Its really bothering me that new nurses are being recruited for big sign on bonuses and making more hourly then I am. To keep from using agency nurses they are offering them a really good hou rly wage and a sign on bonus.
Now working next to agency nurses and travel nurses knowing they are making a lot more money then me doesn't bother me one bit........for some reason it bothers me about the new nurses being hired on with more money and a bonus makes me want to quit.
Thats exactly how I'm feeling. When are they going to learn that retaining the nurses will save a lot of money.....after all thats the bottom line I guess.
Its not even so much the money for me.....like you said its the disrespect.
As the nursing staff development coordinator at our facility -- this is my pet peeve! We spend God only knows how much money to "attract" newbies -- which is not a bad thing -- new blood, excited nurses -- that's great! However -- when you look into what we spend to KEEP our experienced nurses, what we spend to care for them, to foster respect and professionalism -- HMMMMM! It's NOT THERE!! And people are scratching their heads wondering why nurses are leaving?! We tend to avoid rewarding seniority and loyalty, advanced degrees or educators are making less than in other fields and we overwork and understaff our facilities. Our "regulars" should be earning combat pay and bonuses out the wazoo for sticking to it through the staffing crunches, bad weather, strikes etc. Insurance bennefits and retirements plans should not only be competetive but practical and attractive!! I think I had best jump off my soap box before I have a stroke -- just one final comment -- to those of you who are still doing this job faithfully inspite of all the inequity and horror stories -- God bless you all! Here's hoping that SOME DAY we will be able to convince folks that nurses are professional, highly skilled and gifted people and that they deserve to be compensated WELL for doing what they do day in and day out!!!!
As the nursing staff development coordinator at our facility -- this is my pet peeve! We spend God only knows how much money to "attract" newbies -- which is not a bad thing -- new blood, excited nurses -- that's great! However -- when you look into what we spend to KEEP our experienced nurses, what we spend to care for them, to foster respect and professionalism -- HMMMMM! It's NOT THERE!! And people are scratching their heads wondering why nurses are leaving?! We tend to avoid rewarding seniority and loyalty, advanced degrees or educators are making less than in other fields and we overwork and understaff our facilities. Our "regulars" should be earning combat pay and bonuses out the wazoo for sticking to it through the staffing crunches, bad weather, strikes etc. Insurance bennefits and retirements plans should not only be competetive but practical and attractive!! I think I had best jump off my soap box before I have a stroke -- just one final comment -- to those of you who are still doing this job faithfully inspite of all the inequity and horror stories -- God bless you all! Here's hoping that SOME DAY we will be able to convince folks that nurses are professional, highly skilled and gifted people and that they deserve to be compensated WELL for doing what they do day in and day out!!!!
Respect has to start with self respect first. They pay us what we do because we accept it. We for the most part are not willing to hold out because "we need the job." This mentality (justified or not) automatically puts us out as helpless victims.
No. I found out about this on accident. I'm sure the nurse that was hired was told to keep it hush hush. I don't think I should have to ask....its the principle of the thing that is bothering me most.
I used to be an manager (not nursing) and did the hiring, pay, etc. and the one thing people never got is yes they do have to ask. No company is going to come to you anytime, unless it is annual review, and offer you a raise. And to be honest, I never thought of looking at people's salaries any other time. I am not a mean person but my job just didn't allow me the time to start making sure pay was fair across the board. I always figured if someone wanted more money they would come see me or their direct manager. If you want more go and ask. You don't need to tell them you know another nurse is making more. And then ask for a longevity bonus (if you haven't been there that long call it something else). I have never known a company to go to an employee and say "Hey good job. Your getting a raise" Not going to happen. You have to go get what you are worth. Don't be afraid to fight for it. And if there are other hospitals in your area, find out what they pay new hires and get a job offer. Then you can go to you present company and say I want X amt per hour and X for a bonus or I am leaving. If they don't give it to you, you can quit and you will have a job waiting for you.
My hubby kept complaing about how another engineer made more, even though he is basically the ops managers asst and bills out 3 times what everyone else does. I asked him if he asked for a raise. He said he shouldn't have to. I told him to wake up. No company wants to pay more than they absolutely have to. If he didn't ask then he should just wait for his annual review. So he asked. And ended up getting a 10k raise. The company wasn't happy but he has a rep with the customers of having all inspections pass the first time and doing great work so they didn't want to lose him to another company either. So they paid up. Think about it. Would you go into a department store and offer to pay more for something because it was worth more. Hey I am nice and pretty honest but not that honest.
I think its good when nurses will share this kind of info, but it can backfire. A coworker of mine shared she got a great salary going from PRN to part time status..and a few of the other nurses were up in arms and jealous. I worried they would retaliate and get her in trouble, but I told them to use that information to their own advantage..she did you a favor by sharing. Now you know what they WILL pay BUT we gotta ask, like Agnus says.
You know...this reminds me of a cellular phone deal-new customers get lower rates and fancy phones, while the old customers that have been paying and making the company RICH get NADA! It's a competitive market place because consumers have a choice to shop around or stay and be treated like they don't count!
Play it like a savvy consumer-find a good deal (ie new job with better pay) and tell your employer you're walking unless they can do better than your new deal! Come on girl-make em put their money where their mouth is-employers brag to newbies about "high employee satisfaction", "tenured staff", "good workplace enviroment", blah blah blah. MAKE THEM MEAN IT!
I've had all kinds of nursing jobs for many employers. I learned to walk away from the table when the hourly rate was too low for the work required. I find bonuses to be a smoke screen....you end up paying half back in taxes...but your per hour wage is the real key.
That being said, there are employers who cannot negotiate. I am a state employee. I beat out 50 people for my community health job which I love...but if I had said "pay me more" or "I need more vacation time", the would have taken the next applicant. You need to know what strategy to use for the specific situation. After 5 years I now have 4 weeks of vacation, 700 full pay sick hours in the bank and I'm making more than I did at my last job. A slight pay cut initially was the price for a great job...if I had been too demanding I'd have lost it.
This has been a sticky issue for me, too. I started out as a nurse's aide making $7.50/hr., four years ago. Now I make $8.00/hr. (and I have shift supervisor and med tech responsibilities) The weird thing is, when I ASKED my boss for a raise, she said I deserved one and would get it, then I never saw it in my paycheck, and her only answer month after month was, "We're working on it." :angryfire So I got irritated and gave up, thinking to myself, okay, I'm wanting to quit anyway, so just leave it alone. It wasn't until about 2 years into my employment that my new boss asks me how much I make. She was appalled and said she'd do what she could. Corporate office would only give a $0.50/hr. raise, but I took it. Now we're having budget problems, and I don't dare hope for a raise at this point. I have friends who get regular raises without being asked (but they work in IT) and I feel like a schmuck. Management tells me, "You're doing a great job" and tells me they can count on me. If I'm so valuable, why isn't my pay going up? Am I doing something wrong? Sorry this is so long. Just doing a little venting.
Years ago in Florida I took a LTC job as an LPN. The place was in trouble and I had a lot of experience. They gave me $7.00(other LPNs $5.75 & RN $8.00) . There was a lot to do. Some staff were resistant to change ,even threatening. Charting was sub par. Treatment plans were not done. I worked very hard . lots of extra time. Absolutly more than would normaly be expected of a LPN. A year later the nurses got a pay hike for helping to get the facility up to A1 shape. I was told that I would get a 5 cent raise because I "made so much" .
They refused to negotiate with me. I quit. Another place hired me. They knew me from working at the other place. Offered $8.00 hr and were happy to get me. Friends at the old job told me that the admin. was suprised I quit. They thought I would be "loyal" to them.
My point is you must look out for yourself. If you feel that you are under paid. Negotiate for more or look elseware. If you like your position and chose not to change. Be sure that it is by choice, don't let yourself feel trapped in a job.
missmercy
437 Posts
As the nursing staff development coordinator at our facility -- this is my pet peeve! We spend God only knows how much money to "attract" newbies -- which is not a bad thing -- new blood, excited nurses -- that's great! However -- when you look into what we spend to KEEP our experienced nurses, what we spend to care for them, to foster respect and professionalism -- HMMMMM! It's NOT THERE!! And people are scratching their heads wondering why nurses are leaving?! We tend to avoid rewarding seniority and loyalty, advanced degrees or educators are making less than in other fields and we overwork and understaff our facilities. Our "regulars" should be earning combat pay and bonuses out the wazoo for sticking to it through the staffing crunches, bad weather, strikes etc. Insurance bennefits and retirements plans should not only be competetive but practical and attractive!! I think I had best jump off my soap box before I have a stroke -- just one final comment -- to those of you who are still doing this job faithfully inspite of all the inequity and horror stories -- God bless you all! Here's hoping that SOME DAY we will be able to convince folks that nurses are professional, highly skilled and gifted people and that they deserve to be compensated WELL for doing what they do day in and day out!!!!