New Grad Starting Rate w/ Experience

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Hi everyone. I have been working as a Patient Care Tech in the NICU at the children's hospital for three years. I just graduated from nursing school, and have been offered an RN position in the NICU (same unit). I am set to begin the new grad program on July 22nd.

I am wanting to negotiate a slightly higher hourly rate since I already have three years of experience in this unit. Can I get some advice on how to approach this with HR and my manager? I don't want to sound greedy, however, I believe my time and experience in the NICU should not go unnoticed when referring to starting rate.

Frankly put, why should I start at the base new grad rate when I have three years on the other new grad who is fresh in the NICU? Who is it going to take more time (and $$$) to train?

Thoughts? Thanks guys!

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So I have 7 years healthcare experience before I became a nurse. All the hospitals in my area have contracts and none recognize previous experience other than lpns they give .5 years experience for every year worked. So if you worked as an lpn for 2 years that gives you 1 year base pay. It really sucks that people that have no work experience in healthcare get paid as much as I did starting out.

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I would be very surprised if you get any credit for your previous experience as a tech.

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Specializes in NICU.
On 5/24/2019 at 7:42 PM, ARuiz2015 said:

Frankly put, why should I start at the base new grad rate when I have three years on the other new grad who is fresh in the NICU?

At what ratio, 3:1? You would be paid the same as a nurse with 1 yr nursing experience in the NICU. Do you think you can start on day 1 and work, as an independent nurse, the same as a nurse that has worked there for a year?

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You need to stop thinking you have 3 years of experience. You will be laughed out of the room, and you are jeopardizing your first nursing job with a wrong attitude.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

If you just graduated, you don't have any experience. Tech work doesn't count as nursing experience, because a tech is not functioning in any capacity as a nurse, nor are they licensed to do the things nurses do. Three years, seven years, it doesn't matter. If you didn't have the liabilities and responsibilities of the nurse, you weren't working as a nurse. If the job didn't require a nursing license, it wasn't nursing experience. Period. I can work as a bank teller all day long, for years even. It in no way qualifies me to work as a certified public accountant, though we both messed with money issues.

You are a new grad with no experience, same as your coworker. This is the real world. There are a number of techs who don't see the difference between what they do and what the nurse does. It is a little concerning that you are fresh out of school and still don't see the difference.

Congratulations on graduation and your new job. Don't make yourself unhappy over this issue. You weren't a nurse.

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