Step pay effect on older nurses getting hired?

Nurses General Nursing

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I live in a part of the nation where most hospitals are unionized, with a step pay scale. It's rather extreme, with new nurses making $26 an hr, and the most years of experience making up to $45 or $46 an hr. I am currently at $40 an hr.

I've applied to a few Per Diem jobs with no response. I have a lot of varied experience. I'm worried that my years of experience may be interfering with my ability to change facilities down the road. After all, why should someone hire me when they can get a younger nurse with solid experience for much less? In this tighter job market, I think it may be hurting older nurses.

I remember, at my previous hospital, when the union fought to make sure incoming nurses were given credit on the wage scale for all their years of experience. Prior to that, HR would make an offer at a certain step, take it or leave it.

Now I'm feeling a little trapped, unless the job market improves. I'd happily take a lower pay for a job I might prefer, but I think a lot of these facilities now have their arms tied.

And im definitely not saying a hospital should be hiring a fresh 21 year old right out of nursing school instead of a 60 year old nurse.

Its likely more ideal to get those nurses who have 5-10 years of experience and are probably just past their child bearing years (which isnt me)

They give you a blend of both worlds.

Specializes in ER.
You were a secretary though, which means you had previous career experience using computers.

I really dont think the older generation as a whole is very good with computers.

I mean theres a massive amount who doesnt know how to type (without looking at the keyboard and pounding keys like throwing darts) or use resources like lexicomp etc

I wasnt being agest.

People who grew up with computers will be better than people who didnt.

Heck im relatiely young, and the internet wasnt around until I went to highschool.

Different generations have their own strengths/weaknesses.

And I think EMR is a huge weakness for older nurses

Yes, I can tell you are young. I notice a lack of appropriate capitalization, and the lack of usage of apostrophes.

I have a wonderful android phone, and it auto corrects and offers the proper choices for me, so I can at least pretend to know proper spelling and punctuation. ;)

Yes, I can tell you are young. I notice a lack of appropriate capitalization, and the lack of usage of apostrophes.

I have a wonderful android phone, and it auto corrects and offers the proper choices for me, so I can at least pretend to know proper spelling and punctuation. ;)

Is it unreasonable to say that younger generations are far more proficient with computers and technology than those who are nearing retirement ?

Because ill also say that the older generations do have FAR better work ethic than my generation.

Specializes in MDS/ UR.
And im definitely not saying a hospital should be hiring a fresh 21 year old right out of nursing school instead of a 60 year old nurse.

Its likely more ideal to get those nurses who have 5-10 years of experience and are probably just past their child bearing years (which isnt me)

They give you a blend of both worlds.

You are really digging a hole here.

Specializes in geriatrics.

I've noticed this trend in Canada as well. Employers don't want new grads for lack of experience, and they don't want to pay a nurse 45-50 an hour plus shift differentials, so they're opting for someone in the middle. Unless you're management, most positions are unionized and pay is graded on a scale.

In addition, RNS are being phased out in many parts of the country for LPNS, LPNS for health care aides. It's all about money. Unfortunately, I don't see this changing. Where I work, administration continues to make cuts to all services, not just nursing staff.

Specializes in Critical Care.
You were a secretary though, which means you had previous career experience using computers.

I really dont think the older generation as a whole is very good with computers.

I mean theres a massive amount who doesnt know how to type (without looking at the keyboard and pounding keys like throwing darts) or use resources like lexicomp etc

I wasnt being agest.

People who grew up with computers will be better than people who didnt.

Heck im relatiely young, and the internet wasnt around until I went to highschool.

Different generations have their own strengths/weaknesses.

And I think EMR is a huge weakness for older nurses

Not all people, even young ones learn to type yet are able to use a computer, although typing surely speeds the process. Ruby Vee made even better arguments re to all the new technology we older nurses have learned on the job.

I don't think older nurses have trouble with the computer as most have their own at home along with a cell phone/smart phone. The problem is the computer programs are tedious and not user friendly. I worked with someone who had a job in FL where you swiped your badge into the computer and the screen opened right up. Also a VA nurse who said their program was really quick and easy, not the many steps we have to go thru just to get to the right screen to accept the med scanning or charting! The EMR is not a weakness for older nurses, but it is a drag for many workers when they have to deal with a crappy system!

Specializes in Critical Care.
And im definitely not saying a hospital should be hiring a fresh 21 year old right out of nursing school instead of a 60 year old nurse.

Its likely more ideal to get those nurses who have 5-10 years of experience and are probably just past their child bearing years (which isnt me)

They give you a blend of both worlds.

I didn't mention maternity leave and pregnancy to suggest hospitals shouldn't hire younger workers, not at all! I just mentioned younger workers come with health expenses too and it's not just older workers. The solution to this mess of discrimination would be national healthcare, with a level playing field for all, not private sector trying to save money on the backs of their workers as it is now! Some companies are even excluding spouses from family coverage all to save a buck, even so called Christian hospitals that advocate marriage and family have no trouble penalizing their workers with a spousal surcharge!

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Is it unreasonable to say that younger generations are far more proficient with computers and technology than those who are nearing retirement ?

Because ill also say that the older generations do have FAR better work ethic than my generation.

While it is true that "older generations" have a far better work ethic than some of more recent generations, it is also true that "older generations" who need to use computers in their work have learned to use said computers proficiently.

Im also going to point something out that the older nurses wont like to hear

But I think part of the reason why they would rather hire somebody younger (other than just the money which is important) is because older nurses are generally terrible with EMR.

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Yes it's true. Sorry to say.

When I had to train nurses to use EMR the older nurses had the hardest time. And just when they get used to it, BAM! a new system pops along and then we have to start all over. Doctors had a hard time too. Felt so bad for them. Well at least done of them. They would curse and slam things when they couldn't get it right. Lol

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
You were a secretary though, which means you had previous career experience using computers.

I really dont think the older generation as a whole is very good with computers.

I mean theres a massive amount who doesnt know how to type (without looking at the keyboard and pounding keys like throwing darts) or use resources like lexicomp etc

I wasnt being agest.

People who grew up with computers will be better than people who didnt.

Heck im relatiely young, and the internet wasnt around until I went to highschool.

Different generations have their own strengths/weaknesses.

And I think EMR is a huge weakness for older nurses

Just for fun...my 80 year old mother skypes with my kids on her Ipad 5, AND makes all OF HER GREETING AND BIRTHDAY CARDS herself. She is personally putting Hallmark out of business. She is a computer geek who enjoys talking computers with my hubby...a professional degree computer geek.

I would like you to qualify the "massive amount" of the "older generation" that are "as a whole" struggling with new technology and being "not very good with computers". I know before my 92 year old grandmother, who died a few years ago, struggled with cell phones and refused to learn about computers. It just "wasn't important" to her. She wanted to "hear our voices".

(without looking at the keyboard and pounding keys like throwing darts)
I learned how to type on a key board when I learned Gregg Shorthand

alphabet.gif

and could type approximately 180-200 words per min (spoken word) WITHOUT looking at a keyboard from a class in high school on an old electric typewriter WITHOUT a word processor AND I would have MAYBE 1-2 errors on a page. The computer age adds nothing what so ever to do with my typing ability. As a matter of fact I have only gotten faster.

I would also suggest that when we first got computers, dealing with DOS WAS A NIGHTMARE! I hated that STUPID COMPUTER!!!! for it made everything more labor intensive.

  • C> A: [enter]
  • Changes the default drive from C to A.
  • A> C: [enter]
  • Changes the default drive from A to C.

  • C> copy a:myfile.txt b:
  • C> copy c:command.com b:com.com
  • C> copy b:golly.gee a:whao.boy
  • C> copy command.* a:
  • C> copy a:mymap.dwg c:\maps

  • > dir a:*.ex
  • Lists all files on the A drive with an extension of 'EXE'.
  • C> dir b:kermit.*
  • Lists all files on the B drive with a filename of 'KERMIT'.

To get lab work??? Really?? and you what me to believe that THIS is going to make things easier? It turned many against computers...they just shut down and stopped trying.

Blessed be...windows! Point click send!

Personally I have found that the nurses ability, or lack there of, has much more to do with the willingness to learn and accept change...something nurses, and MD's, notoriously struggle with...for in routine there is safety from making errors.

While I admit my "smart phone" (which will add punctuation) frustrates me at times and I have to ask my children to "fix" the damn thing.....I am curious....whom do you think ushered all of this technology at the bedside for all these years? It certainly wasn't the naturally born computer literate.

I deserve to get paid more just for surving all of this stuff and rolling with the punches.

Just my 2 cents.

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Questions?

Specializes in ER.

but do u no whippersnapper shorthand esme? u dont need annoying punctuation or wasteful capitals. u dont need to bother with even checking spellcheck cause people will get ur meaning so why bother?

Specializes in LTC.
Is it unreasonable to say that younger generations are far more proficient with computers and technology than those who are nearing retirement ?

I think this is a gross generalization and very ageist. EMR and other technologies can be learned by anyone and if as a manager I had to choose between a younger (less expensive) nurse with great tech chops and a nurse with 20-30 years experience with superior clinical decision-making skills, guess which one I would choose? EMR is not and should not be the hill to die on with respect to hiring/managing qualified nurses.

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