Surgical floor to PACU pay decrease?

[desert_MP, BSN, RN]

I've been a nurse for 10+ years. Have worked inpatient OR, outpatient OR, Adult and pediatric ICU, and PACU. 

I was talking to a potential applicant coming from a surgical floor to PACU. We work at a trauma 1 hospital, so our OR and PACU are busy! This potential applicant tells me they were offered the job but would have to take a pay cut of .50/hr

I'm at a loss for words. By its nature PACU is considered a critical care unit. We aren't talking about an ambulatory surgery center. So this nurse who would now need to have ACLS, PALS, and go through the same competencies of our ICU is being asked to take a pay cut. 

Maybe I'm missing something but it doesn't add up to me!

[LovingLife123]

I’m a little confused.  They currently work in this hospital and are being asked to take a pay cut?  Could it be because they have no critical care experience? 
 

It’s hard to tell with the small amount of info.  

[desert_MP, BSN, RN]

53 minutes ago, LovingLife123 said:

I’m a little confused.  They currently work in this hospital and are being asked to take a pay cut?  Could it be because they have no critical care experience? 
 

It’s hard to tell with the small amount of info.  

Yeah currently work in this hospital. Evidently it’s because benefits/hr said quality of work/life balance is much better in Pacu so deserves less pay. Good thing they didn’t go by that crap when I transferred to Pacu. I work far more hours in Pacu than I did in any of the ICUs I’ve been in. 

[LovingLife123]

And it’s a level 1 trauma??  How is the work life balance better?  I work more hours in pacu especially with call than I did in ICU.

After 5 years in the ICU, I was working 36/week and that was it.  I now work 40 plus a week and that’s in a level 3 trauma. We close and then have call teams for nights.  Level ones don’t close.

I’d tell that manager to shove the lower pay rate.