New Grad - Offering to Work for Minimum Wage?

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I just applied for a job that looked very promising!

Oh, but then the computer sent me an e-mail saying, "no new grads." So, I walked my résumé in by hand to at least get by the screening. I was, however, told that they're looking for experienced nurses -- you know, "it's so expensive to train new grads."

So, I was thinking about contacting them and offering to work for minimum wage for 3-6 months in order to help offset the expense. (This is a non-union place so there's nothing to stop them from paying a training wage.)

I know several new grads who are working as unpaid interns (actually, they're doing it through a nursing school so they're actually paying to be med-surg nurses... good gig for the hospital, huh?) and it seems like this would be a step up from that.

Any thoughts?

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i think don't shoot so low. what about 1/2 the wage or 3/4 rather than minimum wage?

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Specializes in Derm/Wound Care/OP Surgery/LTC.

If it's something you can afford to do, don't see the harm in asking. However, you may be setting yourself up for a dangerous precedent. Once you accept those wages, there really is no guarantee that they will increase your pay after the 3-6 month period. Many HR depts. ask what you made at your last job...and you will have to tell them that you were paid minimum wage. The new job you look to get down the road may not offer you too much over that.

Do what you feel is best for you. If you are only concerned with experience, then I don't see this as a problem.

I personally wouldn't do it...but to each their own. Good luck! :)

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Ehh, I would definitely go with a "no" on this one. Quite a creative idea, but give 'em an inch... you know. That's just setting yourself up to be abused by "the Man" at that place of employment. You'll work for low wages, will you also work terrible hours or settle for no bennies? I would hate to see you get taken advantage of. Some people think us new nurses are so desperate to get a job that we will do anything! Not true. We have our standards! : )

I'm just saying, what if it comes time for you to start making real pay and they let it go and let it go or come up with some excuse. Or shuffle you around.

A girl I worked with at a dialysis clinic was a PCT. Upon grad. from NS, she waited patiently for her boss to promote her to a role as an LVN, change her pay accordingly, and send her to training. The boss was dragging her feet, not wanting to lose her ward clerk/administrative assistant/PCT/do everything that the boss didn't want to do go-to-girl. So the girl went and found herself another job and she loves it.

The boss thought she would never leave, since "no one hires new grads." But people DO hire new grads! You should keep your job search open. There is something out there for you.

I rambled a bit, didn't I?

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

No. Don't set a trend. Nurses do not get paid enough as it is, partly because they do not step up and ask for more. Ask if there is anyway you could work for a few dollars less an hour since you will be training but get in writing what your wage will be when your training is over.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I get why you had this idea, but you really don't want employers thinking they can get away with paying new grads minimum wage when their skill set is worthy of at least something more than minimum wage. Then the employers may think they can do it to new hires, since new hires are also expensive to train, and then who knows where it ends. If you want some experience for free while applying elsewhere and finding a living wage, free clinics need help from nurses.

To me the idea of working for minimum wage has the tone of desperation rather than the bargaining power of a professional.

I hope this job works out for you. It's a pickle out there for new nurses.

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Not an issue.

Nobody will take you up on it. HR are not really creative thinkers, and there is no box to check for your proposal.

Best of luck to you. It must be very frustrating.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Well, certainly there is no guarantee that they would raise my wage to a competitive level but at least with some experience I could shun the "new grad" label.

In a way I can't afford to work for minimum wage but on the other hand, I can't afford to be unemployed and facing more and more competition with each new semester's batch of new grads deploying into the already saturated workforce.

It's a pretty vexing situation to be in and I really don't know what to do. Hardly anybody within 80 miles is hiring new grads and the very few that do are requiring specific preceptorships. Not even the LTCs I've looked at so far are hiring newly licensed RNs.

I'm not really desperate yet but within a couple months I sure will be.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I get why you had this idea, but you really don't want employers thinking they can get away with paying new grads minimum wage when their skill set is worthy of at least something more than minimum wage.
The thing is, not only can they get away with paying minimum wage - I'm sure lots of new grads would apply for a job even if it openly listed minimum wage - but they're actually getting licensed nurses to pay nursing schools for the privilege of working the floors as unpaid interns... licensed RNs as unpaid interns.
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No. Please don't do that. You are worth more than that. I know how difficult it is for you. I have been in the same situation. Keep searching. Something will break for you.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Before anyone objects, I'd like to suggest dialysis. Chronic HD units will train new grads. But dialysis is tough. It's not just a first job. You have to stick with it.

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It is better than nothing. Also, it is getting the experience in. Better than a job not in health care.

WHEN IS THIS GOING TO END! This is terrible! I think hospitals are going to get a bad push in about a year or so when NO ONE is going to enter nursing becasue of this! This is a MASK, there is still a nursing shortage! Hospitals are letting go of nurses very willing to work and that would have a passion taking care of people, even if it means working minimum wage.

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