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Discussion

Negotiating for wage

I've been working agency on a tele unit that I love. I just love the people, they are a fun group. I work well with their system, and they really love me. I've socialized with several people there. It's a nice, fast pace that I love, so people don't have time to grip like my last job, that had a lot of down time. Yet the pt load is reasonable, generally between 3 and 5.

I did a 13 week contract there last spring and since then have been doing per diem agency, mostly there. I'm currently making $46 per hour and driving 64 miles each way to this hospital.

They've been hiring like crazy, mostly fairly inexperienced people, and are trying to, understandably, cut back on agency, and I have seen my shifts slow down in availability. The manager keeps mentioning that she'd like to hire me. I don't want to be tied to a schedule but I was thinking of trying to negotiate a wage that will compensate me for my drive there. I am concerned about the economy and how it will affect working agency. If I took a per diem job at this hospital, I could still work agency on the side at other hospitals.

I was thinking of what would be a good strategy and wage to try for if I tried to negotiate. At my last job I was making $33 and hour and I would want to make more than that. I've never negotiated like this before. I do, really love this unit, so it would be worth it to take a pay cut to secure shifts for myself there.

Featured Replies

  • Experts

Have you found out what their wage scale for this position is? You don't want to make less than what they are paying others, yet you don't want to ask for a rate that the hiring people find unrealistic. How about halfway between what your old wage was and your agency wage as a starting point? Give yourself a set minimum that you will accept. When you talk to them about the wage, make sure you emphasize how far you have to travel. My negotiating has never amounted to anything so I can't say anything further except that you have already impressed your manager. That is in your favor. Maybe when discussing wages, you could start out by asking what they expected to pay you and/or what are they paying others to do the same job. Good luck in getting a wage that supports all that driving. I know it must be hard on you.

Wow...if it were me, the $46/hr. would be hard for me to give up. The most I've ever made was around $20/hr...but not agency of course...home health/hospice, plus we got mileage too. All I can say is "wow".

Blessings, Michelle

  • Author

I was thinking, if I negotiated $35-37 hourly, base wage, then I'd get a 15% per diem compensation, which would bring me up to almost $40 hourly. I'd still take home over $400 per a 12 hour shift. I'd defnately get more shifts as the hospital cuts down on agency and saves money by having me as a per diem worker instead of an agency worker, which is super expensive for hospitals.

Then, I could continue to work agencies at other hospitals on the side for my agency. I'd be better positioned for possible hard times in the next year or two in a unit where I have a real in, am well liked, and I feel like has an excellent culture.

  • Author

As far as their wage scale, it's similar to many hospitals in my state, ranging from probably $22 for new grads to $41 hourly for the top step of the wage scale.

  • Author

OK, I talked to my friend that works there and she looked at their contract. A new grad starts at $23.50 an hour. If I negotiated to start at step 15 or 16 I would be be making as a base wage around $35 hourly. The per diem wage is 16% of that in lieu of benefits. I put in a call to the manager to discuss it with her.

Any imput?

If they are union there isn't much wiggle room. You will get paid for years of experience, period. Non union you may be able to get a few more bucks. Good luck.

  • Author

So, heard back from them, I'll be hired on at step 15 and over $39 an hour. So, negotiating paid off!

  • Experts

Good for you! Sometimes being proactive about our needs works. Enjoy the new job situation.:wink2:

  • Experts

Congrats! Since they were paying the agency in addition to you there isn't any reason why they shouldn't offer you a great rate if you decide to do PRN for them. :)

from what i know, hospitals nursing wages are NOT negogiable. they have set rates that help keep it fair across the board. it's not fair if X nurse with X experience gets 40 an hour, while Y nurse with the same level of education, experience, and skills is getting 30 an hour.

So, heard back from them, I'll be hired on at step 15 and over $39 an hour. So, negotiating paid off!

Congrats!! Great job!!

  • Experts
from what i know, hospitals nursing wages are NOT negogiable. they have set rates that help keep it fair across the board. it's not fair if X nurse with X experience gets 40 an hour, while Y nurse with the same level of education, experience, and skills is getting 30 an hour.

Maybe it varies from place to place? In addition to the negotiation I did when I was first hired I get the distinct impression that at my facility it is highly negotiable. Of course that is one of the reasons we are forbidden to talk about our salaries.

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