I'm just curious, is this normal, or should I fight for it and how?

I haven't received any raises except for a bonus in the the form of a raise, so I wouldn't know. I have, however, spoken up when I found out that someone was being paid more than me for the same case, and I got fed a line of confusion meant to convince me that it was my fault they were paying someone else more than me. I had been told that everyone in the same category was paid the same by this employer. Not so. I missed the memo that some employees are inherently worth more than others. If you want a raise, then speak up. But don't be surprised if you don't get anywhere with your request.

Specializes in Med/Surg.

I don't think I would push it, to be honest with you (and I may get flamed for this).

I know our raises are given as a percentage, based on the market, and different departments/titles may receive different amounts. They are not based on the results of our evals (other than, if your scores are too low, you aren't eligible for the house-wide raise). A year or two ago, we didn't receive them (no one did, based on our economic conditions).

Different places may handle things differently, of course, but we have over 1000 nurses in total working at just my facility. They can't possibly grant every raise everyone would ask for.

Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.

We had wages frozen three years ago and they are just considering reinstating them. Of course, even when we got them they weren't based on evaluations, they were just house wide. Also our raise, 2-3%, was almost always eaten up by the increase in cost of our health insurance. So if you carried the insurance, you really never got any raise at all.

We work on a clinical ladder system, it's great for a newer nurse like me (4+years). However, next year, I finish my Bachelor's and max out the ladder at tier 5. So, I will be making as much as the nurses that have been there for 20+ years......doesn't sound right, does it :/ The other side of that is that once I'm at the top of the ladder, I will not be eligible for any more money......ever.

Ask for your 4%, and if they dont give it 2 you then quit, show them who's boss, either the raise or i hit the road

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Ask for your 4%, and if they dont give it 2 you then quit, show them who's boss, either the raise or i hit the road

I think that's really bad advice in this economy. We all like to get raises but it's not always possible.

Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

Just go ask your DON in a non-confrontational manner how raises are given in your facility. Sometimes things simply get missed so if you don't ask, you are never going to know.

Specializes in ICU.

At both my jobs ( hospital and nurse home) have been told us that no raises are coming to us because of the economy. To make matters worse our health insurance premiums were increased by 35%!!! If I were you I would ask for a raise but make sure to give a solid reason why you feel you deserve a raise ( bring your evaluation). The best way for a nurse to increase his/her salary is to job hop. Merit increases are on the par of about 40-50 cents a year at best. With the increased job experience you have gained it may translate into several dollars increase at another job place. Just another option for you to think about. Good luck!

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