Hourly vs Salary

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, Wound Care.

Looking for some feedback from my fellow nurses on being paid hourly vs being paid salary (based on 40 hours per week).  Pros and cons?  The position under consideration is a hospital position, M-F, no weekends.  I have my own thoughts on salaried positions in healthcare, but would love to hear from people who have worked both in hourly and salaried positions.

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Salaried positions I held were as a NS in two different facilities; one with no weekends, the other with two Saturdays a month.

I cannot recall NOT working at least 50 hours per week in either position.

I can think of no benefits with a salaried position.

Good luck in your decision, FallingInPlace!

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

In my hospital all non-union nursing positions are salaried positions, all union nurses are hourly. There are some salaried nurses that do work only their full time hours, then it doesn't seem like such a bad deal. However, with the recent crunches in staffing, some of those positions have had the added expectation of assisting with patient assignments and that has added more hours. Good luck with your decision. 

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

It totally depends on what you're doing. If it's leadership, plan on working 50-hour work weeks.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice, Wound Care.

Thanks for all of your thoughtful comments!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Most salaried nurses I know work beyond the typical 40 hours. No overtime, no shift differentials, no bonuses when picking up a shift or being forced to work a shift to "help out."  All those hours over full time essentially working for free.  When doing the math these nurses frequently make less an hour than the hourly paid staff, sometimes a lot less when they are so dedicated to the job that they are putting in 60-70 hours a week every week.

There's always the exception to the rule. I've also known a few management nurses that come in whenever they feel like it and are gone early every single day putting in at most a 6-7 hour day yet being paid for full time hours. 

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