Negotiating not my strong suit

You made me remember what the interview is really for -- getting the OFFER for the job. Really good advice. Thanks.

I agree that there is some research that needs to be done. Find out if the hospital is unionized or not. I work at a unionized hopsital and the only people that really have a lot of negotiation room where I work at people that have been working in the field for a long time, have "extra" certifications, etc...(ie: we have a few travlers that were looking to work permenantly at the hospital but their pay was decreased from what they were previously making as travelers...due to their high level of experience, the fact that they were good employees, had extra certs, etc...our union fought for them and renegotiated a wage for them).

That being said, a new grad will always start at the same place as far as wage goes in my hospital. Things like vacation can be negotiated (ie: if you had plans made, you can usually get it off or work something out in the first couple of months- but after that you have to put in for it like everyone else)

We don't offer day shifts to new grads unless it has been offered to nights and no one wants it...but you still have to go through orientation on nights because you can't apply for the day shift position until you are off of orientation. As for schedules, it is somewhat negotiable- but you may not always get want you want to start but hopefully things can be changed withing a few months...we stick with mostly set schedules so I can usually plan a year out.

Some of the rules are flexible and some are not- our union negotiates the contract and we work within that. So that is something to look into. I am not saying your past experience doesn't count- because it probably will when you are compared to others that are applying for the position...but in the same regard, if you aren't a little flexible with your demands/requests, they may rather take someone with whom they have to negotiate with less if neither of you have any direct nursing experience.

I too would use that first interview to feel the place out. Ask questions about the staffing, support, orientation, union vs. not union, now vacation time is decided, education, etc. Like llg said, you need an offer from them before you can requst anything anyway, so use the interview as a get to know you process.

llg always has good information too so I would go with most of her suggestions!!

Despite differences in deals you may hear about, regardless of life experience, you will still be compensated in the established range

for the type of unit you work in as it applies to a new graduate. Vacation time is also policy driven and often tied to number of years employed. If an individual worked as a CNA in a particular setting for some years while attending RN school, they would receive the benefits associated with a tenured person should they continue working there after graduation.

I would suggest researching all the work settings within a reasonable commute to you in which a new grad RN could be hired to determine who has the greatest # of RN openings. The greater the demand, the more attractive the offer generally. Dont limit yourself to hospitals only( unless your heart is set on it). But dont be disappointed. As a new grad, you dont have a lot of bargaining power. Be pleased to be working in a professional capacity in your chosen profession, excel in every way and down the road, your bargaining power increases. Congrats and best of luck to you!

PS- the larger the institution, the more mindful they will be of concerns about discriminatory hiring practices, the less you will see large ranges of pay or benefits for the same level of experience.