Weird Pay Policies

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Specializes in New nurse.

CNA Nurse Making The Same Salary

Hello all I just came to share something. I’m a new grad nurse and work at one of those magnet hospitals as a CNA , people literally wait years to get a job here, they are know for the highest pay and good benefits. Because I was already in, I was guaranteed a position as a nurse. Well I was shocked when they offered me only 30.00 because as a CNA I make 32.58 an hour. I thought clearly they made a mistake so I called so many people and emailed. I spoke to two managers and the union and they all confirmed that this was standard pay for new grads and I was actually lucky because they usually start at 29 ? How can it be possible that cnas and rns are making the same wage ? I ended up declining the position and accepted a position at a no name sniff who offered me 40 plus 6,000 bonus . I just thought that was funny and felt like sharing. 

Specializes in Dialysis.

Remember though, as a CNA there's a difference in job role and responsibilities to nurse. At the hospital, you say nurses are waiting to get on there. That means that they're experienced,  which makes more than a new grad, who will need orientation. As a CNA in a union, that's probably why you're making that much. The SNF will maybe give you 3 days orientation, maybe a week if lucky. After that, you're expected to be independent. I know that you may have been told different,  but realistically,  it usually doesn't happen, staffing and all. Some new grads can handle it well, others can't,  but it does make a good foundation, like med surg. You learn multiple disease processes, time management,  and independent thought. 

Now, most hospitals don't have nurses lined up waiting for a chance to work there,  so they must treat them very well benefit-wise, and management-wise if the pay isn't great. Sometimes the reason pay is high and there's a bonus is because management and benefits stink. Something to think about 

Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

There is much more to a good employment package than just the wage. Yes, that's important, but the benefits can make a huge difference. When I most recently changed jobs, I went from healthcare that cost me about $270 per paycheck with a $6000 family deductible to healthcare that costs $140 per paycheck with zero deductible. We spent almost every penny of that $6k deductible last year. Now for a 36 hr/wk position that comes out to just over $3/hr, which might not sound like much, but getting hit with those bills $1500-$2k at a time was inconvenient. And saving $130 per paycheck for healthcare is another $1.80 per hour. My job also covers 100% tuition at the university we're associated with for myself or my children. There's another $15k/yr benefit for the years my kids are in college if they choose to go there. 

As for your question, you've got some seniority as a CNA so you're making a better wage than a starting nurse, but that nurse will have pay increases and will pass the CNA salary after not too long. And that CNA pay sounds awesome, I don't think we have many people making every $20/hr in my hospital. And $29/hr is a reasonable starting RN salary in many areas these days. That's $54k yr based on 36 hour weeks, not too bad.  

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

I'm just shocked that any place pays CNAs $32/hour. Holy cow.

Specializes in Dialysis.
20 minutes ago, klone said:

I'm just shocked that any place pays CNAs $32/hour. Holy cow.

You and me both, but glad that there's a facility that recognizes their hard work!

Specializes in Home Health,Peds.

What state is this?

Those wages for CNA are very high. 

Specializes in Dialysis.
On 11/6/2022 at 2:31 PM, Googlenurse said:

What state is this?

Those wages for CNA are very high. 

I'm thinking it's gotta be CA

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Making a decision based on the hourly rate is understandable, but short-sighted. The SNF is offering a bonus for a reason.

I would take $29/hr at a well run respected hospital ANY day over $40 at a SNF. Especially as a new grad needing the experience and learning opportunities offered in the hospital.

Our CNAs typically make about $18 per hour. There have been bonuses in place for several years now that can bump that up to $30-$40 an hour for extra shifts above FTE. Many CNAs have gone to supplemental status so they can make a bonus for every shift after meeting the minimal requirements. So yes they are probably averaging over $30 an hour. 

Specializes in New nurse.

Update - the union called me back and agreed to match what the sniff offered me 40 an hour. You guys are insane no way rns and cnas should make the same they need to Bump up the rns salary ! The union agreed and they said next year they will start bargaining 

Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.
2 hours ago, Yazminfarooq said:

You guys are insane no way rns and cnas should make the same

I don't believe that anyone stated RNs and CNAs should make the same amount without accounting for experience. If someone has experience as a CNA and has worked their way up, they could be making more than a new RN. Similarly, there are new NPs making less than experienced RNs. However, the top of each pay scale increases with the associated increase in responsibility based on advancing education. 

It's good that your facility has decided to match the offer from the LTC facility. Good luck in your new position.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

There was a thread on here somewhere that talked about the necessity of "job jumping" in order to get more money. We recently had an increase in pay because they had to offer new grads more money to recruit them. I got a $5/hr raise. 

I would be upset about being offered less as an RN that what I was making as a CNA. You should be able to be paid higher up the band for years of service, regardless of particular position. Stupid of them. Looks like they lost a good employee. 

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