Reasonable RN Pay in Pediatrician's Office

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Neuro, Home Health.

I am currently working Med-Surg in the hospital setting. I live in Florida, and am making around $27 an hour in the hospital.

I interviewed for a job yesterday at a really nice Pediatrician's office. I would be doing mainly immunizations and triage. I really liked the office, but they only offered me $16 an hour! The same rate that they pay LPN's there. The physician said "Our highest paid nurse (LPN's) are paid $16 an hour. I reminded the physician that I was an RN, and asked if that made a difference.

The physician told me to consider it over the weekend, but I am really unsure how to negotiate the pay rate. How do I go about doing this? I want at least $20 an hour.

Any advice?

Thanks!

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Wow!...I'll bet the guy who mows that physician's lawn gets more than $16 an hour. Even an offer of $20/hour would give you a pay cut of about $14,000 a year below what you're currently earning. Unless I'm missing something really important here I would turn that down in a heartbeat.

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$16 is ridiculous for an experienced RN. I highly doubt the physician will negotiate a pay for $20. Even if so, that's still a major pay cut. I wouldn't bother with it. Know your worth. Good luck to u!

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I agree with the other responses above. You have a job so it's not like you're desperate to put food on the table, is it? If his LPNs are adequate for the job and he sees nothing that you as an RN can bring to the office that is worth higher pay, then I doubt I would be happy there. That is a huge pay cut and I wouldn't do it.

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Twenty an hour is low for an LPN out of the office setting, and too low for an RN, even in the office setting. Like the others said, you need to know your own worth and accept nothing less.

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Wow Florida hospitals are that terrible that you are willing to even consider taking an $11 hourly pay cut? The answer should have been a resounding no. I'm interested in critical care, and I routinely see many residencies for CC in different Florida hospitals and posts like this one and others are why I would NEVER consider applying to any position in Florida. Unless I'm missing something, i.e., new baby on the way so you need a job that is less physically demanding, or maybe you are looking for something closer to your home, or etc., I repeat the answer to that offer should be a resounding no, followed by a quick exit.

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It would be a good idea to visit the Bureau of Labor and Statistics to get detailed information R/T average earnings for a RN in this setting and area. It could (or could not) be very eye-opening! =-))

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$16 is ridiculous for an experienced RN. I highly doubt the physician will negotiate a pay for $20. Even if so, that's still a major pay cut. I wouldn't bother with it. Know your worth. Good luck to u!

I'm definitely with this. You didn't work your butt off in school to be treated like trash. Don't even waist your time! I would have told him no less than 25$ /hr and told him to think about it over the weekend! Point blank! No negotiations needed.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

My goodness! Even if cost of living is ridiculously low I couldn't imagine $16.00/hr! That's an insulting offer.

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Specializes in CMSRN.

In my area, $20/hr in an office setting is a pretty good rate. I know the thinking is that you're not doing as much with acute needs and your non-tangible benefits can really make the pay cut worth it (such as no holidays, no nights, no weekends, shorter shifts, etc). That being said, I was just offered an office position at $16/hr and turned it down quickly. That's what a new grate LPN in my area could expect to make and I could not accept less than $20/hr. The MD understood and just couldn't afford more but would have loved the job if the pay had worked out. Just be honest with him. Explain that you would need $20/hr to make the change in positions worthwhile and see what he says. Good luck!

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.

$16 per hour, huh? I would have loved to hear that you told him on the spot; "Well, you get what you pay for, and my experience and expertise is not yours for less than $20 an hour".

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Specializes in CMSRN.
$16 per hour, huh? I would have loved to hear that you told him on the spot; "Well, you get what you pay for, and my experience and expertise is not yours for less than $20 an hour".

My response was along the lines of "I'm sorry but given my scope of practice and the responsibilities you have stated for your nurse, I would not be able to accept less than $20/hr". The doctor wanted someone with experience and desire to work very independently with lab results and adjusting plan of care based on results (and protocols in place). The doc was very understanding but I really would be shocked if their office will be able to find someone with the qualifications they want for the money they're offering.

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