Raises for RN certifications

[ICURN2177]

Hello all,

I am a newer nurse with about a year of experience in ICU. I am looking for ways to increase my worth over time by investing in myself with certifications and experience. I am not interested in a BSN because the dollar return is minimal and it appears to be more about theory which doesn't help me excel in an ICU setting although I would look into this as a stepping stone to get to a higher degree. What I am wondering is, has anyone here gone for AHA provider training and was it something you could leverage for a raise in addition to other certifications? If so, was it enough that you would recommend it? I love to teach anyway and would love to have an instructor card regardless. But if I brought it up to HR, what should I expect? On that note, what did CCRN/CEN/TNCC/other certifications earn in addition per hour? I do recognize this can vary by state, I am just looking to average out numbers. Are there other strategies that any of you know of that could help me be more knowledgeable in the ICU (or PHRN as this is an eventual goal of mine as well) specialty and also give me more to leverage with HR over time?

Thank you for your time!!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Increased pay for obtaining national certifications varies by employer -  many will pay for CCRN, etc but don't see many giving increase pay for AHA provider cert, instead having one used as in house BLS/ACLS instructor instead of a shift in ICU.

[Okami_CCRN, BSN, RN]

I earned an extra dollar an hour for CCRN, some places give a yearly bonus of 1k for certification; it really just depends. However, as NRSKarenRN I have not seen anyone get paid or encouraged to complete AHA provider education/training. Most hospitals have their own dedicated ACLS/BLS educators and most have pre-hospital experience. 

If you are young and plan on moving around in the nursing field I really recommend getting a BSN. It will open many doors and most employers will pay for it through tuition reimbursement. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

This is completely dependent upon individual employers, collective bargaining agreements, etc. For certifications, I've seen the range of:
1. Nothing

2. $1-2/hour

3. $500 annual bonus

 

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am surprised that where you work does not require a BSN within a certain amount of time. It is not a BS degree (no pun intended) My facility paid for mine. 

To get more money, where I work means climbing the clinical ladder. I am certified and got a one-time $1000 bonus. BSN, certification, all are components of climbing the ladder. I am also on a couple of practice councils, which requires a few zoom meetings per month, but it adds up and makes my check bigger. Plus I get to help with being the voice of nursing. 

As others have said, we have organization educators that teach us whatever we need to know. 

Can't stress enough that having your BSN is going to open up more doors than anything. We have new grads that are coming in with masters. Eventually, it is going to go back to being more competitive and the better (paying) jobs are going to take into consideration, education. 

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Different facilities will offer clinical ladders that can offer hourly difs for achieving various clinical and professional activities. Some (like my employer), will often cap how high one can go on that ladder if one doesn't complete a higher degree. Pretty much all the activities/certs you mentioned would count towards clinical ladders depending on the hospital. 
 

I would inquire with your leadership to see if negotiating with HR is effective in any way. Policies certainly change, and this is a time where nurses hold some negotiating power, but what I've heard in the past is that pay rates are kind of restricted by years of experience, local "market surveys", and projected budget. 
 

Now, in one's first few years of practice, you may find moving around may help increase one's pay if one is willing to "shop around". The largest % raises I've ever had have been from changing jobs or market surveys.
 

Having said all that, I've been in this business through MULTIPLE cycles of boom and bust for nursing demand. If I had to do it again, I would have let my hospital pay for my BSN years ago. Instead I waited until it was nearly impossible to get a new job in my specialty (NICU at the time) before deciding to get it done finally. Waiting until I was 40 to go back was frickin' hard. 
 

And who knows, you may uncover some hidden passion. I found out I loved research; stranger things have happened.

[Lipoma, BSN, RN]

When I became CEN certified in the ED, I got the exam fully paid for and a yearly $1,500 bonus given in march for 2 years until I went PRN. I'm not sure if my hourly increased as well because there was a market adjustment and yearly increase for everyone. 

I also used my CEN certification to get a higher pay at a new facility (as a new hire in the ICU). Since getting my CCRN while in the ICU I haven't gotten any bonus/raise as yet BUT I haven't made my supervisor/HR know yet. Been busy with other life things.

[londonflo]

ICURN2177 said:

I love to teach anyway and would love to have an instructor card regardless

 To be an effective teacher requires just more than "I want to teach".  And yes there is a lot of theory and academic work to be effective. 

ICURN2177 said:

am not interested in a BSN because the dollar return is minimal and it appears to be more about theory

Theory is imbedded in teaching. May be in your ADN program you did not see the application of learned knowledge on teaching skills but you must have because you would not be in your position today. 

[ICURN2177]

Thank you all for your replies, especially for the encouragement to return for a BSN and for elaboration on the type of theory taught in the BSN. I am glad to see that there is value in it as several nurses I worked with have told me not to go for that first or if I do then not to stop there but to use it as a stepping stone to a master's. This is why I like to reach out for multiple points of view. I appreciate everyone responding as well to their experience in going for certificates, I will need to see if my facility will count those towards the ladders as well. Thank you, all!

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Best wishes in your nursing career.

[Emilyyb1rd]

Hi! It depends on your employer whether they have a program to give you a quarterly or annual etc paycheck for being certified. Where I used to work, it was twice a year and you'd get paid $1,800 but also have to complete a project and be involved in committee sessions. Where I currently work, there's a clinical ladder program similar to that but you're required to have a certification if you do not have a BSN or higher, and youd have to be involved in projects and committees etc. 

I think that holding a certificate in your specialty is a personal achievement and it demonstrates that you've been validated in your knowledge/skills/critical thinking :) it's not necessarily about getting paid more, however I can understand that idea that you'd be more valuable therefore you should receive a higher pay.

side note, TNCC is a course not a certification, and it usually is a requirement if you work in emergency & some ICUs but in ICU usually you'd need to take TCAR ;) 

AHA Instructors in my experience just want to have a side job for extra income and it doesn't affect their pay at the hospital as a floor nurse.

 

[mdsRN2005, ASN, BSN, RN]

mmc51264 said:

I am surprised that where you work does not require a BSN within a certain amount of time. It is not a BS degree (no pun intended) My facility paid for mine. 

To get more money, where I work means climbing the clinical ladder. I am certified and got a one-time $1000 bonus. BSN, certification, all are components of climbing the ladder. I am also on a couple of practice councils, which requires a few zoom meetings per month, but it adds up and makes my check bigger. Plus I get to help with being the voice of nursing. 

As others have said, we have organization educators that teach us whatever we need to know. 

Can't stress enough that having your BSN is going to open up more doors than anything. We have new grads that are coming in with masters. Eventually, it is going to go back to being more competitive and the better (paying) jobs are going to take into consideration, education. 

This is regional.  I have my BSN and agree it was informative content.  It's also a necessary first step for NP, CRNA, nurse educator, etc.  However in many areas of the country (including mine) it will absolutely NOT result in higher pay.  I have yet to work at a facility that paid me any more for it and don't know of any in my state that do.  It's also misleading to suggest it will open up job opportunities.  While this may be true in some markets, this also varies by area.  In my area and many others, the only time a BSN is required is for Director or higher level management.  And facilities that are desperate enough often waive that.  Again I fully advocate for returning for a BSN.  But to do it with the expectation of higher pay and better job options may be disappointing depending on the area.  
 

Most facilities I'm aware of pay a small amount for CCRN/CEN ($1-2/hr) and a bit less for TNCC/ENPC/etc (50c-$1).  I've never heard of any facility paying a nurse more for AHA provider courses.  However if you do get this certification, I've heard of people teaching it on the side.  I know one nurse who does this for nurses who can't get it at their job- mainly travel nurses who need it before they go, or nurses who work in a setting where their certs are no longer required (I did PALS this way when I worked in a facility with only adult pts that didn't teach it on site).  I don't know if you'd get enough business to offset the cost of the class, but it might give you an idea whether you'd like teaching enough to consider nursing education.  Also consider other certifications specific to your specialty.  Keep learning trying new things so you don't get "stuck in a rut"!  Good luck and keep us posted!