Negotiating salaries/benefits as a New Grad.

FizzgigRN · Jan 25, 2005

Hey guys,

O.k. I'm super frustrated. I'm currently negotiating salaries, benefits, etc. with two hospitals. Whatever happened to sign-on bonuses, relocation and negotiating salaries? I'm just not hearing it now like I did before I entered school.

Were your salaries for a new grad etched in stone or did you negotiate for an increased amount? Are your yearly increases based on performance or some specific scale?

Do you think Human resources is negotiating on behalf of the nurse manager? If I'm not hearing what I want from HR, should I call the nurse manager and tell her that I'm interested in the position, but HR isn't negotiating salary? Perhaps it may be up to the budget set forth for that department. Do HR and management decide together what they will pay or is it soley up to personnel?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

This one nurse recruiter, was too busy trying to dissect what my other offer was and how much her offer was better..which it wasn't. Their base, evening and night differentials were all off at least $3.00.

She wanted to know if I would opt out of health benefits..no way!

I just know that I am a quality candidate and I work very hard and am very pleasant to work with. I would hate to start low and feel frustrated at work, due to low pay.

Please advise. Sorry my thought are jumbled. I'm desperate to work, but I want what I think I'm worth.

Fizz

luilui_604, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

hi,

to my knowledge, i haven't heard of new grads being able to negotiate their wages....unless u have years of work experience, i think hospitals will negotiate veteran nurses' salaries because of their expertise in comparison to new grads....my thoughts only....i'm a new grad too, and what i've been doing is to scout different hospitals and compare their wages and benefit packages...are u looking to relocate to a different state to work? if so, that's the best bet to receive any sign on bonus/ relocation benefits.....some hospitals use sign on bonus and relocation benefits interchangeably....

the nurse salary range at the hospital that i accepted my job offer is based on an annual scale.......for each year you work, the wage increases by small increments

sorry i can't give you any concrete answers that you're looking for, but i hope some of this information will help....you are a quality nurse, so you should demand what you're worth (only if it is feasible)!

cheers

luilui_604, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2005

hi,

to my knowledge, i haven't heard of new grads being able to negotiate their wages....unless u have years of work experience, i think hospitals will negotiate veteran nurses' salaries because of their expertise in comparison to new grads....my thoughts only....i'm a new grad too, and what i've been doing is to scout different hospitals and compare their wages and benefit packages...are u looking to relocate to a different state to work? if so, that's the best bet to receive any sign on bonus/ relocation benefits.....some hospitals use sign on bonus and relocation benefits interchangeably....

the nurse salary range at the hospital that i accepted my job offer is based on an annual scale.......for each year you work, the wage increases by small increments

sorry i can't give you any concrete answers that you're looking for, but i hope some of this information will help....you are a quality nurse, so you should demand what you're worth (only if it is feasible)!

cheers

sunfirebsn · Jan 25, 2005

Hi, I don't know how much my words will help you since I am a new grad (GN) as well, (I'm not sure if you mean GN rates or new grad RN rates, but anywho ) I will share with you what I have come across so far. I have talked to several hospitals in the Pittsburgh area and they were all concrete on their hourly pay rate for GN's, of course I have heard their pay rate for RN's is dependent on experience. One particular hospital had an evaluation in 6 months & a pay raise, then again in another 6 months, then yearly after that. The sign on bonus was not tremendous, but the benefits sounded good. I did not hear anyone in my graduating class talk about negotiating with hospitals, I think most of them took what was offered straight up. The hospital I believe I will end up at (for experience then hopefully to a specialty area quickly :uhoh21: ), has a higher pay rate for GN's, good benefits, and no sign on bonus. Another thing I have learned is HR depts. seemed to be staffed by answering machines and the occasional person. :banghead: he he Well, I hope this jargon makes sense and helps you out!!

sunfirebsn · Jan 25, 2005

Hi, I don't know how much my words will help you since I am a new grad (GN) as well, (I'm not sure if you mean GN rates or new grad RN rates, but anywho ) I will share with you what I have come across so far. I have talked to several hospitals in the Pittsburgh area and they were all concrete on their hourly pay rate for GN's, of course I have heard their pay rate for RN's is dependent on experience. One particular hospital had an evaluation in 6 months & a pay raise, then again in another 6 months, then yearly after that. The sign on bonus was not tremendous, but the benefits sounded good. I did not hear anyone in my graduating class talk about negotiating with hospitals, I think most of them took what was offered straight up. The hospital I believe I will end up at (for experience then hopefully to a specialty area quickly :uhoh21: ), has a higher pay rate for GN's, good benefits, and no sign on bonus. Another thing I have learned is HR depts. seemed to be staffed by answering machines and the occasional person. :banghead: he he Well, I hope this jargon makes sense and helps you out!!

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 25, 2005

I've never know hospitals to negotiate salaries for new grads. As the previous posters have said, most hospitals will negotiate a little with an experienced nurse and may offer him/her a little more (or less) depending on the exact nature of that experience.

New grads, however, all start out with the same amount of nursing experience and are therefore offered the same salary. It would be foolish for the hospital to increase that salary for some people and not others as it would be HORRIBLE for the morale of existing staff. How would you feel if you had worked there for 6 months or 1 year and found out that some new grad had just been offered more money than you make with your 1 year of experience? If you are like most people, you would be very angry. That's why hospitals tend not to negotiate salaries very much.

So ... unless you have some special experience in your background that makes you different from most new grads, you will probably not have much success in trying to negotiate a higher salary than the other new grads.

And as far as sign-on bonuses, etc. go .... many of the best institutions either never offered them or have stopped offering them because they found that they do not help in the long run. By paying your new people bonuses that end up giving them more than your experienced staff, you alienate the experienced staff and create a morale and turnover problem. In the long run, both the hospital and the nursing staff as a whole lose.

llg

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 25, 2005

I've never know hospitals to negotiate salaries for new grads. As the previous posters have said, most hospitals will negotiate a little with an experienced nurse and may offer him/her a little more (or less) depending on the exact nature of that experience.

New grads, however, all start out with the same amount of nursing experience and are therefore offered the same salary. It would be foolish for the hospital to increase that salary for some people and not others as it would be HORRIBLE for the morale of existing staff. How would you feel if you had worked there for 6 months or 1 year and found out that some new grad had just been offered more money than you make with your 1 year of experience? If you are like most people, you would be very angry. That's why hospitals tend not to negotiate salaries very much.

So ... unless you have some special experience in your background that makes you different from most new grads, you will probably not have much success in trying to negotiate a higher salary than the other new grads.

And as far as sign-on bonuses, etc. go .... many of the best institutions either never offered them or have stopped offering them because they found that they do not help in the long run. By paying your new people bonuses that end up giving them more than your experienced staff, you alienate the experienced staff and create a morale and turnover problem. In the long run, both the hospital and the nursing staff as a whole lose.

llg

Trauma Columnist · Jan 25, 2005

I agree with LLG - at least in my area (Illinois) there is no negotiation for new grad pay rates. However, by comparing hospitals, you can make the best deal for your situation.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 25, 2005

I agree with LLG - at least in my area (Illinois) there is no negotiation for new grad pay rates. However, by comparing hospitals, you can make the best deal for your situation.

FizzgigRN · Jan 25, 2005

LLG,

I understand where you're coming from in regards to experience, but if another hospital is offering more, there is a ground for negotiation.

I also wouldn't be "angry". I would accept the responsibility that I wasn't able to negotiate as well as I should have at the beginning.

The two hospitals are currently coming back with more options..I'm happy to say.

Fizz

FizzgigRN · Jan 25, 2005

LLG,

I understand where you're coming from in regards to experience, but if another hospital is offering more, there is a ground for negotiation.

I also wouldn't be "angry". I would accept the responsibility that I wasn't able to negotiate as well as I should have at the beginning.

The two hospitals are currently coming back with more options..I'm happy to say.

Fizz