Should I ask for more money?

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Hi,

I have been working per-diem at a job for several months, and now I have the opportunity to come on board part time. The hospital just gave raises to everyone, but I still feel the hourly rate is on the low side.

Should I ask for a raise, or will that come off as greedy since we just got raises?

Annie

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Be prepared to state why exactly you are worth it.

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If you want a raise, you will need to be able to say why. Tell them that your multilingual skills have been an asset, that all the precepting of new nurses is valuable, you are always a superuser for new equipment or something else that sets you apart from the other staff nurses that makes you valuable.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Should I mention the fact that I will have my BSN in three weeks? They just started putting "BSN preferred" on job postings?

Annie

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

As you are considering the compensation package they are offering you ... don't forget to include the value of any benefits you will get as a part time employee that you didn't get as a per diem one. Many (most?) employers pay per diem workers higher salaries to compensate for the fact that they don't get any paid benefits. As a part time worker, you may now be getting benefits that are worth more $$$ than you may think.

Think about stuff like ... paid vacation or sick time ... paid holiday time ... retirement program ... guaranteed work hours ... and access to group health insurance rates, dental insurance, disability insurance, etc. (Even if you have to pay higher premiums than full time employees, your employer may kick in some when you are part time -- and access to the group rate may make better quality insurance available at a lower rate.)

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

That is part of the problem. I work full time now as a medic and pay 140.00 less a month for insurance and have no deductible, as compared to this job, which has a 1000 dollar deductible. I am considering the benefits, but also the fact that all of them will be more expensive at this job.

I think part of me is afraid to take the leap, change is hard sometimes. Sigh.

Annie

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Ahhhh .... now I see.... You'd be giving up a full time job with benefits to take the part time job. Hmmmm....

Is there a reasonable chance of you getting a full time job at the new employer any time soon? If that were the case, then it might be worth it to take a step back for a couple of months to get your foot in the door. That's a tough call. I'd be honest with them about your dilemma. Tell them that you really need full time benefits if you are going to have to give up your current job that is providing them -- but that you are really interested in being an RN for them. See what they say.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
Ahhhh .... now I see.... You'd be giving up a full time job with benefits to take the part time job. Hmmmm....

Is there a reasonable chance of you getting a full time job at the new employer any time soon? If that were the case, then it might be worth it to take a step back for a couple of months to get your foot in the door. That's a tough call. I'd be honest with them about your dilemma. Tell them that you really need full time benefits if you are going to have to give up your current job that is providing them -- but that you are really interested in being an RN for them. See what they say.

Thanks for your insight!

No, it is the IV team, and in general no one leaves there until they are dead or retiring! The fact that a part time opening happened is a fluke... LOL!

My other pickle is that I REALLY want to get into a NICU or pediatric ER, but I am in the northeast and jobs in those areas are VERY hard to come by. I know that IV nursing isn't what I want long term, but at the same time this would probably look better on the resume than the fact that I have chosen EMS over nursing for the past few years.

I may just ask for a minimal wage increase just to offset all the extra money I will be paying in benefits and travel, and see what she says. Who knows, maybe she will say no. I do know that have plenty of other candidates waiting in line to take the job too, so that is against me.

Annie

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I don't think it would be inappropriate to ask just be prepared to know what your plan is if they say no. I have only asked for more money in a situation where I KNEW I was one of the few choices they had because of the field I am in, or was in, is very limited to who actually has experience in it.

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1) Having a newly acquired BSN is a valid reason to request a raise.

2) Becoming a part time employee from a per diem employee would actually result in you losing pay in exchange for benefits.

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I would ask if you could keep your current rate of pay, since PD is usually higher than PT or FT, since you are waiving benefits.

The nicest thing- when I went FT at the clinic from PD at EHD they kept my current rate of pay, which was higher than the salary stated by almost 4$ an hour. I didn't ask for it, they just did it. :)

(I found out later they did it because the job was crazy and they couldn't keep a good nurse there. I left anyway after 2 years, despite the $$$.)

Also, you still have IV teams? They did away with them at my old hospital almost 5 years ago.

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