thinking of asking for more money

[nursekaylpn]

A question for school nurses.

I am interviewing for a school nurse position in a couple days, and I already know the payscale, it is very bad-almost insulting to the profession. I actually would have to have a part time job through the year to pay my bills- and my bills are not bad or out of hand! So I really want to at least go to the interview and find out more, and not just assume that there is no way I can get more money.. The nurse that had been there had been there a long time- her salary is on the low end of what a new nurse would make, would be acceptable to me if they would start me where she was, but they will save about 8 thousand a year if they start someone off in a year one on a compensation by step(year) arrangement. The problem is it is LOW, very bad! If I worked there 30 years, the top pay scale is less than what I make now!

I know they can pay more, they have been paying more, and as far as I know the nurse had other reasons for leaving, they didnt get rid of her- so they would have continued to pay her. So why not continue that payscale for someone else? how will they ever keep anyone paying them the same/less than an aid?

I have done a little research and thinking of preparing a little material to present- advocate for the profession if nothing else, do they want someone to take this job seriously or just fill the spot? The school is great- so Im thinking maybe they just dont realize what they are asking...by offering so little!

Anyway- thinking of going to interview for a job that there is no way I can take, and survive financially, and letting that be known and just ask for more. I have a job, nothing to loose I guess. I want to be in school nursing is all- and very few open up around here! I dont want to insult the school- but who needs a reality check?? Me ? them? I would be asking them to meet me in the middle- about 10 thousand a year less than what I make now, and about 6 thousand more than what they would offer me as a year one school nurse ( they dont take into acount my nursing years experience as a non school nurse on the scale) A couple thousand less than what the old nurse was getting....

any suggestions, ideas, comments?

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

School Nurse positions are very few and far between. That being said, you can try and ask for more money but I am quite sure there will be plenty of nurses willing to work for what they offer. I took a pay cut of almost half my salary to take this job but with the hours meeting my family needs and the excellent benefits they offer, it worked for me. If you truly want to be a school nurse, you will most likely take a fairly large pay cut.

[Arnu]

If its that much lower I'd stay where I was, unless there is a reason you really need to move along.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

My school district was having to pay the former nurse to come up (she moved 100 miles away) and work one day a month to get Initial/Tri/Special Ed H&V's done. And that's all that got done.

There were two nurses who applied for this position - me and another nurse much younger just out of school. They offered it to me and I declined due to salary. They offered it to the other nurse and she also declined for the same reason. They came back to me and I gave them the salary I wanted to earn and they gave it to me.

You can always try! :)