New RNs making more than experienced RNs

[Brittanytaylor04]

This is more of venting I guess. So I have almost 5 years of M/S experience. I have my BSN. I had 4 years of CNA experience. I left for about 1.5 years to go to an outpatient dialysis center but still stayed at the M/S job PRN. I am back at the M/S job and am offered to make $23.84. My sister in law got a job there and told me she was making $28 an hour. She is a new grad, with her Accociates, and no experience except a waitress for maybe a year. That was about 6 months ago. Now they are hiring more new RNs fresh out of school with their Accociates degree and they apparently are making more than the $28 an hour! This is so frustrating and not at all fair. What should I do about this? I have talked with my manager and HR about my pay before and they will not offer more, but I do get a yearly raise. I know you aren't supposed to talk about pay but my sister in law was excited about it and assumed I make more than her when really I don't. I have seen proof of the new grads making more, too, so it is true and not just a rumor.

[arainh20]

Where do you live? That seems really low for Atlanta area. I would go somewhere else they think you need them since you're trying to go back so they are low balling you. I started making 45 after 3 yrs experience but there are a lot of hospitals near me to choose from.

[RNTX1]

Hello,

I am not an expert but I hope I can help. Like others said, location does matter. I graduated with my ADN and currently am in a nursing residency in the Houston area. I was hired for night-shift at the rate: $29.50 base +4.50 differential for night shift and $2.00 for working weekends. I was also told to expect a raise at the end of 3 months and at the end of the first year. I believe you're being underpaid by a lot considering the experience you have. I would personally look for a new job.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

That is a ridiculously low pay rate for an experienced RN. Unreal.

[kp2016]

I worked somewhere like this. Despite being the “team leader” every shift I was the lowest paid RN on the unit and not paid a change allowance.

I negotiated to be paid a charge allowance and was still the lowest paid! I then waited a few months and hired into a new hospital with a pay increase.

Management begged me to not to leave....apparently I was suddenly very valuable to them and they couldn’t afford to loose me. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed telling them I would not be staying.

Sadly hospitals can be very short sighted. It’s naive to think we won’t find out we are being under paid.

[caliotter3]

9 minutes ago, kp2016 said:

I worked somewhere like this. Despite being the “team leader” every shift I was the lowest paid RN on the unit and not paid a change allowance.

I negotiated to be paid a charge allowance and was still the lowest paid! I then waited a few months and hired into a new hospital with a pay increase.

Management begged me to not to leave....apparently I was suddenly very valuable to them and they couldn’t afford to loose me. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed telling them I would not be staying.

Sadly hospitals can be very short sighted. It’s naive to think we won’t find out we are being under paid.

But did you tell them why you would not stay? I think that would be just as important in the interaction.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

18 minutes ago, kp2016 said:

I worked somewhere like this. Despite being the “team leader” every shift I was the lowest paid RN on the unit and not paid a change allowance.

I negotiated to be paid a charge allowance and was still the lowest paid! I then waited a few months and hired into a new hospital with a pay increase.

Management begged me to not to leave....apparently I was suddenly very valuable to them and they couldn’t afford to loose me. Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed telling them I would not be staying.

Sadly hospitals can be very short sighted. It’s naive to think we won’t find out we are being under paid.

Not just hospitals. Clinics, LTCs, and agencies do it all the time, then cry because their most important assets voting with their feet

[Guest219794]

On 2/9/2020 at 7:28 PM, Okayestdad78 said:

I'd contact your HR and ask about the "discrepancy". It sounds like your employer may have a potential issue when their wage practices are discovered.

I would not bother with this. They already know. Even if they know you know, they aren't going to all of a sudden pay you fairly. They have no obligation to be fair.

You are a commodity. They have decided what you are worth to them. You need to decide whether this job is worth it to you.

You could also ask flat out how long you would have to leave for before you would be paid as well as a new grad.

[RNperdiem, RN]

This sounds like a fine opportunity to find a new job. You might end up with a better wage and a better job.

[Tegridy]

I’ve actually been reading the new book by white coat investor and it has a paragraph about a psych NP discussing how you should Almost ALWAYS discuss wages and to “forget the old notion” of discussing them being unprofessional. As stated above it’s just employers riding on the past trying to keep you in the dark

[MJJFan1, BSN, RN]

Maybe she’s paid more because she opted out of benefits (insurance, PTO).

[PeekaPooh]

9 hours ago, MJJFan1 said:

Maybe she’s paid more because she opted out of benefits (insurance, PTO).

Even so it shouldn't affect the pay rate per hour. It would only affect the gross wages and net pay, no?

[Brittanytaylor04]

On 2/9/2020 at 2:32 PM, bluescrubs said:

I'm a new grad and one of the call backs it got was for $27. I know someone that has her BSN and she was offered low 30's in a transplant unit as a new grad. Other people I've talked to that are new grads said they started in low to mid 20's. I guess it just depends on the area and department. But if new grads were making more than someone with experience in the same department, that's a concern. I know new grads need a lot more training so that cost more money. Idk if those new grads signed a 2 year contract where you are at.

We are a small hospital with just a few floors. It is the same hospital and same job. I think they did sign a contract for 2 years. I did that as well, when I first started a few years ago. I didnt get a sign on bonus and pay was $21. The new grads now get a $10,000 bonus along with making more money. I guess like they say, life isn't fair.

13 hours ago, MJJFan1 said:

Maybe she’s paid more because she opted out of benefits (insurance, PTO).

No she is full time. ?