Insulting pay raise

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I finally received a pay raise. I've been here for almost 4 years. I'm the only LPN on night shift in charge of as many as 64 clients (inpatient detox and rehab). It's been at least 2 years since I got a raise. I got a whopping 36 cents. In 4 years I think I may have been late 3 times and have called in exactly once. I do my job well and don't make mistakes. The only reason I've stayed here this long (other than I love the clients!) is that I don't work weekends- I think I only worked 3 weekend nights last year. Besides looking for a new job, what would you all do? I'm beyond insulted!

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Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

Well... I'm not saying you don't deserve a raise, because you most certainly do.

It seems to be pretty common, that medical facilities are generally not giving their staff raises. It seems to be a trend. Most medical facilities are pretty bad about wanting to save money, no matter who they piss off.

I'll bet you aren't the only one who thinks they deserve a big raise and not getting it.

Most people would say.. if you want a raise, find another job. It's the sad truth when it comes to most nursing/hospital/nursing home jobs.

Edit: Again, you likely do deserve a raise and kudos to you for asking for that raise. I just wouldn't feel "insulted", you know? It most definitely, probably, isn't because you don't deserve it.

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Don't take it personal. It has nothing to do with your value. How many other nurses are working there? Maybe you can negotiate. If you decide to do that, I would do some research first on the surrounding facilities that offer the same services as your place of employment.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

What will you do with all that money lol. Time to look for other opportunities.

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Specializes in Neonatal.

Raises don't jive w/ a hospitals' bottom line, regardless of the size of institution. The only reason I think I've seen significant raises throughout my 5 years at bedside at my current job is because we're union - they are contract-driven raises, not based on merit at all.

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Specializes in Emergency.

get a job with a union, best advice i can give

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You sir/ma'am has been trolled by your workplace. Hope you get a better job soon.

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Quality of life is a big thing, for me. I have a "low paying" job, but the work environment is spectacular ....at least as much as it can be for floor nursing.
No weekends could be very attractive to some and worth the sacrifice. Weigh the pros and cons and get moving if things don't balance out in your favor.
Good luck!

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Health care CEO's and upper management have seen their pay skyrocket in recent years, supposedly because "they have to pay talented people competitively so they can get the best leaders." Well, seems they aren't earning their pay/aren't leading all that well since health care facilities are so strapped they can't hire even enough minimum wage CNA's, and do things like increase someone's pay by 36 cents in 4 years. It is insulting and absolutely ridiculous. I would talk to your boss about it and if they are unwilling to reasonably increase your pay I'd starting asking around to your nurse friends and see where the best place to go is. They aren't demonstrating they value you enough.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Unfortunately, short of changing jobs, there isn't much you can do. Psych in particular has been hit hard in the past few years. Revenues are down, patient needs are up and everyone is feeling the squeeze. In my local area alone, two major psych hospitals just flat out closed their doors. Over 300 beds, gone. Poof. One more reduced available beds dramatically. That doesn't justify raises that are not keeping up with the cost of living, but it does help explain it somewhat. It has little to do with your value and much to do with a bottom line crunch and unrealistic expectations for profits.

It is pretty well known in nursing that the only way to really get a good raise is to jump ship. Since you have a cushy deal of not having to work weekends, I would suggest you focus most on that when it comes to weighing out your job satisfaction. You are very unlikely to find that anywhere else and it does have value. If you find you can't, then you do need to investigate working elsewhere.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.

Like others have mentioned, I understand you feel you deserve more but unfortunately that is not how raises work. I have worked at a hospital that has given me raises of around $1 each year, I have worked at a hospital gave raises on average of 0.50 cents a year, and the last hospital I worked at before this one did not give performance raises at all across the board.

Don't get me wrong, the higher the raise the better of course, but as others have mentioned sometimes you have to look beyond that. Having a good work environment and weekends off is a big plus. You may get paid more/get a better raise in a hospital, but you'll likely be working every other or every third weekend, holidays, short staffed, etc. It is all about figuring out what is most important to you.

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16 hours ago, YuHiroRN said:

Raises don't jive w/ a hospitals' bottom line, regardless of the size of institution. The only reason I think I've seen significant raises throughout my 5 years at bedside at my current job is because we're union - they are contract-driven raises, not based on merit at all.

Wait so you can still be a bedside nurse with your bsn? I want to go back but I want to remain bedside instead of a managerial or paperwork type position

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