I need more money.

AppleRN4 · Nov 17, 2011

It sounds like you work hard on that floor, and should definitely be compensated for all you do, but you'd never get a raise/anywhere without demanding it. If after you make your needs known to your manager, and you're not given what you deserve, then walk.

fiveofpeep · Nov 17, 2011

agreed. remember, they would never hesitate to let you go if the shoe were on the other foot

Tryptophan · Nov 17, 2011

Ask for a raise and if you are not given an adequate one, leave the unit. You do not owe the unit anything. If they do not honor your request for a raise, they are taking you for a fool.

mindlor · Nov 17, 2011

It sounds to me like you should leave. Loyalty is something that is no longer rewarded....sounds to me like they do not deserve you

46oldnewrn · Nov 17, 2011

Put your big girl panties on and ask for a raise!! If they decline??? Move on dot com!!

Zen123 · Nov 17, 2011

I deserved more money too! What about me!? Lol

mindlor · Nov 17, 2011

You are not a slave or an endentured servant. Anyone who does not actually test the market and evaluate what their skills are worth on the open market at least yearly, are doing a grave disservice to themselves.

Typically you will get a much larger raise each year if you change jobs every year. If you stay in the same job you get what? between 2 and 5 percent increase?

Change jobs and you are looking at between 10 and 20 percent.....

As I said before, loyalty in today's market is a poor strategy

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Nov 17, 2011

I was in exactly the same position as you are now. I asked for an increase and was denied. Meanwhile they kept bringing in people for me to train at a much higher pay rate than what they were paying me. I finally left and now make almost 30% more per hour. Don't undersell yourself and think you can't do better. It may take a while, but with your skills and work ethic, there are jobs out there for you where they will appreciate you.

EmergencyNrse · Nov 17, 2011

Although I believe nurses should be paid the most money for each and every hour you give them I caution you as to how to proceed.

You should be VERY specific as to the reasons why you feel you deserve a raise or an increase in pay. You need to do your homework and find out what the median wage is paid for your position in your market and adjust from there.

Make an appointment with your nurse manager. Be prepared. He/She might not be in a position to grant your pay increase. Don't ambush them. Let them know your intentions. Tell them in advance that you wish to talk about getting a raise. Don't' let them blow you off either (that's why you make an appointment).

Know it will be a negotiation. Have your target wage in mind and what you feel is the absolute lowest you'll accept. Remember too, it's business, not personal. If you feel strongly enough that if not compensated you'll quit. You also have to MEAN it. Take a resignation letter with you (I always do).

If you are below the median wage for your position then you should at LEAST request that you be aligned with what others are making in the same position. If you are within the median wage then you have to justify why you deserve more than average. (Charge, Educator, Scheduler)

Know this: There are only a few chances at getting what you want with the threat of walking. You don't just ask for the brass-ring, you argue your point with intelligence and reason. The next time you won't be in as strong a position as you are now...

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2011

If you ask for the raise and are refused, you MUST be willing to leave.

The only way your request has weight is if management BELIEVES you'll leave.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Nov 17, 2011

It is very common practice to underpay especially if you have been at a place for a long time, unless you belong to a union where raises are negotiated. At the best union place, say VA, you are on a step ladder where you get an appropriate increase for each year of experience, but in the private sector things are much different. In the private sector they have the "clinical ladder" as there substitute where you get a one time raise to climb the ladder and they may even threaten to take the raise away later if you don't maintain all the requirements every year. Private corporate pay is usually a scenario of a 2% budget with one person getting 4% and another 0% and it is taken even further these days where the newer worker is giving a higher wage, while the older worker is actually penalized given little or no raise. Nursing in general has wage compression, wages are relatively flat. The only way to counteract this is to either work at a good union hospital or be prepared to change jobs periodically. Changing jobs is the best way to get a good raise these days. It's fine to negotiate but I will be surprised if they actually give you a raise you deserve. You have already worked there for so long without a good raise or wage so they are counting on your inertia to just stay and chances are they won't be willing to increase your raise, they'll claim its not in the budget. But if they are already paying the new people more than you know what you should be paid at the very least the same. On top of that general practice is to pay extra for charge, preceptoring, shift, and CVICU so you are being very underpaid.

Let us know how things turn out, but I think you will need to change jobs to get paid what you should be!