Pay grade: experienced nurse vs new grad

[rehric00]

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?

[JRNMS]

After nursing for over 45 years, I've come to the conclusion that "we" (all nurses) have created this pay inequality ourselves, as a profession. Ever think about other professions that require 4 year degrees and how their pay increments, respect, etc increase with time? For example, engineers after experience in their field of 10, 15, 20 years are expected to garner a six figure salary... Exactly. I think it's the systems we work in... Consistently, for years, women dominated the profession... And as a fine mentor once told me "women are terrible salary negotiators". We have accepted odd hours, multiple intrusions, unsafe conditions and fallen for "rewards" ranging from little buttons to ice cream or pizza parties! Not that there is anything wrong with an appreciation treat, but in lieu of pay equity? The reason why new grads make almost as much as seasoned nurses is because they would not do what we did! They will not accept night shift hours, staying at the bedside or trinkets as rewards for their loyalty and devotion to our chosen career. Those of us that felt being a nurse was our calling never fought for more respect...instead, we bashed our employers (the proverbial "them" vs "us"), we criticized our young, we ensured that everyone understood WE were the true patient advocates..we never bothered to learn or understand the "business", reimbursement side of healthcare and when somebody graced us with a little appreciation, we bowed and thanked them. We are for the most part caring, humble, grateful to serve folks who do NOT stand up for ourselves very well...Will it change by attrition? Or will the system have to change? Will new hires with experience continue having to "start over" at the bottom of the chain on the night shift just because they relocated? (Absurd in engineer world!)... Will we continue doing "everything" without complaint even though it's blatantly unsafe for us to work 12 hours, sleep possibly 4-5 hours and work 8 more? Will we ever decide that 7-7 could be detrimental in many ways? It's not Florence Nightingale's world any more, but unless more of us get involved, our profession will continue as is... Unfair to the experienced...we have just "accepted" this as we hate to hear these words ... "This is the way we've always done it" ??

[Nienna Celebrindal]

I would be aggravated. When my hospital raised the base rate for new grads they also did a hospital wide pay increase of 7% for every nurse. And its a huge hospital so that's a big commitment.

[amoLucia]

After nursing for over 45 years, I've come to the conclusion that "we" (all nurses) have created this pay inequality ourselves, as a profession. Ever think about other professions that require 4 year degrees and how their pay increments, respect, etc increase with time? For example, engineers after experience in their field of 10, 15, 20 years are expected to garner a six figure salary... Exactly. I think it's the systems we work in... Consistently, for years, women dominated the profession... And as a fine mentor once told me "women are terrible salary negotiators".

Some time ago, I commented that many nurses seem so appreciative of the piddly-poo increments that are doled out by admin. When you do the arithmetic, a 1% 'performance raise on $25/hr pay rate is a whole big fat $0.25 cents!!! A QUARTER!!!

I wonder if Bill Gates, Lee Iacocca or 'the Donald' meekly accepted a QUARTER/hr as a raise.

The rest of this PP's post is most appropriate.

Comments have been made that unions appear to be a better option in that they offer better longevity incentives. Well, that's all well & good, but I have seen where unions' increments based on 'time in' does little for job performance improvement. I've met toooooo many 'lifers' in union positions that just float along in the system being just marginal employees - they do 'just enough' to remain 'satisfactory', but nothing more, nothing less.

And they're held on until retirement (like the 'tenure' system in education - untouchable).

[lindseylpn]

I've been at my job for over 10 years. Several years ago they did away with yearly raises and decided to do yearly performance bonuses instead, plus they might give an occasional cost of living raise. Over the years the starting rate has increased and now I make exactly 25¢ more than new hires.

Every time they raise the starting rate we get the same increase in pay too but, it still equals out to a quarter more.

[jenniecaporelli]

ADN, cardio/vascular ICU, rotating charge and regular patient care. 6 or 7 twelve hour shifts, rarely 8, if I need to pay a tuition bill for my kids or whatever, per 14 day pay period. Employed at same hospital since 1987. $102,000 earned in 2015. I love my coworkers all the time and my job most of the time.

[jenniecaporelli]

Also, no new grad, or new masters prepared NP is making what I do. I have a few more years then I may want to retire. Work has been matching +3% my 401K. contribution since 6mo of employment...

[NurseNeLz]

My job has a clear pay grade. Everyone has the same base salary. You get an extra $1000 per year for every year of experience you have on top of it. Another 2k if you have BSN and a little more if you have masters. And almost $3k if you are certified. We are unionized.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

This is why it doesn't pay to stay at any place too long. I put in a few years then usually leave. This has worked for me.

[Rexie]

I worked for a union hospital. The union was very weak. We got tiny step increases and had way too many freezes over the years. When I learned that the nurse that I was precepting, who had no hospital experience, was started at the same pay as I was making with 4 years with that hospital, I updated my resume and got a new job. I don't begrudge the new nurse negotiating a good deal for herself, but I refused to stay in a job and be resentful as many of my former coworkers are. I'm much happier where I am right now and the huge increase in pay contributes to that happiness.

[ohmg]

Pay, year 1 out of rn school: 13.00/hr as a transporter.

Pay, year 2 out of rn school: 19/hr in IT, volunteer rn.

Pay, year 3 out of rn school: 19/hr in IT, volunteer RN, 30/hr prn nursing home.

Pay, year 4 out of rn school: 19/hr in IT, volunteer RN, 30/hr prn nursing home.

Pay, year 5 out of rn school: 180,000/yr... bedside? No. Niche specialty nursing? yes. Consulting for insurance companies and health systems.

[Cat365]

My school didn't allow us to practice IVs on real people. Something about liability, something happened at another school. We practiced and were signed of on using dummies arms.

[Guest957596]

Some new nurses have extensive experience outside of nursing that adds to the value when hired.