Negotiating pay rate as new grad RN

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Hi everyone,

I got a job offer for a position that I've been looking for- acute peds, not on night shift, tuition assistance ($5,000 yr) for my RN-BSN and I loved the unit tour and the people I met when I was interviewing. The only problem is the pay is $4 less per hour than where I am currently at. I work at a SNF and was a LPN for awhile before I became a RN. I've been interviewing, and frankly, the RN pay rates are horrible. I interviewed at SNFs that had better pay. The new grad RN rates for all the hospitals I interviewed at were what I made as a LPN in a SNF. Even at CHOP the rate they offered me was low. And yes, I know CHOP is known for low pay.

My question is: For people who have negotiated base pay, is there a nice way to phrase it to see if they will adjust it a bit? I certainly don't except anywhere near what I make now, but a little extra would be nice. CHOP did offer me about 7% more than base salary, but they brought up the topic of pay. I have to call them back and I'm not sure how to phrase it....

Thank you:)

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

As a new grad nurse you don't really have much to bargain with and hospitals are reluctant to raise new grad pay rates.

As an LPN and working a SNF, neither of those things carry over to acute care pediatric nursing. You have nothing to offer that any other new grad isn't offering. If you push too hard on this you may find the opportunity goes away completely.

I would suggest you figure out how being an LPN in a SNF translates to acute care pediatrics. Be realistic, as there quite frankly isn't much, if anything. If you find anything that logically sells that, you can try summarizing it in a request for higher pay. I am going to be honest though- its apples and oranges and they are likely to roll their eyes at you. It will be a very hard sell. I suggest you figure out how to live on what you have been offered. You can get a pay raise in a couple of years when you have the necessary experience to warrant one.

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You have no negotiating power. Acute care typically (in my experience) gives no credit for prior experience as a LPN.

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Thanks for the replies:) I did interview at two places that said pay rate was set and there was no negotiation. With two other places, one offered $1.50 more, another about $0.80 more. In this case, I had accepted the position a few days ago and they offered $1.75 more. I'm happy I asked, but I was willing to accept the position as is just to get a job I wanted and to get acute experience

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I am glad it all worked out. Congratulations on your first RN job!

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On 9/13/2019 at 8:08 AM, Nurse SMS said:

I am glad it all worked out. Congratulations on your first RN job!

Sorry, I didn't see this until now. Thank you:)

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