How Important Is Money

Nurses New Nurse

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Hello, I am a new graduate nurse and need some input about nursing income. I received two offers from two hospitals. An IMC unit and another one from MedSurg. Patient ratio on IMC is 3-4, ratio on MedSurg night shift is 5-6. Now here is the tricky part, IMC unit is at a hospital that pays the lowest in the area with $26 base rate and unfortunately everyone knows this hospital pays the lowest, while the MedSurg position will pay $3 more base pay and $2 more in differential. All my peers are starting with $2 to $3 more base pay and the same in differential. I would like to work in an IMC unit but I feel ashamed about the low pay compared to other new grads in my area. I am really worried others in my field will look down on me. I also have quite an amount to pay back in school loans. Thank you for your input.

What is IMC ? Intermediate care ?

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Yes, IMC is Intermediate Care.

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Specializes in Rehabilitation.

I'm leaving a job that pays me weekend premium to go to a new position that pays straight day shift pay.

Some things are more important than money.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Honey, it's not like you're going to go around with a sign hanging around your neck that tells the world your wages, will you??? (No offense - not being smarty here, just silly.)

Nobody will know your pay unless YOU tell them, so just don't. "T'AINT NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT YOURS!!!

Like others have said, sometimes money is secondary (or thirdly, or fourthly, or fifthly, etc) after better opportunities such as scheduling, benefits, educational opportunities, advancements, friendly/supportive peers & admin. Sometimes it's hard to put a $$$ on those intangibles because they're often priceless and hard to measure.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Supervisory, HEDIS, IT.

You feel "ashamed" about the low pay? A lot of new grads cannot even get a job let alone 2 offers....

You should do what you want to do. If you want to work in the IMC unit, then do it. You spend 1/3 of your life working and you should be happy doing it. If you realize in time that you actually do not like the IMC unit, transfer to another unit after the required amount of time and see how you like that :)

You should not feel ashamed about it. If your friends look down on your for doing that, then they are not really great friends. You and your "friends" are nurses. That's all that matters.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN.

I agree with the previous posters. I'm taking a minor paycut in my new job, but the experience of specializing in critical cardiac care is A) going to look amazing on my resume if/when I decide to move on to something new, B) is something I've always wanted to do, and C) will be in an environment that encourages excellence and provides a more thorough orientation than my previous job. It consisted of a 1 day introduction to the hospital, then assigned a full patient load during a two-week orientation. When my new employer said I'd be starting with a 12-week orientation, I almost did a little happy dance. Money is important to me, but it can never be a substitute for a good working environment.

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I have to agree with the others. If you can make it financially with the job you like the most - do it! The culture of the unit and quality of your orientation will mean more than what you get paid. I had two med/surg jobs (one was more hybrid med/surg and stepdown) and the major difference was the quality of my coworkers/unit (and/or hospital) culture. To take my second and the better job? I took a $6/hour pay cut, switch from day shift to night shift and was driving 50+ miles to work (I was in a very rural area).

I am very thankful for the experience of having worked med/surg/stepdown - I have a MUCH better understanding what is going on with my patients (lab values, medications that are given or that patients are already on). I would be a better nurse on the floor or in ICU now following my OR experience.

For what it's worth? I work at a public institution and our salaries are printed in the newspaper every year (and the newspaper has an online public search function where that info can be looked up). Nobody really seems to care. It is just a fact of working at XYZ facility. People I take care of could look up my salary. It's money and it doesn't matter that much. I simply wouldn't engage in conversation about it. Money is not the biggest factor in a job for me. Though, it doesn't hurt to be fairly compensated. :)

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I agree with the other posters who say that some things are more important than salary. With that being said I personally am someone who is not happy if I have to live on a shoestring budget all of the time while working like a dog. It depends on what's most important to you. If I didn't care about money at all I would be an elementary school teacher but I am a nurse because while I enjoy helping I don't enjoy anything if I have to wonder if I can afford rent and a cheeseburger.

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Who cares what other people think. The first offer sounds better especially the patient ratios. I recently took a $10 an hour pay cut to have a normal life. Get some experience and then look for higher paying jobs.

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My previous job I was making a little over $12 very low key, low stress but I was broke and living on my own and trying to pay rent and utilities making 12 and some change is not remotely possible in this economy, but as a recent grad from college (not nursing) nobody would hire me without experience so I stuck it out for a few years.

I got a new job a little over a year ago I make significantly more money but under a lot of pressure! Sometimes I miss my old job but not the salary haha.

Moral of the story: You have to find the balance between being financially comfortable and good work/life balance (less stress/less pressure)

Evaluate your two options. Which one will allow you to be financially comfortable and less stress in your work life?

Good lucK!

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Work where you want to work, for the reasons you want to work there. Who cares what your peers think about you? That is not a consideration here. Your job satisfaction and the meeting of your financial obligations are.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Yes, IMC is Intermediate Care.

What state are you in? In California they are called ICF's and are centered around the care of person's with intellectual or physical disabilities. While some are quite good and take great care of their "consumers" (get used to that word). Others can be quite shady in their business practices and you have to be careful because some require you to be on-call 24 hours a day 5 days a week. The company I worked for went under federal invesitigation for Medicare fraud last year and because I wouldn't lie for them I was terminated under an "at-will" clause in my contract. My advice is if this IMC is the kind of place I described do a check through the state or county department of health services and see how many complaints and the results of their annual surveys - it's all public record and can help you in your decision.

Hppy

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