Getting a raise in private duty nursing?

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When I worked in nursing facilities, I didn't have to ask for a raise. I would get my evaluations and then they would say something like OK, we are giving you 50 cents more an hour now. So how does it work in private duty?

Do you have to ask for a raise or do they give you a raise automatically after you have been with them for a year? Thanks.

The nurse told me herself. At that time she was preparing to leave to go to another agency that was going to pay her even more money, according to her. I do not assume that people are lying to me when they tell me something. When I brought the subject up with the agency to get it straightened out, they did not deny that they were indeed, paying her more than me. Quite insulting to say the least.

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Specializes in med-surg, teaching, cardiac, priv. duty.
When will these agencies realize that unless they can staff the cases they have with good, reliable nurses and HHA's, they won't be getting any reimbursement at all?

yep! I recently ran into the family of a case I used to work through Maxim, and they had been without a nurse for over a month! Unable to staff a case for that long?! Maxim digs their own grave!! And this was a high tech case that got the highest reimbursement rates.

Kyasi, you sound great! I hope your nurses appreciate you. If you treat the nurses (and HHA's) like professionals and show appreciation for good work, you are more likely to get and keep reliable, competent, and loyal employees.

Maxim clearly does not get that. Their whole business structure is wrong.

Maxim gave me the biggest bunch of bull. Not only blamed medicaid reimbursement rates, but mentioned all the other "expenses" they have to pay for employees...ya know social security, office overhead, etc. I was about to start sobbing for how little Maxim makes. (yeah, right!) The male director of this location lives in a posh, luxury home. How do i know? He lives in the same neighborhood as a case I worked. He earns enough to live in luxury, but won't give a nurse a 50 cent an hour raise.

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Thanks, but I can't take all the credit. I do go to bat for my employees and try to get the good employees all that I can but my agency has done an about face on this issue over the last year or so. They have come to realize the value of dependable employees to their bottom line.

The other agencies like you describe keep me staffed with good nurses with lots of home care experience who come to us because they are so unhappy. I love hiring their good nurses!

Kathy

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I decided to take a chance and ask for a raise now. I thought the RN was my boss. I was wrong. The recruiter is my boss and has to approve a raise!!!!!!:mad:.

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I decided to take a chance and ask for a raise now. I thought the RN was my boss. I was wrong. The recruiter is my boss and has to approve a raise!!!!!!:mad:.

Speak with the nursing supervisor and get her to advocate for you. The nursing supervisor advocated for me with the accounts manager one time and I was given a pay raise in lieu of a one time bonus, at my request (I thought the pay raise would be better in the long run). If you just talk to the recruiter he will continue to stonewall you to the best of his ability.

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Thanks caliotter3. Yes, I will ask my supervisor to advocate for me. I was sure shocked to find out that a recruiter is in charge of my wages!!!!! I never realized that my recruiter is my boss!!!:down:

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Your real boss is the nursing supervisor and the Director of Patient Care Services. The recruiters have aspirations of having the power of the accounts manager, before they have even earned the title and the job.

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Thanks caliotter3. I see. The recruiter wants to be the accounts manager. If the recruiter stonewalls me, he will get a pat on the back for keeping costs down. I guess the more money he saves the company, the more he has a chance of becoming the accounts manager.:mad:

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In that particular company, all people hired into the recruiter positions are taught each of the operations of the company office in anticipation that their above average work will get them a promotion to accounts manager and an office of their own. Few even last as recruiters, much less get promoted to accounts manager.

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I am going to meet with my recruiter to discuss a raise. When I tell the recruiter that the medicaid reimbursement is about $25 an hour for LPN he is probably going to deny it. I am sure he will lie and lie as to why I can't get a raise. Any suggestions on what I can say to maybe get a raise? Thanks all.

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The last time I remember seeing the reimbursement rate for medicaid, it was $29 and change about ten years ago. Remember, they have to pay for everything out of that amount. Nurse salary is usually roughly half the reimbursement rate. Anything above that comes from other revenue sources. I would not bring up medicaid in any discussion about RN or LPN pay, instead talk about prevailing rates for your area (based on the highest paying agency).

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Thanks again caliotter3. The other pediatric home care agencies in town are paying 3 dollars more per hour than this place. I am hoping to remain calm no matter what the outcome is to this meeting. It does make me furious though that I have to meet with a recruiter instead of the nurse.:mad:

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