Negotiating salary in private OR

[alkaleidi]

I know I've posted a bunch of new posts, but this seems like the best place to get answers to my questions!

When interviewing, or when asked what salary you expect, how do you go about negotiating to get what you want?

My background is 3 years of RN experience, but new to the OR realm. Left an ER about a month ago where I was making $21/hr, working at another ER for $40/hr as agency. My other "staff nurse" positions paid about $27/hr, and I've made between $40 and $44/hr as agency/traveller (plus housing/other stipends) elsewhere.

I know I am new to the OR, but I have very good experience, am efficient and hard-working, and learn FAST. Hospitals generally show you a grid with the payscale for their nurses and say "Here, you have 3 years of experience," and point at what your hourly wage will be -- no negotiating. From talking to a friend who works at this OR, negotiating a salary/wage is part of the hiring process and she says that I should definitely ask for what I want, actually a little more than what I want, saying what I already knew was true: "You can always go down, but they won't offer you more than what you ask for."

How do you do this? When negotiation is welcome, how do you ask for what you want, and how do I know what I'm worth?

[newname]

OR is a special area no matter how many years you've worked in ER,ICU......you do need a special training. If they hired you as zero experience in OR, you are lucky to get the job, BUT you would have lots of trouble when you work. make sure you could handle before negociation.

[alkaleidi]

OR is a special area no matter how many years you've worked in ER,ICU......you do need a special training. If they hired you as zero experience in OR, you are lucky to get the job, BUT you would have lots of trouble when you work. make sure you could handle before negociation.

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying.

I realize OR is a specialty as is ER and ICU. And, you need specialized training.

However, if you get hired in with no experience, why should you feel so "lucky"? And what trouble would you have when you work?

What did all the OR nurses of the world do before they became OR nurses -- were they born with "OR RN" tattooed on the bottom of their foot or something? I imagine I am not the first person changing specialty and entering the OR with no previous OR experience.