Negotiate pay

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I'm a 50 year old LPN with 20 years experience, in various fields, Dr office, dialysis, home health, my last 2 years has been weekend on call for hospice. I love the job and do everything and RN does except admissions. With shift and weekend differential I make about $19 -$20 an hour. I just finished getting my associated degree in nursing and still have to sit for my ( RN) boards. Hospice is offering me a full time job but I'm not sure how to proceed with determining what is a fair salary. My experienced coworker RN make about $25. I think my 20 years shoud count for something, I'm not a novice nurse, and I'm already trained for the job, so there will be no orientation period.

I was thinking that each 5 years as an LPN should equal at least .50 cents an hour in pay as an RN so thats only $2.00 more, and then the fact that I already know the job maybe another .50. Is expecting/requesting $22 to 23 and hour seem out on line?

Thanks for your input.

MM

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No, that is not out of line. Your reasoning is sound.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

1) your co-worker is underpaid

2) In our facility, a hospital, we offer pay based on experience but I do not know the formula.

You might consider checking out other facilities to see what they pay for experience. Congrats on your RN status!

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I would ask for $25, then allow them to talk you down to $23. Who knows, you might get the full $25. And I agree that your coworker is underpaid! If she or he is unhappy about you getting the same as them, let them ask for a raise!

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Specializes in Hospice, Geriatrics, Wounds.

glad you asked this question, because i am in the same situation!! i have worked as a lpn in ltc facility for 4 yrs. i am waiting to get an appointment to take my rn boards, as my final exam is next week (finally!!). i was started out at $19 as a lpn, but i got a 'cost of living raise' every year -so now i am at approximately $24. supposedly the facility starts their rn's out at $25/hr. sooooooo- i feel as if i should get the difference in lpn and rn pay - $6 - added to what i am currently making. i earned the raise every year by staying loyal to the facility. therefore, i don't think it would be fair to just start me out at $25 - gosh that's only $1 more an hour than i am making now!!! - (even though i will be a new rn).

what cha think??

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Some employers make you go away and work elsewhere as an RN until you get a year's experience, so consider yourself lucky that they would allow you to stay. I definitely think you should be above the lowest pay rate, but they may not see it that way.

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To NC29mom, I may be a bit jaded here but I believe that theses days loyality dosent count for ****. I worked in a DR office for 15 years, worked my butt off too. They initially supported me going to school, but another LPN who got her RN ahead of me was offered .50 a hour raise after passing her boards she quit. So I guess they figured it was not worth supporting me ( by being flexable with my schedule) if I was just going to leave too. They gave me 2 weeks notice, then asked me to stay and train my replacment, and then screwed me out of my bonus ( $1000) because I was only part time. If your getting $24 now and new RN are $25, I think you should at least get $26 or $27, for your experience and the fact that you already know the job. MM

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I was told by an instructor that nurses should move to a new position every 1-2 years and take advantage of the increased pay when taking a new position. He said as a nurse manager when he hired nurses he didn't hold against them the fact that they moved around every few years.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I got a 1/2 year worth of experience for every one of my LPN so you would be coming in as a nurse with 10 years experience. If they are happy with you I'd advocate to for a decent wage. Good luck and congratuations on finishing the RN program.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I was just about to post a similar question. I am in the same situation. I have been at my LTC facility for almost 9 yrs and will take my final for RN on Tuesday. I have been offered a position, but haven't had the $ talk yet. I currently make $17 and new grad RN's start at $23. Should I ask for $25? I feel that would be fair to both the facility and myself. I know one RN that has been an RN for approx 3 yrs and at my facility for 1 yr and makes $27, so..... I need advice.

Good luck to the OP, and yes I do feel that you should get mnore for your experience.

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It's good to know I'm not the only one out there with this dilemma. There was a post that said 1/2 year as LPN should count as 1 yr as RN so that would be 10 years for me and 4 years for you, I think thats a good way to present it to them. I plan on up dating my resume and somehow incorporating that into my cover letter, or maybe thats to brazen of me...hmmmm.:idea:

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