How to ask for a pay raise???

lsm332 · Nov 28, 2009

I don't know how the job market is in your area, but you might just want to take what you can get..especially if you don't have any other offers right now. either way, I'm not sure how the best way to go about asking is, but good luck!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 28, 2009

In all honesty, I'd take the ICU offer as is. Pickins are mighty slim out there right now -- I'd count myself lucky for the offer!! These boards are full of newly minted BSN RNs who aren't working as RNs yet because there are few jobs to go around in many areas of the country. Am I telling you to settle? Maybe. But I'd hate to see you turn down a legitimate offer (or price yourself out of it) and then be unable to find anything else.

Whatever you decide, congrats on getting the offer, and good luck on you upcoming boards! :)

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 28, 2009

5% is very little in comparison to what this employer is offering you on the up-side. You will be getting into the specialty that you want, they are willing to get you through the NCLEX AND will give you essentially a $5,000 signing bonus. Ne grad jobs are now falling out of trees right now, so my best advice would be to forget the 5% and take snap this offer up before they offer it to someone else. Besides, if the 5% is really that important to you, once you have the job and have proven to them that you are a valuable asset to their oganization, perhaps then you can ask for more money. Right now, you have little to bargain with so you position would not be strong (especially with many others lining up behind you for an opportunity like this).

Qka · Nov 29, 2009

Hi everyone,
I'm a first time poster, long time reader.
I will be graduating this December from a BSN program in Illinois. I have been applying to many hospitals and want to make my first nursing position as positive as possible. I recently received a job offer from level 1 hospital in the ICU. They will reimburse me $5000 of my tuition for a 1 year commitment, they will pay for my NCLEX test and review courses. After I get all my certifications I will be making about $25/hr. I still have other interviews coming up, but they are only giving me 5 days to make a decision. I would really like to start in an ICU, however I would also like to be in the Chicago area and this hospital is in a rural setting. I want to ask for a 5% increase when I call the HR person back. How should I go about doing this?
Thanks,
Kurt

Sorry, I have no advice to you, I just wanted to ask: how did you receive a job offer for an ICU position? I'd like to work in ICU, but as I heard they do not hire new graduates right after school.

caliotter3 · Nov 29, 2009

They are offering you incentives that many people never see and you have a job offer on the table. I would accept the offer with gratitude and look to seek a pay increase after you have proven yourself on the job. If you were a person with appropriate experience and the offer were low, that would be a different matter; in this case, you have not graduated yet, so the employer is taking a chance that you will be a good employee. Take the offer before they give it to someone else. And congratulations on getting a job offer.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 30, 2009

I would NOT ask for a raise.

This is your first RN position, right out of school?

Thank your lucky stars you have such a great job offer. Kudos to you.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Nov 30, 2009

In this economy I would be happy to get a job offer at all, let alone two to decide from. Don't push it.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 30, 2009

I worked at the only level one trauma center outside of Chicago for 10 years - believe me - they won't negotiate - they will just withdraw the offer.

None of their staff got even the requisite 2-3% raise this year!

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 30, 2009

As others have said, new grad positions are rarely negotiable. Even when jobs were easy to get, most hospitals had a "standard package" for new grads that was pretty non-negotiable. Once you get experience and show that you can handle a staff nurse job, then you will be in a stronger position to perhaps do a little negotiating.

No one in my hospital got any raises this year. I had to take a slight pay cut. I have over 30 years of experience.

UVA Grad Nursing · Nov 30, 2009

I concur fully with all of the above positions. As a new grad, you are not in the position to negotiate. There are dozens (or hundreds) of others who will gladly take your job at the salary offered.

You are in a better position to negotiate salary after 2-3 years at the hospital when they are eager to retain you.

prinsessa · Nov 30, 2009

I would take the position and not even think of asking for more money. I graduated in May 09 and still haven't found a nursing job. I would be happy to take $25/hr right now. I am making about a third of that at a job that has nothing to do with nursing. Consider yourself VERY lucky!!!!