First job woes

[ArmaniX]

Hey all. New AGACNP here and been looking for the "ideal" job for a couple months. Was wondering if anyone has any tips for negotiation or opinions of it for a new grad?

I've been offered a position in a hospital surgical ICU group and honestly it is a job I really feel would help me grow into this career and I'd enjoy it. However, I can't see myself accepting the job and its responsibilities at the offered salary (less than 100k, 97k and change).

I'm thinking of how to, respectfully, counter offer but wonder how it should be worded. Classmates of mine have received offers at other facilities in the same state for around 105k and one even greater then 115k.

Opinions, ideas, or conversation?

[broughden]

It was good you were honest with them, but you didn't negotiate at all. You simply declined. Most places will not jump up and down saying "No, please don't go!". If you say you don't want it, they won't try to convince you otherwise.

A negotiation is "I have been excited about this position and really want to come work with you. Here is what I need to make that happen. $XXX,000 salary with $XXX shift diff, $XXX minimum for CE, premium coverage for my personal liability insurance and $xxx per month for cell phone coverage, etc etc etc."

Then you shut up and let them fidget. Once they have decided you are the person they want, they have to start allllllllllllll over again finding someone. Most aren't eager to do that and will bring their offer up a notch or two. I have never accepted a job without a counter offer regardless of the amount. They always come in within 15% of their bottom dollar. Even if they meet or beat my salary expectations, I counter offer. Once you are in the door the bumps in pay can be and usually are few and far between.

I continue to be baffled about what is so scary about giving them a counter offer. It gives you a chance to emphasize they are your number one choice and to invite them to sweeten the pot. It also expresses clearly that you know and understand your value and that no matter how awesome they are, you expect to be fairly compensated.

ALL of this ^^^^! 100%.

I dont understand why negotiating for a higher salary is so scary. You can stick a tube down someone's trach but you cant politely say, "I'd love to come work with you but I need XYZ salary to do that"?

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

ALL of this ^^^^! 100%.

I dont understand why negotiating for a higher salary is so scary. You can stick a tube down someone's trach but you cant politely say, "I'd love to come work with you but I need XYZ salary to do that"?

Figure that most nurses don't typically have negotiation options in hospitals. Some they typically have a pay scale based on years of experience, that is what you'll get paid. Ability to negotiate is new territory. Thankfully reading here as knowing what other places were paying, I negotiated up on my first contract. But our was still nerve racking knowing there were no other official offers in my region and only potentials in other states. Thankfully they jumped on my counter offer, but still could have gone south.

[Oldmahubbard]

The thing about starting at 97, is that 5 years later you'll probably be making 108. After taxes, and inflation, the difference will be negligible.

On the other hand, as a new NP, you haven't yet proven you can do the job, and some people can't.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Figure that most nurses don't typically have negotiation options in hospitals. Some they typically have a pay scale based on years of experience, that is what you'll get paid. Ability to negotiate is new territory. Thankfully reading here as knowing what other places were paying, I negotiated up on my first contract. But our was still nerve racking knowing there were no other official offers in my region and only potentials in other states. Thankfully they jumped on my counter offer, but still could have gone south.

Actually this is patently false, but a pervasive belief. Even floor nurses have a range and the hospitals offer the low end of that. Every floor nursing position I have had, with the exception of my first one, I negotiated a higher salary than the initial offer.

[Jules A, MSN]

The thing about starting at 97, is that 5 years later you'll probably be making 108. After taxes, and inflation, the difference will be negligible.

On the other hand, as a new NP, you haven't yet proven you can do the job, and some people can't.

After 5 years my increase amounted to about $7 an hour. I'm happy to accept it but if I hadn't gone in at the high end I'd be making squat.

Your second point is important and depends on the person's skill set and potential. I think if you are negotiating like a shark you had better be able to deliver the goods fairly quickly. I have my weaknesses but one thing I know is when a facility hires me, even though they are rarely happy about my salary I will deliver right out of the gate. The docs like me, the nurses like me and I do a competent job efficiently.

[Jules A, MSN]

ALL of this ^^^^! 100%.

I dont understand why negotiating for a higher salary is so scary. You can stick a tube down someone's trach but you cant politely say, "I'd love to come work with you but I need XYZ salary to do that"?

Absolutely however in this instance it is the OPs first go round and she did a bang up job overall. I bet there are plenty of NPs still taking vitals and rooming their own patients because they were convinced it would be a temporary situation and show they were a team player.

One small misstep and actually I wouldn't see any harm, if she still wants this job, to respond to their email, again thanking them for their time, consideration and that she would have welcomed the chance to join their team but would need XYZ salary. Possibly a Hail Mary and likely they have an excess of providers with the new Doctor's surprise acceptance but you never know. Regardless practicing communicating your required rate desensitizes you and makes it easier to do with each subsequent situation.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

Actually this is patently false, but a pervasive belief. Even floor nurses have a range and the hospitals offer the low end of that. Every floor nursing position I have had, with the exception of my first one, I negotiated a higher salary than the initial offer.

Okay....

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

I found this gem of a video on YouTube yesterday which perfectly explains and guides you through salary negotiation and how to work it.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Actually this is patently false, but a pervasive belief. Even floor nurses have a range and the hospitals offer the low end of that. Every floor nursing position I have had, with the exception of my first one, I negotiated a higher salary than the initial offer.

Not all hospitals have salary ranges for nurses, NPs & PAs. I work at a union hospital and your hourly rate is set by the contract and is based on the number of years experience you have. No one gets paid more than another if they have the same years of experience. No negotiation. Bonuses, overtime & on-call are all spelled out in the contract.

[djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP]

Not all hospitals have salary ranges for nurses, NPs & PAs. I work at a union hospital and your hourly rate is set by the contract and is based on the number of years experience you have. No one gets paid more than another if they have the same years of experience. No negotiation. Bonuses, overtime & on-call are all spelled out in the contract.

Clearly a "patently false" assertion.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I stand corrected as pertains to unionized hospitals. I have zero experience with those, as they do not exist in my state. But the sarcasm is duly noted. Hereabouts, unions aren't a "normal" state of being, so my previous comment about "patently false" pertains only to nonunionized hospitals. Better?

[ArmaniX, MSN, APRN]

Quick question... anyone ever lose a job offer by trying to negotiate? Or does HR simply refuse to budge on the offer leaving the applicant the choice to take it or walk?