how do raises work at your hospital??

[doglvr]

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!

[doglvr]

wow, thanks for all the responses.

I do make a lot more than $24/hr, but the hospital I work at is in a rough area, so I assume that's why. I was told by someone who works in HR that not many of the hospitals gave raises this year because of the economy, and I sorta thought she was lying! I guess not.

[emt123277]

I'm fairly certain that the ACLS and PALS courses at Luzerne are for the medic program only. I know Jim Johnson (Director) and was told I could be "squeezed in" to the ACLS and PALS classes as a favor. go on www.bccc.edu under their EMS section. Look for "Course Schedule by County" and they have their EMS and Fire classes listed which includes ACLS and PALS (and PHTLS which is a good primer for ER work)

[ImASuckyCMA87]

Doglvr, do you work in Phila?

[caliotter3]

The union was responsible for the only raise I have ever received in health care. I got another raise as a substitute for an incentive bonus at a job where I later found out that all sorts of people hired after me were being paid substantially more than me. So much for that little "bonus" for doing a good job.

[tmow86]

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?

Here is the link for the Phlebotomy training...I was just looking into it myself.

http://www.bc3.edu/publicsafety/pdf/PSTraining.pdf

[ChristopherB, BSN, RN]

We get annual reviews(both peer and management) and if our overall performance exceeds a certain level, we get a raise. Occasionally we get a cost of living adjustment too. The hospital also gives small bonuses to nurses with additional certifications such as CCRN or PCCN.