Minimum Wage????

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Orientation will be paid at MINIMUM WAGE??? Really? So this is what nursing has come down to. The abuse and disrespect of nurses continues. Um no thanks. I'm actually a professional not a high school drop out. Companies get away with this because nurses put up with it. Please don't ever agree to work for minimum wage. We are better than this.

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

My companies pay minimum wage for orientation and for the required mandatory yearlies.

Specializes in Dialysis.

Many private duty/home care companies do this. It's not unusual

Home health agencies I have worked for paid nothing for orientation. Minimum wage would have at least bought a tank of gas.

18 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

Home health agencies I have worked for paid nothing for orientation. Minimum wage would have at least bought a tank of gas.

So you were basically treated like a volunteer. That’s shameful. I would have walked away.

On 3/19/2020 at 4:02 PM, Hoosier_RN said:

Many private duty/home care companies do this. It's not unusual

But it SHOULD be unusual.

I walked away once when after all on boarding, I was quoted an insulting hourly wage. Since I was good and unemployed at the time and working for that employer would have necessitated an inordinate expenditure in transportation costs, I figured I had little to lose. Otherwise, being employed means low wages anyway. Otherwise I would already be totally out of nursing. Employers have their pick from nurses who are just eager to be employed at all. This drives down wages for almost everyone. There is always going to be an outlier to skew matters.

On top of that, my company only pays once you have worked a full shift with the patient you oriented on. I know many people hate meet and greets, but I miss them with my other company. Now, I'd have to orient for free if I end up not accepting the case. That or still work one shift knowing I won't return. I know myself enough to know I would take the loss and not return if its that bad that I don't want the case. Doing it this way makes you basically just accept the case they give you. I can't stand it. I want the meet and greets.

7 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

I walked away once when after all on boarding, I was quoted an insulting hourly wage. Since I was good and unemployed at the time and working for that employer would have necessitated an inordinate expenditure in transportation costs, I figured I had little to lose. Otherwise, being employed means low wages anyway. Otherwise I would already be totally out of nursing. Employers have their pick from nurses who are just eager to be employed at all. This drives down wages for almost everyone. There is always going to be an outlier to skew matters.

Good for you for walking away.

2 hours ago, Orion81RN said:

On top of that, my company only pays once you have worked a full shift with the patient you oriented on. I know many people hate meet and greets, but I miss them with my other company. Now, I'd have to orient for free if I end up not accepting the case. That or still work one shift knowing I won't return. I know myself enough to know I would take the loss and not return if its that bad that I don't want the case. Doing it this way makes you basically just accept the case they give you. I can't stand it. I want the meet and greets.

Don’t ever agree to orient for free.

1 hour ago, PPediRN said:

Good for you for walking away.

Don’t ever agree to orient for free.

Unfortunately, I really have no choice. Other than it being a matter of choosing the lesser of all the evils out there.

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