New hires with higher base wage.

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Specializes in Big Variety.

Let's say an LPN works for many years, goes to school, earns BSN, has much experience in many areas, as a nurse. Great evaluations, too. Is an RN for years and still is not making what other nurses are who have not been there as many years.

Does your HR count the LPN time and if so, how much?

If they only count the RN years, and there are many making more per hour, but yet the older RN is, and has, trained these higher wage nurses.

What to do, if they won't increase the pay? Any suggestions?

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I do not know about this particular situation. Our new grads all start out at the same pay. But there is like $4-6 starting pay from LPN to RN. I got a $4 pay increase when I finished my RN but I had only been working as LPN while I was in RN school. But I did find out that after 5 years the new people were starting out at what I made per hour so I went into the office et told them I did not find that fair and got a raise. I would not like someone that I trained making more money than me. But then if they had been a RN longer than me, I guess they probably would as our RNs get paid based on their experience.

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Specializes in Utilization Management.

Unfortunately, wages for more experienced nurses tend to "flatten" after about 10 years, so that the most senior nurses are only making a little more than the new grads just coming in.

That includes Charge and Preceptor duties. However, they do get a little more $ for BSN and for years of experience based on 5-year increments.

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unequal pay causes some vry hard feelings

do some checking, yo may be due a step increase that the puter didn't kick in at the right time

talk to them about merit..if the other nurses have some specilized training such as ekg reading discuss the feasibility of taking some advace classes

being on a lower pay scale is NOT fair but do not just think about it: it will make you angry and there may be something that you can do about it

faint heart n'er won fair lady and nice nurses get stepped on

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Not sure what you should do other than have a calm, open discussion of this matter with your manager, HR Director, Admin, owners of the facility if it is privately owned, maybe someone on the Board of Directors if it's run by a Board, in that order.

Be prepared to give examples of other facilities' pay practices in the area, if possible. Show your evaluations and remind them of the innovations and positive things you have done for them, including orienting those who now make more than you. Let them know, nicely, that it feels like you are not appreciated and that you feel foolish training others who make more than you. Let them know that you really enjoy working there and want to stay but that this pay issue is very disturbing to you.

Be prepared for the worst but I hope you get good news. Maybe they will realize that you are indeed a very valuable employee, reliable, great evaluations, work extra, and are a real favorite of other staff, patients, families, all departments. Maybe this realization will show them that they are being short-sighted not to pay you what you think you're worth.

Wear business attire, carry your information in a leather pouch, give them the written material in a hand-out that they can keep. Show them by your dress and demeanor that you are businesslike and professional.

Oh, and be sure that you are talking apples and apples - that is, do you have a degree? Which one? Do the others? How do you really know what the others are making? Usually, employers get very upset when workers compare wages and make you sign a form upon hire, stating you won't do this.

I wish you well.

P.s. By gathering the pay info of other facilities, you can also be interviewing at those places in case you need to find a new job.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Where I work, an RN who has previous experience as an LPN is given "partial credit" for her LPN experience. I am not sure of the exact percentage, but I believe it is 50%. For example, 10 years of LPN experience is counted as 5 years as RN experience for the purposes of determining her base pay as an RN.

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Specializes in Nursing Ed, Ob/GYN, AD, LTC, Rehab.

I think this partly comes down to good negotiating skills when you are hired and asking for a pay increase when it is due time. Ive always negotiated my pay to get the most i could. This isnt be rude this is smart business practice.

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I actually know a couple of nurses who had this happen to them, both were LPN's who went on to RN, worked for about 5 years, and found out that some new hires were making more than them(degrees were the same). They spoke with the NM, then the CNO, then the CEO. HR did a survey, but in the end, they were moved up to .25 more an hour than the new hires. Within 6 months they had moved to other jobs, making a better wage, and say they were nuts to have stayed at this particular facility for so long. I do not know why some nurses are treated this way. I can say from experience, I got a wonderful evaluation, made me sound like I could walk on water, but in the end I only got a .35 raise. Corporate had capped all of the raises. Wages flatten out and experience just helps you cope with the demands of the job after awhile. That is just how it is, you just have to love nursing and want to do it, to put up the real situations at times.

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Specializes in Critical Care,Recovery, ED.

Just curious, .35 cents is what per cent of your base wage? Doesn't seem to me it was even a cost of living adjustment.

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Just start job shopping to see what is out there. Most people can get a pay raise just by changing jobs. Sometimes really big pay raises. Not just nurses can do that, I know aides that have gotten 3 and 4 dollar an hour raises by changing jobs. The facility I just left knew darn well they were losing aides left and right because the pay scale was so low but the would not budge.

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I do not know about this particular situation. Our new grads all start out at the same pay. But there is like $4-6 starting pay from LPN to RN. I got a $4 pay increase when I finished my RN but I had only been working as LPN while I was in RN school. But I did find out that after 5 years the new people were starting out at what I made per hour so I went into the office et told them I did not find that fair and got a raise. I would not like someone that I trained making more money than me. But then if they had been a RN longer than me, I guess they probably would as our RNs get paid based on their experience.

Yes, you have to speak up to get somewhere!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

When LPNs become RNs they go to the new grad RN salary, which often is very close to what they are making.

When they raise the minimum starting salary for new grads, we usually get across the board rasies, so usually it's not an issue that experienced nurses are making less than new grads. There is something definately wrong with a system that allows experienced nurses to train new grads at a higher wage them them.

We do pay a premium for experienced new hires, based on the number of years they've been a nurse. So it's possible that a new hire might be oriented (not trained) to a new job by someone making less. For example if a 20 year veteran comes in making a high sarary, but yet a nurse who has been there two years orients them.

Ignorance is bliss. I don't ask others what they make, and I don't give away what I make. My ex charge nurse copped a resentment one day, because she was privy to my salary, "you make more money that I do so why are you complaining" (I was expressing discontent with my 8:1 ratio). Through 15 years of staying put and getting more skills and maximum raises somehow I had surpassed her, who was charge, but only worked there for a couple of years, and had five years total experience.

Anyway, as I said, ignorance is bliss.

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