Wage Increases

Been working as an RN for two years. Have had two raises, one of which was quite significant (12%)

We've gotten our yearly cost of living raise -- though it hasn't quite kept pace with actual inflation. While that irritates me, I am not too upset about it because I know that people in other careers haven't been getting raises either due to the downturn in the economy. Many of my colleagues' husbands have been laid off, or are working fewer hours, or have taken hits in their benefit packages, etc. My "stagnation" is better than their losses.

I'm old enough to have seen several economic cylcles over the years ... a few lean years ... followed by a few in which the money is flowing freely ... to a few lean years ... to boom times ... to something in the middle for a while ... etc. etc. etc.

If you are working at a job you are reasonably satisfied with, be happy for the moment. You are getting the experience that will help you get even better jobs in the future. Bide your time a bit while you chart a career path that builds on that experience and that might involve better working conditions and/or compensation. Prepare yourself now to move up when the time is right and the opportunty presents itself.

I get two yearly--one based on the union pay scales and one based on performance. I also just got a nice one for completing my BSN...it was more than I thought it was going to be.

I haven't received a pay increase in years.

I was PRN at my workplace until recently, when I accepted a 'promotion' to full-time house supervisor. With this promotion my earnings have dropped because I am now paid a set salary instead of the higher PRN hourly rate.

Of course, my compensation has increased in other ways: employer-sponsored health insurance, 401k, dental, short and long term disability, and term life insurance, which purportedly add up to one-third of my overall renumeration.