Okay people lets get to the point!!!

mysticalwaters1 · Apr 11, 2006

I have heard many stories about the benefits of nursing and how many of them have achieved sign-on bonuses and even as far as where employers have paid off all student loan debt just to work for them for a few years. I have also heard of employment reimbursement from anywhere from 500-2000 dollars. On the flip side I have heard where even experienced RN's havn't been able to get a job. I know that this varys greatly by how much experience you've had and what part of the country you are trying to achieve work in, but can you guys tell me what kind of experience you've had with getting these kinds of benefits and what part of the country you are located approximently? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Well I'm in pa and when I started in 2003 got a $3,000 bonus right after I graduated from nursing school. I was hired while still in school b/c I did my internship at the place I work now. The bonus was for a 1 year comitment. It was administered through the year 3x, 3 months apart. Now I hear it's a $5,000 bonus if you start. BUT b/c I was in school I was able to get a $5,000 tuition reimbersment for a 2 year comittment which payed my entire senior year at college off. I got that in one lump sum. Actually I think it was sent directly to the school but I aready paid it with other loans so I got it back immediately. If I applied earlier for this I could have gotten 2 years remursement for total of $10,000 which would have paid for half of my 4 years at college which is awesome. HOWEVER, I know another hospital near me that had outrageous bonuses for more than $5,000 (I think it was $10,000) for a 2 year comittment but one coworker did this and it was awful. He worked 12hours nights, so 7p-7a, NO secretary, answer the phones, put all orders in the charts your self, not enough aides. Needless to say this guy was cocky about all the money he was making with the bonuses and in 2 months he quit and came back. So not everything with bonuses are good. But technically you could stick it out then leave and keep the bonuses.

I was able to get these benefits after graduating from college for my RN. This was my entirely first nursing job. But it's available to anyone who applies and gets the positions. I don't know if the tuition rembursement is less now.

HARRN2b · Apr 11, 2006

I believe the day of the bonuses is coming to an end. Also, most likely, salaries will be coming down. See what Ohio is doing. Why do I think this. Look at other industries. If the powers that be think salary/benefits are too high they outsource to foreign countries. Right now, radiology is being outsourced (in some locales) to India. Every other industry is completely outsourcing. Here in the US, they are allowing and wanting immigration of foreign nurses. More and more work visa's will be given out. This will get rid of the shortage. It is a different way of outsourcing. I guess you could call it insourcing. I know I will get flamed for this. I don't care. It is the truth. It will drive down salaries, just like the other industries. Eventually, if powers get their way, nursing will pay 9-12 dollars an hour. They will still think that is too much. At that point, they will start to allow immigration from China. Watch and see. This is what they want. It will bring healthcare costs down (supposedly). Do the research.

HARRN2b · Apr 11, 2006

Oh, and if you do not believe me, then tell me why there are so many on this board from foreign countries (not specific to any one country) wanting to find out how to get "sponsored" by a hospital.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2006

I am in Florida. I've been employed for 14 years and have gone from 12.00/hr to 29.00/hr (withouth differential) as a med-surg staff nurse. I get $2200.00 tuition reimbursement as a benefit and don't owe them any time.

They paid the moving costs for me to move from North Carolina.

There are no sign-on bonuses, but there is a referal bonus if I refer someone to an RN position I get $1000.00 if they stay six months.

We have a program called "earn as you learn". ADN or BSN students get 100% of books and tuition paid, and get 40 hours of pay but only work part time, and if they stay for 2 years post graduation.

Over the years we've hired many immigrant nurses, primarily from the Phillipines and Canada to fill vacancies that were unable to be filled by the local market. Especially during times of expansion.

Jobs are fairly plentiful.

burn out · Apr 11, 2006

where I work in West Virginia we have a $5000 sign on bonus for 1 year committment for RN's and at times I have received $300 bonus for working 1 extra 12 hour shift.

burn out · Apr 11, 2006

where I work in West Virginia we have a $5000 sign on bonus for 1 year committment for RN's and at times I have received $300 bonus for working 1 extra 12 hour shift.

Last year I earned $10,000 just in bonus pay for extra shifts (that is not including the time and a half for overtime)

nicolentony · Apr 11, 2006

I've worked at the same hospital since I got out of nursing school. I was hired in Jan. 2000 and got a $2000.00 sign on bonus. I got half at the 6 month mark and the other half at the one year mark. I started out earning $14.51/hr for day shift. Now, the starting pay is $19.50 for day shift. We have differential for weekend and "off shifts." My hospital has tuition reimbursement at a max of $2,000/yr. You have to promise to stay after you graduate, though. The policy is for each credit hour they paid for, you have to stay a month for each credit hour. Of course, you still get your regular pay. I live in upstate NY, not far from Albany. I interviewed at 7 local hospitals and was offered jobs in each one. I ended up sitting down with a chart and compared each job with pay, hours, benefits and then decided where to work. Jobs here are plentiful, but our tuition reimbursement program sucks!

HeatherLPN · Apr 11, 2006

Only RN's can get their loans paid at my facility. No sign on bonus, but we get attendance bonuses and bonus hours for picking up shifts.

My first job had a $900 sign on bonus, 1/2 paid with your first check and 1/2 after 6 months. I left after a month, it was horrible there, and had to pay it back, which was fine with me at the time.What they do is hire you part time, so they don't have to pay you the $1500 sign on bonus, then STRONGLY encourage you to pick up full time hours.

I'm in Ohio.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 11, 2006

I work for a hospital in Virginia that has retention bonuses rather than sign-on bonuses. We've had them for about 5 years and have no plans to discontinue them. We think it is better to reward those who stay and contribute their ever-increasing expertise to our hospital than to give the cash to people who have yet to contribute.

The bonuses start at $500 at the end of the first year and are then paid at milestones every 2 or 3 years on the nurse's anniversary. They increase each time up to a maximum of $10,000 at the 27th year and become yearly after that.

llg

Stitchie · Apr 11, 2006

My hospital in IL is a Magnet hospital; I make a bit over $26.00 w/three years experience, have to do two call shifts (one must be a weekend or night shift) 20 hours a week from 4pm until 2am. The management laughed at the idea of sign-on bonuses and I don't get squat for tuition reimbursement. I have to be there, as a part timer, for a year before they'll pay a dime or six months as a full-timer before they will part with a penny.

The lousy coffee's free, though.

I'm considering a jump to the enemy, insurance nursing. PM me if anyone has any ideas at all about what I can do with that.

dorimar, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2006

Now i think 11G's hospital has the right idea. It seems so many hospitals worry about recruitment and no one does a thing for retention. I would definitely stay at a facility that rewarded me for doing so. Nothing irks me more than to see new hires get huge sign on bonus's, pick of schedule and weekends and holidays, all the while the people who train them are screwed. Last year I was scheduled Christmas (and NONE of the new people were). I worked Thanksgiving and New Years eve as well. I had been there 8 years and I trained all those new nurses (very supportively I might add). When I questioned my charge nurse who made the schedule she said (no lie) "We have to treat the new people well, or they will leave". Needless to say I LEFT!!!!!