salary negotiation process

[mfarmer88]

Hello all!

I am currently a nurse manager of a busy 32 bed telemetry unit. I am unhappy and want out. I am tired of working 60+hours and only getting paid for 40, I am tired of them forcing me to use my vacation time before I even get a chance to use it, I am tired of my alarm clock going off every day at 520AM...I am just TIRED .

I have been in my current position and with this company for 14 months now. I have made HCAHPS scores rise, employee satisfaction scores rise, they are happy with me, I'm just not happy. I want to go back to working 3 days a week, but this company is blocking me from letting that happen here. So I have applied elsewhere.

I got a job offer today from a local Emergency Room. I have been a nurse for 5 years, 1 of those being a manager, filling in on the floor an average of 5 times a month. I have been on telemetry for my entire career, I am already ACLS certified, but they would need to provide me with TNCC, PALS, etc.. I love my chest pains, my caths, my funky rhythms....

Anyway, my job offer...I was offered 23.46/hr with a $2 differential for 9 of those hours. I currently make $29.70. This averages out to a $4 hour pay cut, or $7500 less per year before taxes. I plan to counter offer with $25 base pay... there is opportunity for PAID OT, and it is a new,exciting experience for me, and the shift is noon to midnight...I wouldn't have to wake up early, and I could still sleep at night like a normal person!

Is that a ludicrous suggestion? Should I keep looking elsewhere? They are offering $3500 sign on bonus for experienced ER RNs, because they're desperate. They hire brand new nurses fresh out of school, so I think having some experience makes me more desirable.

Thoughts? Suggestions? I want OUT of management, but I don't want to jeopardize my family life in any way. My husband just got a decent raise, but I am the breadwinner...

I have never negotiated a salary before, so I'm unsure of the correct process, how often it is successful, etc

[llg, PhD, RN]

What are you basing that $25 figure on really? Where does that fit on their pay scale -- not the pay scale of your current employer? That's what counts. How much does a nurse with 5 years of med/surg experience at their facility pay? You need to find out a little information about their pay scale before you can judge whether or not their offer is fair and in line with their pay standards.

I would express a little disappointment in the offer and ask them to explain how they came up with that figure. If they share a little information about their pay scale, use that information to help you assess what a fair rate for you would be. (e.g. "New grads start at $20.00 per hour and each year of experience is worth $X.") If you still think they are placing you lower on their scale than you think you belong, point out your strengths and ask them to reconsider. But remember than you are brand new to ED nursing -- and it's not unreasonable for them to pay you less than they would pay someone with 5 years of ED experience.

Finally ... sanity is worth a little money. If you need a little more money, consider the possibility of overtime pay -- of which you get 0 now even though you work a lot more than 40 hours per week. If you pick up occasional overtime, you'll still be working less than you are now -- and the overtime will have you earning as much money.