Negotiating income as a new grad?

Trauma Columnist · Sep 30, 2007

Hi and welcome! Congrats on your graduation. I graduated last May (2006) and did negotiate a better income. I told them that with 12 years of RN experience, I wasn't willing to take a pay cut and then I named a figure $20,000 more than what they initially offerred. I was extremely fortunate, they accepted that that was what the going rate was and gave me what I wanted as well as raising the other mid-levels salaries! (I was the hero). However, I had nothing to lose.

I too was in an RN job that I really liked but didn't want to waste my education either. A six month preceptorship isn't unusual. That would give you good groundwork for being successful. Gotta go to work - will look for some more info.

NeuroMedic · Oct 1, 2007

I live in TN as well, and I am currently in the process of completing Vanderbilt's Emergency Nurse Practitioner Curriculum(A.C.N.P. & F.N.P.).

I have been through month after month and week after week of having absolutely no life outside of class. I can actually remember a time, in the beginning of all this--when I believed I would be able to maintain my employment as an RN in the Neuro-ICU of Vanderbilt(A Trauma I Facility) while attending class, lol, O' how the mighty have fallen, lol. I have authored countless research papers, sometimes up to 8 a week; not to mention the 200 pages a night that we were expected to read and pretty much commit to memory. After all this, I feel it is my right; as a trained and licensed professional to request a comfortable salary so long as I perform the competencies set forth by my credential.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 1, 2007

You are correct NeuroMedic - as APNs we shouldn't be selling ourselves short unless we (unfortunately) live in an oversaturated market. Good luck - it does get easier after you graduate - then all you have to worry about is repaying the student loans - lol!

westcoastgirl · Oct 7, 2007

I was also hired into a clinic where there were no NPs.

I am not in TN, but for my area I researched what other similar practices in that zip code were offering NP with my experience and presented that information to them, in black and white.

Doing you own homework in this case will help you, you can just present the data to the MD and start negotiating from there.

eymilin, MSN · Oct 10, 2007

Thanks so much for your replies. The Nashville area has a lot of competition for anyone interested in pediatrics simply because of all the medical and nursing schools in the area.

I have taken an 'easy' nursing job at a pediatric office during the week. It is a solo practice with a couple nurses where I will be able to ease from an rn into the pnp position in 6-12 months, if I choose to stay. Since I have had no previous nursing experience I am considering this as my 'mentoring' period. I will have no problem leaving for a better opportunity once I get some experience and take the pnp boards. If the MD thinks he's gonna get to pay me pennies as a nurse practitioner he is mistaken. (Only reason I bring this up is because he is cheap, so I'm sure he'll try to haggle income in the future).

I also decided to work 2 nights on the weekends as a regular nurse at an LTC facility (great pay, and works with my first job). The combination may become tiring but I am still young... and I will be able to pay off my school loans much faster.

buster4 · Oct 14, 2007

This may sound crazy, but a previous poster stated they did research on what the local clinics paid their NP's, and based her decision about salary, etc on that....... how do you get the information about what local clinics, md's are offereing NP's in ones particular area ?????

Trauma Columnist · Oct 14, 2007

I networked with others in my state's advanced practice nursing organization. That might be an option. IL has a very strong and vocal APN organization.