how do raises work at your hospital??

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

Published

hi everyone,

I've been working as an RN on a med/surg unit for almost 2 years. Since then I have gotten two raises, but it was a hospital wide raise that occurs every year. However, along with everyone else getting a raise, the starting salary of new RNs increased as well. Which means that currently I'm only making a couple cents (about 20 cents) more an hour than a new nurse, and frankly it's frustrating! It really pisses me off because I'm forced to join committees and have been "strongly encouraged" to take on additional leadership roles (which I do) and get certified in things I really don't feel comfortable doing. I know my managers like me and I think I do a good job, I just feel like I should be making more. However on the other hand I know how horrible the economy is and I guess I should feel lucky to have a job.

How do raises work at your hospital? My thing is if they're going to pay me like a new nurse then I want to be treated like a new nurse (meaning less responsibilities!) Thank you!

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.

Raise? What's a raise? Our union negotiates EXTREMELY modest raises for us, but due to the new staff starting at a higher rate of pay, after 4 years in the ICU I have some new nurses making MORE than me :eek:. This is one of many things that are driving me to leave bedside nursing for good.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.

I haven't actually got a raise yet since I'm only in my current job for 2 months now but in my facility, we get raises every 6 months depending on your work evaluation which is done by the nurse supervisors. How much raise you get depends on the evaluation. Right now, I'm being paid $24.50 for doing 2nd shift. How about you guys? I'm curious how much an average RN or LVN gets paid here in PA.

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.

Four years experience on an SICU in a 800 bed teaching hospital...22.43 per hour. My younger brother drives a garbage truck and makes over 26.00...

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
Four years experience on an SICU in a 800 bed teaching hospital...22.43 per hour. My younger brother drives a garbage truck and makes over 26.00...

Really? SICU isn't that easy, they should be paying you more. I think you're way better off working at an LTC though LTC is no match to SICU experience. Did you get any special training or certification prior to be working as a SICU nurse?

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.
Really? SICU isn't that easy, they should be paying you more. I think you're way better off working at an LTC though LTC is no match to SICU experience. Did you get any special training or certification prior to be working as a SICU nurse?

I agree :D. I have a BSN, ACLS, PALS, getting ready to test for CCRN. We also scrub and circulate for open chest procedures on our unit, as well as respond to codes and MET calls with the house arrest team. All for less than money than a garbage truck driver makes. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, eh? :redbeathe

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
I agree :D. I have a BSN, ACLS, PALS, getting ready to test for CCRN. We also scrub and circulate for open chest procedures on our unit, as well as respond to codes and MET calls with the house arrest team. All for less than money than a garbage truck driver makes. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, eh? :redbeathe

I see, that's cool! I believe you are an adrenalin junkie. LOL! I also have my BSN though didn't really meant anything since I'm a foreign trained nurse. Where can we get certified for ACLS and PALS? Does Red Cross do the training? I wanna get a Phlebotomy training too but I don't know where to check it out. Do you have any idea?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

We didn't get any raises in 2009 due to the economy. Normally, we get about 3% per year -- across the board -- everyone in the hospital gets the same thing. The starting pay level for new grads doesn't get raised quite as much so that they stay just below the people who started the previous year.

Every 3 or 4 years, they make an adjustment to everyone's pay so that we are in line with the community as a whole and are internally consistent. Experienced nurses make approximately $ .40 per hour more for each year of experience they have.

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.
I see, that's cool! I believe you are an adrenalin junkie. LOL! I also have my BSN though didn't really meant anything since I'm a foreign trained nurse. Where can we get certified for ACLS and PALS? Does Red Cross do the training? I wanna get a Phlebotomy training too but I don't know where to check it out. Do you have any idea?

Most community colleges with an EMS program have ACLS, PALS, and phlebotomy programs. Here is western PA, CCAC (Allegheny County) and BCCC (Butler County) have them. I'm sure others do as well.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
Most community colleges with an EMS program have ACLS, PALS, and phlebotomy programs. Here is western PA, CCAC (Allegheny County) and BCCC (Butler County) have them. I'm sure others do as well.

Thanks! Will check if Luzerne offers one.

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Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.
Most community colleges with an EMS program have ACLS, PALS, and phlebotomy programs. Here is western PA, CCAC (Allegheny County) and BCCC (Butler County) have them. I'm sure others do as well.

They have one in LCCC. Though, can I only pick the courses I wanna take? If yes, once I'm done with these programs, were do I have to go to get certified? Do I have to take a test?

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Specializes in CVICU/SICU.
They have one in LCCC. Though, can I only pick the courses I wanna take? If yes, once I'm done with these programs, were do I have to go to get certified? Do I have to take a test?

You test for certification when you finish ACLS and PALS. They issue a card after you pass the test.

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