Insulting pay raise

[shakeytails]

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!

[Asystole RN]

Just now, LPNTORN704 said:

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

The vast majority of BSNs are bedside. MSN is fast becoming the leadership standard.

[LPNTORN704]

Just now, Asystole RN said:

The vast majority of BSNs are bedside. MSN is fast becoming the leadership standard.

I'm an lpn right now. So you're saying if I get my bsn I can work bedside like literally one on one with my patients like I'm doing now?

[Asystole RN]

7 minutes ago, LPNTORN704 said:

I'm an lpn right now. So you're saying if I get my bsn I can work bedside like literally one on one with my patients like I'm doing now?

You can have a doctorate in nursing and work the bedside. You can have a doctorate and work as a CNA if you wish.

[Asystole RN]

Unfortunately raises are many times related to value. The more valuable you are and the value you demonstrate the more incentive there is to give you a raise.

Showing up to work and doing a good job, essentially fulfilling the job description, is not always a sign of "value," especially if you work in a position that is easily filled and/or has a low barrier to training. Doing the job as described is generally rationalized to merit the pay initially negotiated for. If you are working above and beyond then that is generally rationalized to warrant increased pay. The most important thing about merit based increases is that you must communicate to your leadership. Find out what they want you to do and communicate with them on the progress of whatever that was. It could be earning certifications, more education, etc. On the other hand giving raises might improve retention and thus decrease turnover costs.

Much of the cost of turnover is related to the time it takes to replace you, including training. If you are easily replaced and training is quick then the cost of turnover is low so there is little incentive to pay you above and beyond. If you are a specialist that requires a certain amount of education/experience/certifications then the ability to easily replace you is diminished and thus provides leadership an incentive to go farther to keep you.

If they gave you a $1/hr increase that would be about $2,000 a year, every year, in additional cost. Add $1/hr every year and that $2k becomes $4k, then becomes $6k and so on.

The best way to earn raises is to first understand their incentives to give them. Understand those incentives and use them to your advantage.

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

57 minutes ago, LPNTORN704 said:

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

You can work bedside with your MSN if you so desire.

[hawaiicarl, BSN, RN]

One time we got a 75 cent pay raise, while they cut our night diff by 2 dollars, that was a slap in the face.

Cheers

[DaniannaRN, ASN, BSN]

Do you have to work nights only or can you do other shifts? If so, look into other settings. There are quite a few places where nurses don't work weekends....home care, hospice, insurance, doctor office/clinic. I know you love your residents but your job is really bad with that raise.

It's better for a job to say they can't afford a raise instead of giving a crap raise.

[Golden_RN, MSN]

You could request a meeting with your supervisor where you could ask for a more substantial raise. As long as you are calm and professional, the worst they could say is no.

Before you leave your current job, consider the whole package, not just the hourly pay (i.e. benefit package, schedule, clients, coworkers, the nature of the job) etc.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

23 hours ago, CrunchRN said:

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

I had the same reaction when I advanced from CNA to LPN in the same hospital after passing the NCLEX. My new pay rate was a whopping 32 cents higher than my previous pay. Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t have student loans to pay back.

I also worked at a home health care company that paid the same rate for 17 years....and then while I was employed there they sent all the nurses a letter stating that they were decreasing our pay by $1/hr...during nurses week.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

It's sad but true, many people get raises by changing jobs every 2 years.

[Wuzzie]

I’ve been doing this gig for over 30 years and 1-2% raises have been the norm...when we got raises at all. We get merit raises where I am now that range from 1.5-3%. I got 3% which equals out to <50cents/hour. Not even $20 a week. That’s for an employee with 10.5 years of service. I’m not at all shocked at what you got. We just aren’t that valuable to the bean counters.

[LaurieCRNP2002, MSN, RN, APRN]

On 1/28/2019 at 8:22 PM, Wuzzie said:

I’ve been doing this gig for over 30 years and 1-2% raises have been the norm...when we got raises at all. We get merit raises where I am now that range from 1.5-3%. I got 3% which equals out to <50cents/hour. Not even $20 a week. That’s for an employee with 10.5 years of service. I’m not at all shocked at what you got. We just aren’t that valuable to the bean counters.

In reference to the last sentence...yes, in their eyes we aren't "valuable" but if they didn't have us at all, they'd be up s*** creek!! ?