RN work no RN pay...

[AimeeJo RN]

I am beginning to wonder how much longer it is going to take my facility to switch my pay. I have been waiting patiently, and I still don't know what my hourly wage will be whenever they make the switch. I was an LPN, got my RN a month ago. I wouldn't complain if they gave me some kind of answers or updates. HR has failed to return my calls twice and the DNS just says the paperwork is in the works. Has anyone had a similar experience? How long should it take?

:typing

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

:nono:This sounds shady..you have every right to know what you'll be making as an RN and furthermore, once you had that RN license in hand, they should be paying you RN pay.

They're shafting you...I'd not let them continue to do this to you.

[caliotter3]

I was promised a pay raise by my employer one time and it just never seemed to show up on my paycheck. I kept after them and kept after them. They got tired of me coming to the office and the first words out of my mouth, "Where's my pay raise?" After more than a month, they finally changed it. Heaven knows how long it would have taken had I not made a nuisance of myself. Just keep asking. And congratulations!

[Dolce, RN]

Are you practicing under an RN license or an LPN license? I would let HR know, in no uncertain terms, that you expect to be paid RN rate for as long as you have been practicing as an RN. I would demand retroactive pay. They wouldn't hire a new RN and pay them LPN wages for a while--until the "paperwork went through." Essentially you are a new grad RN and you deserve to be paid as such.

[AimeeJo RN]

My RN license is active. They all knew I wouldn't be an LPN for long when I was hired, I was waiting to take the nclex. Everyone knew when I passed the test, people I barely knew were congratulating me. The pay increase will probably not be that great but every bit helps. I am trying to figure out if I should look for another job, waiting to find out the pay before I decide.

[Dolce, RN]

I think that you should tell them you expect RN pay or you will go to a place that will pay you what you deserve.

[caliotter3]

I would look at other factors before I made the decision to change jobs. I hope you are paid retroactively and that this is not a deliberate action of omission on your employer's part. Good luck if you decide to look for a new job.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

You need to insist that they retro pay you RN wages from the day your RN lic went into effect.

That was the 1st stop I made the day I got my lic to HR to give them a copy---but I do know of another nurse whose paper work really did get put at the bottom of the pile and her 1st RN check did not reflect RN pay. A simple phone call to HR and her next pay check was correct with Retro Pay added in as well.

[Katie82, RN]

I was an LPN, got my RN a month ago. I wouldn't complain if they gave me some kind of answers or updates. HR has failed to return my calls twice and the DNS just says the paperwork is in the works. Has anyone had a similar experience? How long should it take?

:typing

Could be a paperwork snafu. Are you still functioning as a LPN? There are very specific differences between the job descriptions of the two. If you are functioning as a RN, you should be paid on that scale, I suspect the problem is that they are having to "create" a position for you. You were in a LPN slot for budget purposes. Do they have open RN positions. If so, it should be easy to slip you into one. But if not, it is most likely and Accounting/HR paperwork thing. I hope they can make the change for you, a lot of facilities would end up telling you they don't have room for another RN and send you out the door.

[sjt9721, BSN, RN]

You've received some good advice, but I'd like to add something.

I don't recommend just showing up in HR demanding your pay. And you've already made several calls, left messages, etc. This could be a paperwork snafu (as Katie82 mentioned), or it could be an oversight on the part of HR or your manager/director.

Call HR and make an appointment. Explain your case professionally and find out exactly what is going on.

Congrats on your RN licensure!

[grandkids4]

Go to the dircetor of human resources and ask. You should be paid the day you started working as an N.

[AimeeJo RN]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Today when I went into work they finally had me sign something for the RN postition. I think they had just set my papers aside and forgot about them. There is not much of a difference between LPN and RN job description where I work. Just a bit of extra paperwork which I have been doing. I am probably not going to stay there much longer I need to get some acute care experience.