Pay raise/Maternity leave

[Nurse_Sassy, BSN, RN]

Hi everyone. I could use some advice. I work as an Research Coordinator for pharmaceutical company working M-F 8 hours. I love where I work and I would love to stay with them. I’m about to go on maternity leave and by the time I get back I will be over a year at this company. If my husband and I decide to do childcare, most of my pay goes directly to childcare. I’m trying to figure out a way to let my manager know that I can’t afford to stay with them and would need some sort of raise. My role is also not a RN by their title (just coordinator), but they have definitely been using my nursing license to their benefit. I was making way more as a floor nurse and I know I could still make more if I went back to the hospital setting. 

This is my first time asking for a raise so I’m unsure of how to go about it/when to tell them. My husband thinks I should wait until maternity leave is almost over but I’m thinking it’s better to do it before. I also want to ask to utilized as a Research Nurse and not just a coordinator...There are job openings as a Research Nurse nearby, but I’d like to stay at my company, truly. I’m also not 100% against the idea of staying home all together and finding a PRN job. 

Anyone been in this situation before? Anyone know how I best word it to my manager? 

[SmilingBluEyes]

Can you afford to stay home with the baby for a while? It's such an important time in bonding and infant/child development. Work will always be there; kids grow up fast.

[TAKOO01, BSN]

Hi Nurse Sassy,

I enjoy reading posts from nurses who love their jobs. It is inspiring!

I would wait until after your leave to ask for a raise. Asking prior to your leave gives them time to try to replace you with a cheaper alternative.

When you approach them,do not mention anything about childcare or not being able to afford to work for them anymore. It is a business, and you need to approach them with ways to help their business, not ways to help yourself. (Of course, this is all about helping yourself+family, but they don't need to know that?).

Come up with a concrete list of "RN"  things that you do that go above and beyond the coordinator title. Explain how those things add value to the business in a way that someone who is just a coordinator cannot. Ask for a salary  that reflects what nurse researchers/coords receive in your area. Be firm and confident. You know you deserve the raise- you just need to convince them.

[Nurse_Sassy, BSN, RN]

Thanks for your replies! I'm going to wait until after maternity leave and see what they say. If its a big no....then I'll use that time to go back to school maybe or find a remote job in research. I'm trying not to stress about it now since I have other things to stress about ?