Pay grade: experienced nurse vs new grad

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Guys & Gals...

I know we are "not supposed to talk about pay"... but we all do. That being said, my hospital recently did a market analysis and raised base pay for all hospital employees. I got a small increase (50 cents I think)... However- the base pay for new grads (BSN) was also raised.

I have been at the hospital for 6 years, 3 of those an a BSN prepared nurse. I have med surg and peds experience, and currently work in ICU as charge nurse/preceptor (and have done extensive training since I started there 2 years ago). I am also pursuing my master's degree. I've always rated the highest level on my yearly evals, have never been wrote up and have called off 4 times in six years.

I recently found out that new grads are now starting out making a wage that is only 50 cents less than what I make per hour.

The big question: Am I wrong for being slightly upset about this?

I realize I will be done with school in a few years and be making double what I make now anyways.. But I cannot help but to feel like I'm getting jipped. Don't get me wrong- I do not think the new grads should be making less.. but I also have a hard time justifying that I have all this experience and am basically getting the same wage as someone who doesn't even know how to start an IV or complete an admission history assessment.

Thoughts on this? Am I just being a negative Nancy? Should I just suck it up? Or do I have a valid point here?

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Specializes in geriatrics.

You do have a valid point. Unfortunately, without a union facilities will pay whatever they want.

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I can see why unions have their perks... I've just stuck thru so much with this hospital. It has not been a pretty 6 years for them, lost their magnet designation- 75% turn over.. ive stuck it out and I'm almost fed up...

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I'm aggravated for you. You are most definitely worth 50 cents more than a new grad...whether those are just empty words of affirmation or if our hospitals get on board with paying us for our worth I just don't know :/

No comment on unions, I am ignorant on that front.

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This type of thing can happen in any job. My mother worked in a retirement home in the housekeeping department for over 20 years and only got $0.05-$0.10 raises her whole time there. Yet through the years the kept raising the start pay. By the time she retired girls that were starting there were making only $0.75 to maybe $1.00 less then what she made.

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Guys & Gals...

I know we are "not supposed to talk about pay"... but we all do. That being said, my hospital recently did a market analysis and raised base pay for all hospital employees. I got a small increase (50 cents I think)... However- the base pay for new grads (BSN) was also raised.

I have been at the hospital for 6 years, 3 of those an a BSN prepared nurse. I have med surg and peds experience, and currently work in ICU as charge nurse/preceptor (and have done extensive training since I started there 2 years ago). I am also pursuing my master's degree. I've always rated the highest level on my yearly evals, have never been wrote up and have called off 4 times in six years.

I recently found out that new grads are now starting out making a wage that is only 50 cents less than what I make per hour.

The big question: Am I wrong for being slightly upset about this?

I realize I will be done with school in a few years and be making double what I make now anyways.. But I cannot help but to feel like I'm getting jipped. Don't get me wrong- I do not think the new grads should be making less.. but I also have a hard time justifying that I have all this experience and am basically getting the same wage as someone who doesn't even know how to start an IV or complete an admission history assessment.

Thoughts on this? Am I just being a negative Nancy? Should I just suck it up? Or do I have a valid point here?

I'm also upset for you. I feel like some of us where taught to go to school and find a good job and stay. But now days you make more if u jump place to place. Well that's my case anyways. We have nurses at my hospital leaving 3 to 5 years later because they can go to another hospital and get $3 or more. It's kind of like thanks for opportunity but See Ya!

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So true. And we wonder why the attrition rates are so high!

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Do you want to be "upset".. or do you want to take it to management and HR?

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.

My facility has a clinical ladder pay grade. The pay increase is $8-$10 from level 1 (new grad) to level 2 (15 months experience)....not much of an increase after that but it's very nice. Plus there's the 2 to 3% cost of living raise every year.

My facility is non union.

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I'm mad for you, it would probably explain that turnover rate...... Which might also explain the similar wage for new nurses? Nobody wants to work there so they hope to entice and hold on to newer nurses with the higher base pay?

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A new grad makes as much as a charge? Of course that's wrong and unfair when you're on an hourly pay structure.

But how will your pay double when you graduate?

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@rehric00 what shift do you work? If you you think abt it a new grad on nights would make more then a day shift charge nurse with 6 years experience... that doesn't compute.

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