New(ish) grad pay/negotiation?

Nurses New Nurse

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I am trying to get a feeler on how to negotiate or determine a fair pay for a newer grad. I graduated in May and got my license in July. I have been working at the group home that I worked at for 8 years as a Med aide (now a nurse). I am looking at getting into a hospital for better benefits and expanding my skill base and knowledge.

My main question is what is the best way to determine a fair wage? I have talked to several nurses who have asked me why I didn't start at a hospital and that I could be making over 30/hr or more (a few more per hour than currently). When looking at jobs online it doesn't appear to me from what I see that that would be the case, but most don't outright post what they pay, usually a rough estimated range. When applying and possibly starting what is the best way to ensure they are starting me at a fair wage compared to other new hires with the same experience so that I am not taking exponentially less without knowing?

Thanks in advance.

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I am trying to get a feeler on how to negotiate or determine a fair pay for a newer grad. I graduated in May and got my license in July. I have been working at the group home that I worked at for 8 years as a Med aide (now a nurse). I am looking at getting into a hospital for better benefits and expanding my skill base and knowledge.

My main question is what is the best way to determine a fair wage? I have talked to several nurses who have asked me why I didn't start at a hospital and that I could be making over 30/hr or more (a few more per hour than currently). When looking at jobs online it doesn't appear to me from what I see that that would be the case, but most don't outright post what they pay, usually a rough estimated range. When applying and possibly starting what is the best way to ensure they are starting me at a fair wage compared to other new hires with the same experience so that I am not taking exponentially less without knowing?

Thanks in advance.

It largely depends on your geographic location. Check a site like salary.com and see what new grads are getting in the Hospital $25 to $30 dollars per hour is about what a brand new grad starts at in my neck of the woods. Your previous experience as a Med Aid in a group probably won't influence your first RN salary much. I have been doing Psych nursing for about 15 years and the only time I have gotten substantial raises was when I switched to another facility, PS I make about $37.00 and hours + occasional overtime.

Hppy

I am trying to get a feeler on how to negotiate or determine a fair pay for a newer grad. I graduated in May and got my license in July. I have been working at the group home that I worked at for 8 years as a Med aide (now a nurse). I am looking at getting into a hospital for better benefits and expanding my skill base and knowledge.

My main question is what is the best way to determine a fair wage? I have talked to several nurses who have asked me why I didn't start at a hospital and that I could be making over 30/hr or more (a few more per hour than currently). When looking at jobs online it doesn't appear to me from what I see that that would be the case, but most don't outright post what they pay, usually a rough estimated range. When applying and possibly starting what is the best way to ensure they are starting me at a fair wage compared to other new hires with the same experience so that I am not taking exponentially less without knowing?

Thanks in advance.

Without hospital nursing experience, you don't have much room to negotiate.

I would expect to start at the standard new grad (with no experience) rate. Ask the people you graduated with what they started at. It's usually pretty set in stone.

Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

A new grad is a new grad is a new grad when it comes to acute care. Your experience up until you work in the hospital isn't going to count for anything. As mentioned above, look on salary.com to see what new grad nurses make in your city. As long as you are offered in that range, you smile and say thank you and take the job. The chance to increase your pay will come later.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with the others. Your past experience is unlikely to be enough to get you above the basic new grad level. You'll be coming in as a new grad with no previous hospital experience.

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