Is it appropriate to ask for a raise in new department?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 14, 2015

You can ask but its highly unlikely that you will be successful as a neophyte nurse with no relevant NICU experience. It's unlikely that they would offer you the differential only paid to night nurses for a day shift job as an inexperienced nurse that will require extensive training and orientation for a highly specialized unit. It may even cause you to be passed over for the position for another nurse willing to accept the pay as offered. Something to consider.

Inexperienced nurses have very little negotiation room, especially if a high demand unit or an area with excessive new grad, inexperienced and experienced nurses with many nurses applying for a single posting.

Make sure you are eligible to transfer with only 7 months experience. Some facilities require new grad hires to wait 12 months before they will be considered for a transfer to another unit, especially from a general to a specialized unit.

INN_777, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2015

20 years in business (my prior career) have taught me to always ask (within reason of course). What is the worst that can happen? They will say no. But usually people will try to accommodate at least partially and maybe even fully. I think you have a good case. Good luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2015

What do you all think?

Although it cannot hurt to ask, I think you will not find a nurse manager who will be receptive to granting a pay increase for several reasons.

1. You are a newer nurse. You have no chips upon which to bargain when attempting to negotiate a higher rate of pay at this point in your nascent career.

2. It is common knowledge that lower pay comes with the territory of day shift positions. Night shift workers receive higher shift differentials because we work unsociable hours that often cause us to die earlier. Hence, we're compensated more for the inconvenience to our lives. We're also paid more because night shift nurses are harder to find. Dissimilarly, day shift workers are expected to willingly accept lower pay in exchange for working more sociable hours that are more conducive to normal life.

3. NICU is a coveted specialty. There are thousands of newer nurses who would willingly accept a NICU job for crappy pay just for the chance to break into that specialty. You will look special snowflakish by asking for a pay increase when you have no appreciable NICU experience that would benefit the hospital.

Good luck to you!

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 14, 2015

Your employer would be extremely foolish to give you a raise. Think about it: if they gave every staff nurse raises every time they switched units, the whole staff would want to transfer every year!

In addition ... you probably spent the first several weeks on your current unit in "new grad orientation" -- with a preceptor, not taking a full assignment by yourself, etc. You have probably now reached the point of competence in med/surg and able to "carry your own weight." When you transfer to NICU, you will go back into orientation with a preceptor, probably for 3 or 4 months, not taking your own assignment. Unless there is an ICU differential because they are having extra trouble finding nurses to work there, there would be no reason to pay you more while on orientation. You have no experience in NICU and you will start there as a total beginner.

It is OK to ask if there is an ICU differential or something that will improve your pay a little ... but beyond that, I doubt you will find much if any room to negotiate. It really wouldn't be right for them to pay you more at this time.

NurseyNursington · Apr 14, 2015

Well, that was my assumption, but I thought I'd run it by all of you. I agree that it never hurts to ask, but it was a "what if" scenario anyway. Thanks guys!

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Apr 14, 2015

Better to think it out here then to ask to negotiate and end up negotiating yourself right out of a job opportunity!

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2015

As a new grad, I am interested to know how this turns out. I would wait til they make an offer then ask for more money though. That way you aren't passed over for the job because you requested a raise.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Apr 14, 2015

Hospitals have tight compensation structures with rigid rules that specify exactly how to establish a salary based upon "compensable factors". The rules spell out things like how/if past LPN experience can be counted for an RN, how much additional pay is associated with higher educational achievement or specialty certification, and of course... how much more pay is associated with each year of relevant experience & how relevance is determined.

This structure is absolutely necessary to avoid discrimination claims - employers MUST pay the same salary for the same job performed by people with similar qualifications. The structure has to be enforced or discriminatory practices can creep in due to preferential treatment.

Nope, not good news for anyone who aims to 'negotiate' a higher salary but it's not all that bleak. If you have mad skills in a 'hard to find' clinical specialty, this can justify some significant inducements without breaking the Federal rules. So - if you move away from the heard and aim high, you'll need to acquire skills & credentials that are in high demand.

tknrosales · Apr 15, 2015

Does the hospital have a clinical ladder program? That would be a much more likely way for you to get a raise, after one year (regardless of department) you are eligible for a raise if you do a few other things like participate in a committee or have so many ceu's. I would look into that rather than ask for a raise out the gate (at least that's how it works at my hospital). Good luck, and just an FYI, many nurses willingly take a pay cut to get into the specialty they desire, and it's totally worth it. Money is not everything, especially in nursing!

twinsmom788 · Apr 15, 2015

Yes, of course ask. I'm thinking you are a female, a male would ask and most likely be given the money! And don't apologize for asking.