Is change in pay fair?

Published

Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.

Here's one for you. I have been taking shifts off and on for 1.5 years at hospital with a pediatric unit that is mixed peds/picu. I have used 2 different agencies and have always been paid picu rates regardless of the patient acuity. Suddenly they booked me there and want to pay peds rates since I won't have critical patients for that shift. As far as I'm concerned they set a precedent and shouldn't be able to change it now. Of course the agency suggests I go with the flow. Agency nurses to choose our battles wisely. Is this one worth fighting (6.00hr pay difference)?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The hospital can change the pay structure at any time that they pay to the agency, then your salary gets affected also.

Have you always been considered a PICU nurse, and paid as such? Is your training in a PICU or a peds floor? That can hae some bearing on the rate change also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.

I'm a Picu nurse but I have adult experience too. I switch hats alot at that hospital so I do have some negotiating power here but do I really want to rock the boat is the question. I have to travel now since a move and I don't usually go too far from home for med surg pay but I like this hospital, thus the dilema.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

just one of the hassles of agency nursing

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you like the hospital, you are going to have to go along with it. If you do protest too much, you lose the chance of not being to work there again.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If you like the hospital, you are going to have to go along with it. If you do protest too much, you lose the chance of not being to work there again.

Just one of those things that happens. You really have three options. Either find somewhere else that pays what you want, try negotiating with your agency (maybe they'll talk to the hospital about it and try) or keep doing it for the lower pay. Fair is relative to the individual. Ultimately you have to decide what you can live with/without and what's worth fighting for.... and what fights you can win.

Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Public Health, DEI.

Whether its fair or not probably isn't going to end up mattering. It sounds to me like it is legal, so I'm not sure you have any redress, other than attempting to convince your agency that your expertise is worth the higher hourly rate, given your history with them and your experience in the PICU.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Whether its fair or not probably isn't going to end up mattering. It sounds to me like it is legal, so I'm not sure you have any redress, other than attempting to convince your agency that your expertise is worth the higher hourly rate, given your history with them and your experience in the PICU.

You are correct mercyteapot. It is completely legal. It would only be illegal if they promised a payrate for specific shifts and you took them for that rate only to find a different rate on your paycheck.

It is also worth mentioning that the "policy" very likely came from the hospital and not the agency. Contrary to what many nurses think, pressure from the larger hospital chains, consolidated on-site vendor management and hospital owned agencies have driven down agency rates for the last couple of years. Due to intense competetion most agencies have attempted to keep pay rates the same despite an ever shrinking margin. The agencies aren't making the money they used to but for now rates for the most part have held steady in most markets. It's all over the hospital trade journals, travel nurse trade journals and agency trade journals (I like to be informed).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Picu, ICU, Burn.

Thanks for the great advice everyone.

Update: I couldn't resist.... I fought it and won. They pay me the same rate they always have no matter the kid's acuity. I am vested in the hospital and knew they wouldn't want to lose me so I called thier bluff.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Thanks for the great advice everyone.

Update: I couldn't resist.... I fought it and won. They pay me the same rate they always have no matter the kid's acuity. I am vested in the hospital and knew they wouldn't want to lose me so I called thier bluff.

Good for you. It sounds as if common sense prevailed. The bit extra the agency is paying you is more than worth the costs of recruiting, training and placing a new nurse, who may not even work out for them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion