Newly hired LPN is making more money!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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I was hired 6 months ago and am making $18 an hour.:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire I just learned that the new LPN is making $20 an hour and she has less experience than I do!!!!! What would you do?????:angryfire:madface::madface::madface:

This is an everyday occurence. It depends on how desperate they were for the staff that hired in at a particular time as to the wage offered. This is also why employers do not want staff discussing salaries. Most employers are now going to policies to prohibit staff from discussing salaries and can terminate anyone found to have talked about it.

For all the women out there - did you know that it is common to offer a male nurse a slightly higher salary than a woman? Even when two staff have the same qualifications, men are generally offered more at the table. And men are generally more willing to negotiate a salary than to accept the first salary quoted to them. Younger female nurses are now getting more savvy and negotiating as well.

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Ask around, look at job postings that list salaries, and get a general idea about what the range is for different positions. If at all possible, find some nurses who already work at a place and get them to tell you the pay rates before you even apply. Then you will know immediately when you are being low-balled. Once you have determined what the range is, when asked on applications or in interviews, (and you are beyond the Open or negotiable answer), state the higher wage you have learned about. Then when they come down, you will probably still be above what they would have low-balled you at, had you come in without a clue. Also, remember, you are an RN and should be getting RN wages, not LPN wages. I worked for an agency that paid baby RNs the same as LVNs and the new nurses never knew the difference. Good luck.

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Specializes in Oncology, Research.

Unfortunately, this is way too common. I work for the state and our salaries are public record. I try not to look because every time I do I am overcome with frustration. Then I look again and realize that I make the same salary as one of my good friends who has been an RN for 20+ years (we do the same job). Then I stop feeling so sorry for myself.

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The last place I worked there was a nurse sueing for discrimination when the new nurse was given a higher wage. After that the administration was making it tough for the nurse and she found another job. Never heard what came of the lawsuit.

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Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.
Speaking as a former administrator, the first question I would ask is where did you get this information? If your p & p manual states that discussing salaries is a no-no, then you will have to be very careful about how you got your information. I don't want you to get in trouble. I never hired new staff at a higher rate than my seasoned veterans. I consider that unethical.

Then why do you have a policy NOT to discuss salaries?????:nono::down:

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Then why do you have a policy NOT to discuss salaries?????:nono::down:

For the very reason that they don't want the older nurses knowing what the newer ones make.

There may be some ethical admins around, but there are also some that aren't.

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that is so demoralizing.

i would have a plan of action in place.

if you are not willing to accept this lower wage than the lpn, what will you do?

if your attitude is assertive and independent, it will be irrelevant on what the administrator wonders.

you didn't obtain this newfound knowledge, illegally or immorally.

you truthfully found out by accident.

do not let the administrator try and distract you by focusing on the "hows" of finding out.

stay focused, resolute and earnest.

be prepared to quit, if this is totally unacceptable.

wishing you only the best.

leslie

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Specializes in Psych , Peds ,Nicu.

I seem to recollect there is a law ( federal ),that allows discussion of wages , so if an employer has a policy that retricts discussion of pay , I would have thought they are acting illegally .The point being if asked by admin were you learnt of this pay anomally ,reverse the question by asking either if your information is incorrect , or just say that obtaining the information is legal , so you do not need to disclose your source .

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I thought everyone got paid the same amount according to a pay scale?

at least as i know it in ontario canada, we are part of Ontario Nurses Association and everyone starts off at the same rate in a hospital RN job - 26.80$ an hour....how can nurses get paid more than veteran nurses at the same place?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Speaking as a former administrator, the first question I would ask is where did you get this information? If your p & p manual states that discussing salaries is a no-no, then you will have to be very careful about how you got your information. I don't want you to get in trouble. I never hired new staff at a higher rate than my seasoned veterans. I consider that unethical.

Some places keep salaries for experienced nurses down by having a policy of not allowing discussions about salary.

I feel that the entire policy is unethical.

Also, hiring new grads for nearly what an experienced charge nurse makes is very common for the hospitals around here. Salaries for experienced nurses tend to flatten out the longer they remain.

Of course, experienced nurses (who are expected to do charge duties, precept new grads, mentor the newer nurses, orient new nurses, and be an active member of a committee) are upset when they see that the new grad makes only $2/hr less.

It's pretty typical. One of the reasons nurses leave the bedside.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
I was hired 6 months ago and am making $18 an hour.:angryfire:angryfire:angryfire I just learned that the new LPN is making $20 an hour and she has less experience than I do!!!!! What would you do?????:angryfire:madface::madface::madface:

Well as a nurse who makes more than most others do

I would say what are you doing wrong in not promoting and selling your self and your services

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Well as a nurse who makes more than most others do

I would say what are you doing wrong in not promoting and selling your self and your services

And I'd say that you're paid more because you're a guy.

The fact remains -- guy nurses tend to get paid more than we (older, female nurses) do. Same for techs. It's not a matter of what you'll accept so much as it's an unwritten "understanding" that guys need to make more.

Hogwash. :angryfire

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