Pay higher if you don't take benefits?

[haemma]

I have recently been told that there are hospitals in the Dallas area that will give you a higher pay if you don't take insurance benefits. I was told that it could make a $15 difference in hourly pay. I am just 2nd semester in nursing school so I still have abt 1.5 yrs to go, but the idea of this is exciting to me b/c my hubby carrys all insurance. Is this true, is it available to graduate nurses, and can anyone elaborate on it a little for me?

Thank you!

[RN1989]

Many hospitals offer this as an option. Think carefully before you do this. In addition to not getting benefits like insurance, you also don't get benefits of vacation/sick time.

Most places have PTO (paid time off). You accrue the time off according to how many hours you work on each paycheck. Generally anytime you are sick, your pay comes out of your PTO bank. Some places have EIB (extended illness bank) but usually you cannot use it until a certain period of time or you have used all your PTO.

By taking the no-benefit option, being without PTO leaves you vulnerable if you get sick. You don't get paid if you don't work. If census drops and you get cancelled - no PTO, no pay.

Ask to see the fine print before you decide to do something like this. I've seen people get screwed by not having PTO when they or a family member were sick and they took off work. I've seen people get screwed when their spouse lost their job/insurance changed, etc.

I have never seen anyone make an extra $15/hr by foregoing benefits. It usually is less than $5/hr.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

A couple of years ago, a potential workplace in the DFW area offered me a salary increase of $2,000 per year in exchange for not accepting any benefits (health insurance, vacation, retirement, sick pay, etc.). However, the value of these benefits (if used) can potentially run into the tens of thousands of dollars. If you reject benefits, it is usually the facility that comes out on top as the winner.

[haemma]

Thank you both very much for the info!!

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

I agree with Commuter. That is excellent advice :wink2:

[BellaCerraRN]

At my facility the PRN nurses make close to 20 an hour more than the full time scheduled nurses, most of them work in excess of 40 a week, and you can be a full time and forgo benefits and you get a $450 allowance each month.

[haemma]

At my facility the PRN nurses make close to 20 an hour more than the full time scheduled nurses, most of them work in excess of 40 a week, and you can be a full time and forgo benefits and you get a $450 allowance each month.

That is a substantial difference. I am thinking in that case that if you made 20 more per hour that it would almost make up for any chance time off or say if hubby lost benefits. Thank you for your input!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

That is a substantial difference. I am thinking in that case that if you made 20 more per hour that it would almost make up for any chance time off or say if hubby lost benefits. Thank you for your input!

But remember that PRN nurses are the first to get shifts cancelled at most facilities, as they are not considered full-time permanent employees of the hospital. When census drops, they always get called-off or cancelled first. PRN staff earns decent money, but the hours are never guaranteed.