What to do about pay?

JulieCVICURN, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

Normally if you have it in writing, you should be ok. However, the DON may have made promises she couldn't keep. Your best bet is to ask.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 16, 2010

In most jobs, you can be terminated in the first few months for no reason. They can simply say, "It's not working out" and you are out of a job. Even if they must show cause to fire you, as a brand new employee, they will be able to find something to fire you if they really want to.

What I am saying is ... that you really have very little power in this situation. They will be able to either honor that agreement or not regardless of what you want. In your situation, I would show them the e-mail and ask them nicely if they will honor it. If they say "No," there is really not much you can do about it -- but it doesn't hurt to ask politely.

summerrose_10 · Feb 16, 2010

Well...it all "depends"...

first, 22.72 is not being "overpaid" for a RN. you say you "argued", was it an argument, or were you advocating for a fair wage? with the down turn in the economy, yet, with the increase in basic living expenses, and the skill level required of RN's 25-26/hr is still a fair wage for an entry level RN and their education.

second, you have it in writing, via email. most places will honor that. present the evidence, back it up with why it should be so. let the powers that be know you are open minded and willing to listen to their side.

you ended your post with "i've gotta get out of there." perhaps you need to do some self reflection, decide what you have to give to your employer, and if you feel your giving more then you receive, you may need to put in your notice. its not fair to your coworkers to show up to work with a bad attitude, get out if that is the way you truly feel. bad feelings/attitudes bring everybody down. it's not fair to you or to your employer.

good luck, you deserve to be paid what you are worth, don't settle for less:up:

jlcole45 · Feb 16, 2010

I would not pursue a pay increase unless you are planning on staying a while. What you wrote sounds a bit confusing.

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

well...it all "depends"...
first, 22.72 is not being "overpaid" for a rn. you say you "argued", was it an argument, or were you advocating for a fair wage? with the down turn in the economy, yet, with the increase in basic living expenses, and the skill level required of rn's 25-26/hr is still a fair wage for an entry level rn and their education.
i was promised (verbally) to get $23/hr upon passing my nclex. then, a month before my test, i was told that the starting pay had been lowered to $21/hr. i told them that with my experience and being told upon hire, that i was to get $23/hr to start, and that's what i expected. don told me that with my experience, he had gotten the base pay up to 22.72/hr.
then, i find out that a male co worker who has less experience than i do, has been employed to the facility a couple of months longer than i, and has been a nurse less than a year, is making $25/hr ... whereas i have been one for 8 years.
second, you have it in writing, via email. most places will honor that. present the evidence, back it up with why it should be so. let the powers that be know you are open minded and willing to listen to their side.
you ended your post with "i've gotta get out of there." perhaps you need to do some self reflection, decide what you have to give to your employer, and if you feel your giving more then you receive, you may need to put in your notice. its not fair to your coworkers to show up to work with a bad attitude, get out if that is the way you truly feel. bad feelings/attitudes bring everybody down. it's not fair to you or to your employer.
i am leaving as soon as i find another position. rn positions in this area are not as easily found, but i am looking. and i hate to say it, but almost everyone at the facility has bad attitudes and feelings. it's sad to say, but management has brought a once smooth working, nice facility to its knees.
good luck, you deserve to be paid what you are worth, don't settle for less:up:

i hope i was able to clear up some of the fogginess of my post for ya! and thank you for your support.....

caliotter3 · Feb 16, 2010

Can certainly understand why you are not very content. I would also be looking for the next job. Just think how badly they would be taking advantage of you if you had never found out the person with less experience was at $25 and they had low-balled you down to $21. They say that money shouldn't matter, but it does, and the employer is showing you that they have respect for the other nurse and something less for you. Good luck finding another position soon, before your morale deteriorates any further.

ITALY123 · Feb 16, 2010

The money part in nursing is one of the least important things. If one dollar and some cents is making you wanna leave, maybe nursing is not for you. Of course the paycheck is important but nursing is a field that people with heart need to be in. If people are only in it for the money, they will get burnt out real quick.

nohika · Feb 16, 2010

The money part in nursing is one of the least important things. If one dollar and some cents is making you wanna leave, maybe nursing is not for you. Of course the paycheck is important but nursing is a field that people with heart need to be in. If people are only in it for the money, they will get burnt out real quick.

I think you should re-read this to see that the OP has been a nurse for 8 years.

WolfpackRed · Feb 16, 2010

The money part in nursing is one of the least important things. If one dollar and some cents is making you wanna leave, maybe nursing is not for you. Of course the paycheck is important but nursing is a field that people with heart need to be in. If people are only in it for the money, they will get burnt out real quick.

In my opinion, this attitude is what prevents nurses from earning the level of compensation due any professional with similiar education, training and experience.

rn/writer, RN · Feb 16, 2010

The money part in nursing is one of the least important things. If one dollar and some cents is making you wanna leave, maybe nursing is not for you. Of course the paycheck is important but nursing is a field that people with heart need to be in. If people are only in it for the money, they will get burnt out real quick.

The money in nursing is what pays the bills. Try selling this line of thinking to people in other careers. Better yet, see if you can convince even one CEO to accept a pay cut because he has a heart for his job.

I also hear the OP expressing anger and a desire to walk away over management tactics that have lowballed wages and scuttled morale. These are valid concerns, as well.

Up2nogood RN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

The money part in nursing is one of the least important things. If one dollar and some cents is making you wanna leave, maybe nursing is not for you. Of course the paycheck is important but nursing is a field that people with heart need to be in. If people are only in it for the money, they will get burnt out real quick.

When you are a nurse you will understand how the OP has a valid complaint. It's essential to look at the whole situation, she is getting paid less than a new grad and she had to fight to get that lower wage.

So it may be safe to assume that even in nursing men will continue to be paid a higher wage. I am curious as to if

A. The higher paid newer male nurse was hired by a male...or

B. If he was hired by a female, did she have the hots for him

C. The higher paid newer nurse was hired by a male...and he had the hots for him

I've been in the same situation before but didn't have it in writing but talked with the new DNS and she honored the previous wage offer. I don't know if it'd be worth making waves over what someone else's wages were or just bag it and look for a job willing to pay you for your experience.