input on meeting with boss requested please!

[rnto?]

I am an RN/BSN with 1.5 years of experience. I've been a weekend supervisor at a 150 bed subacute/long term care facility for almost a year, and I also have med/surg experience. My job on the weekend involves supervising the LPNS and RNs (mostly LPNS), getting report from them, calling docs if necessary, talking with family members, taking complaints/concerns from family members, dealing with call offs/staffing, dealing with dietary/kitchen issues, etc. I'm the it girl on the weekends if stuff goes wrong, and something goes wrong pretty much every weekend. I recently got my annual performance review, and out of 6 categories with a 0-4 rating scale, I got 5 "4"s and 1 "3.8". My boss, the DON, stated that I go above and beyond expectations and that my clinical skills are excellent, I handle everything on the weekends without difficulty, etc. nurses who've previously held my current position have left after months or even weeks, and the DON used to get multiple calls every weekend from staff members saying things were crazy, she needed to do something, etc, since I started, I'm the only who calls and it is rare for me to call her. So, basically, I'm good at my job. I got a 4 percent raise, the highest the company was giving (we're a national corp). BUT my rate is 20/hour during the week, and 25/hour on the weekend, and I only got a raise on my weekday rate. The blanket statement from don/admin was that weekend people get a higher rate in the first place, and therefore do not get a raise on that rate. I work 1 12 hour shift during the week, and two 12 hour shifts on the weekend. So it's really like I didn't get a raise at all, when I was ASKED to take the supervisor position and was told that the 25/hour was supervisor rate. 25/hour is also what the PRN position nurses get paid, even though I'm their supervisor. Also, the DON keeps adding to my list of responsibilities on the weekend, which is fine, except that I work my butt off and rarely get off the floor, and I basically didn't get a raise. So, that's the first thing I'm going to talk about.

the second is that I desperately need as much overtime as I can get, and there are always positions open, but they are offered to the PRN people first, instead of full time people. We have prn people working 36 hours/week. Alot of the full time people are concerned.

I have been looking for a second job, but I think that people don't really want to hire someone with less than a year of med/surg experience to work part time or casual. I think that may be the reason I'm not getting any calls for the multiple positions I applied to.

Do you think these are valid concerns? As this is my first real job, I've never had to discuss pay issues with a boss before, I'm pretty scared. Thanks so much for reading.

[Batman24]

I've never heard of only being given a raise on weekday and not weekend hours. I'll be interested to see if anyone else has experienced that. Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. You didn't really get a 4% raise and I would point that out. You technically only got a 1/3 of 4% because it only applies to a 1/3 of your salary.

PRN often do get paid higher so I can see them getting $25/hr. I can see it being infuriating as you are in a supervisory position so I would state that as you are a manager you should be paid more than your subordinates.

You also need to get written clarification on your job duties and point out that your responsibilities are growing and with that should come more more.

I don't know if they will give you O/T because that will cost them more than the PRN.

Be professional yet firm. They know you are nervous and will play on that so stay strong. They won't like you questioning them but they will respect you more even if they don't show it.

[rnto?]

Thank you so much for your reply. I guess I need validation. As nurses, I think we get hung up thinking we aren't supposed to ask for things, just keep giving. I'm dreading this, but I know it will be a learning experience.

[Batman24]

Practice before going in. Write down all the points you want to make and get them straight in your head before going into the room. Take your time and you will be fine.

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

As nurses, I think we get hung up thinking we aren't supposed to ask for things, just keep giving.

To h*%! with that. You're a professional who's worked very hard to get to the point your at. It sounds like you're an asset to your organization, and there's nothing wrong with asking to be fairly compensated for your contributions.

[noc4senuf]

A 4% raise? That is unheard of in these times with the economy as it is. Our facility took a 5% cut this spring just to keep our heads above water. The ones that were protected from the cut were union members (aides, dietary aides and housekeepers) and the licensed nurses (they didn't want to lose them). So, ALL of management took the cut, including me... the DON.

The position you perform on the weekend is accomplished in my facility by a charge nurse, getting $1.50/hr extra for it, and she even has a floor to work too. I get maybe one call at home per month as the staff handle things quite well.

As for overtime, I don't allow it at all if possible. The open hours will go to casual and part-time staff first. The overtime will eat up a budget in a hurry.

I used to advertise for nursing positions. I now routinely get walk-ins weekly looking for jobs. There are very few jobs to be had out there. Everyone should be happy they have a position in today's economy.

[rnto?]

A 4% raise? That is unheard of in these times with the economy as it is. Our facility took a 5% cut this spring just to keep our heads above water. The ones that were protected from the cut were union members (aides, dietary aides and housekeepers) and the licensed nurses (they didn't want to lose them). So, ALL of management took the cut, including me... the DON.

The position you perform on the weekend is accomplished in my facility by a charge nurse, getting $1.50/hr extra for it, and she even has a floor to work too. I get maybe one call at home per month as the staff handle things quite well.

As for overtime, I don't allow it at all if possible. The open hours will go to casual and part-time staff first. The overtime will eat up a budget in a hurry.

I used to advertise for nursing positions. I now routinely get walk-ins weekly looking for jobs. There are very few jobs to be had out there. Everyone should be happy they have a position in today's economy.

My raise turned out to be 3 dollars a week, b/c they didn't give me a raise on my supervisor rate. There are many, many ads for nursing jobs around here.

[noc4senuf]

Good luck to you then. There is no one getting raises at all this year in our facility except those that are still on a scale. The gov't is pushing for more medicare cuts and LTC is going to be having more difficulties than it already has. Everyone is tightening their belts.

As for open jobs, you must reside in an area that has not yet been affected, or the openings are at facilities that there are reasons why they want more staff, such as poor working conditions. I work in the metro of St. Paul/Minneapolis and the layoffs keep on happening all around us.

[quezen]

Yes, you are getting the shaft. Just look at how much $ all your hard work is making that 'Big Corporation'.

I'll bet when you bring up your issues you get thrown a bone with a little meat on it, because you are making $$ for them.

Look at it like this, in countries where 'bargaining' in the norm, rather than fixed prices, no one ever pays what the asking price is, but everyone know, more or less, what the price of an item is going to be. Same thing in the real estate market.

The seller says $xx amount, and you say, "on no", I can only go $xx amount. The savvy, person with experience will not go TOO low, because one must consider feeling and not insult the other party.

The minute you open your mouth about how you feel like you are not being fairly compensated, the experienced hawk for this 'Big Corporation', will do mental math calculations that would make an MIT computer look slow, and will offer you something to keep you doing all that hard work and making them all that juicy $$$.

They will present this offer to you in a way that will make it look like they are really making a sacrifice, but 'for you' ('para Usted'), they will do it.

You will take the deal, because you are a little intimidated anyway, and only later will you figure out that you are STILL doing all the work and getting the shaft.

Then, after you get a little more experience, you too, will go PRN, and some yahoo will be the supervisor/manager at the job you have now, and you, with your obvious abilities, will come to work there, or somewhere else for PRN pay, and learn to never even open your mouth when you see idiots making important management decisions, because you know that the system does not want to be 'good' or 'right', whatever those terms may mean, but it does want to be 'rich' (.-an objective criteria and easy to measure.)

I guess I sound a little cynical, because I have 'been there and done that', and maybe, hopefully, I am wrong.

I am wishing 'good luck' to you today, and in your entire career. You sound like an honest, organized, motivated person.

I would be proud to work for you-as a PRN!

Let us know how it goes.

[systoly]

I think there are two aspects to consider here. First, the human or emotional aspect. Yes, you certainly deserve show of appreciation. I think you have gotten that via your excellent eval and statements by your don. Second, the business side. You did get a very good raise for your weekdays. You are entitled to a raise for your weekend position, but you're not holding favorable bargaining chips. It sounds to me like you depend on this job, at least for the moment, and that is usually not a good position from which to strike a great deal. Even if you were prepared to walk, there's no guarantee you'd get what you'd ask for. My suggestion is to forget the weekend raise and concentrate on getting the extra hours. Play the sympathy card. Tell your DON you expected a raise for weekends, but understand that it's not possible right now, however, you need to pick up a few extra shifts. I think this will be your best bet. If it works - extra shifts always generate more money than a few percentage points of a raise. If it doesn't - then you know that you're not really that appreciated after all and you know in what direction to go - concentrate all your efforts towards finding another job

[rnto?]

hey, thanks for all the encouragement! My boss said she would fix the situation with my raise-I will now get a raise on my weekend sup. rate as well. I will also be picking up overtime on different units during the week when the unit managers will be off/on vacation. (I supervise the whole building on the wknd, but there are 3 unit managers during the week). So I'm really relieved and glad I talked to her. Thanks again for all the responses!

[systoly]

What a wonderful outcome. Congratulations.