Really need your input!

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Specializes in Main O.R. and CVOR.

a couple of weeks ago i logged on to my computer in the o.r. we've been having i.t. issues with our computers not logging us out correctly and when the next person logs on, it will log you in under the prior nurse's profile. so this happened to me. i was looking under my paycheck tab to check my PTO balance and noticed it all looked wrong. then i noticed the pay rate and other features and definitely knew i was in the wrong account. but, i can't unring the bell. i saw that a new nurse we just hired is making 4.31 dollars more per hr than me. we have the same experience and i've been working here 3.2 yrs longer than her. she's been here a month. I AM LIVID. i WISH i had never seen it. i can't keep thinking about it and now i want to demand a raise or leave. could i be fired for knowing this? i was a travel nurse for 16 yrs prior to taking this staff job. so now, i'm considering going back to o.r. traveling except now i've bought a house, have 3 dogs and 2 cats. but there are local cities near by that have travelers. i've inquired about a job in a town an hour from me working 4 10's which i love, but the best part is i'll be making 13 dollars more per hr. so............ do i keep the staff job knowing i'm making less or do i take on traveling again, with jobs ending in 13 weeks and all the uncertainty that comes with traveling. btw, i'm single no kids late 50's... sorry for the long post. if anyone has been in similar situations and has input, much appreciated!

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Were you happy with your pay before? If so, i suggest you mind your business. You dont know what this nurse was making at her last job or how the pay negotiations went for this one. If you plan to "demand" a raise, be prepared to leave if they say no. I would also advise saying nothing about what you saw, but ask based on what your research has shown to be fair compensation for someone in your position.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I would also advise saying nothing about what you saw, but ask based on what your research has shown to be fair compensation for someone in your position.

Agree. Yes, it's miserable that someone "new" makes more than you- but if she has about the same amount of experience, then she likely negotiated that pay. Sadly, it seems that in order to get a decent boost in pay, nurses must change employers.

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It's possible that the other nurse receives hourly compensation in exchange for something else, such as not taking benefits. At my hospital, this is currently around $4-5/ hour and would explain the descrepency.

If you are angry enough to leave over this, maybe you are ready to move on anyway. That being said, I'm currently considering taking a pay cut at a closer hospital, just to lessen my atrocious current commute. At the end of the day, money isn't everything.

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Specializes in Main O.R. and CVOR.

lol, mind my business???? I DO KNOW SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT SHE'S DOING! it's my BUSINESS when I'm in charge and this nurse can't pull her load. so, yeah, it's my business. and i'm not going to "demand" a raise, but will point out this nurse was in violation of not logging off correctly.

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Specializes in Main O.R. and CVOR.

yep, so true.... i will probably be putting in my notice soon

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
lol, mind my business???? I DO KNOW SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT SHE'S DOING! it's my BUSINESS when I'm in charge and this nurse can't pull her load. so, yeah, it's my business. and i'm not going to "demand" a raise, but will point out this nurse was in violation of not logging off correctly.

Her pay that she negotiated when accepting really doesn't have much to do with her performance- that will be taken care of during performance evaluation. Also, if it's a known IT issue that logging off is a concern, then what did the other nurse violate? Seems like a pretty petty thing to do. I do believe you've let this difference in pay get a little too under your skin.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Women are traditionally bad at negotiating. I negotiated a higher pay for myself at my current job and at my previous job too. Can't hurt, the worst they can say is no. At that point you walk away.

I also don't think it's very nice of the OP to rat the coworker out for not logging off..that happens on occasion.

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