Weird Pay Policies

[Yazminfarooq]

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. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

So they just happened to bump up your salary by $10/hour (33%)? You said the UNION called you and offered this to you? Something smells super fishy.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

6 hours ago, klone said:

You said the UNION called you and offered this to you?

Yes, if our union was approving an offer for a single nurse that wasn't offered to the general nursing population that would be a HUGE problem. The point of the union is that there are standard expectations for pay and benefits that are across the board. 

[Nurse10150]

I can’t understand how someone would be able to work in a SNF as a new grad ! 

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

The most experienced CNA should not be making more than the least experienced RN.

And I am shocked that you were making 32/hr as a CNA. That is really high.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

5 hours ago, Nurse10150 said:

I can’t understand how someone would be able to work in a SNF as a new grad !

My first job out of school was in a SNF. Thirty patients on my unit, 3-11. There were two med passes 4-6p, 8-10p and a treatment pass. For the first four months I think I got out at least an hour late every night. But it was doable, and it was a great place to learn assessment skills, medications, basics of wound care and how to develop time management skills. Fortunately I didn't experience too many life threatening emergencies. We had a few falls with broken bones, or lots of blood thanks to blood thinners, and some really funny situations at times. It was a great first job out of school.

[Robmoo, ADN, BSN, RN]

On 11/7/2022 at 2:49 PM, Yazminfarooq said:

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 

Good for you!  Nice bargining skills!  You get the best of both worlds!

 

Wow! a CNA making $32/hour!  That can't be in Texas.

[VNurse30]

Glad you ultimately had a good outcome. Tons of folks take a temporary pay cut for the long term benefit. SNFs /nursing homes may start out higher, but the pay plateaus. I took a pay cut going from LPN SNF to RN acute, but in a few short years my pay ended up being much higher than the top of the scale RN pay at the SNF. Not to mention endless opportunities for advancement and specialization at the acute level. 

But kudos to you for standing your ground.

[Guest1198722]

On 11/7/2022 at 7:23 PM, mmc51264 said:

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. 

Darn! You said it before me! My hospital pays higher for years of service in situations like this.?

[Vee D, ADN]

Never heard of a CNA making 32. 

[Vee D, ADN]

On 11/8/2022 at 1:13 PM, Nurse10150 said:

I can’t understand how someone would be able to work in a SNF as a new grad ! 

Why would they not be able to?

[~Shrek~]

I think that part of the reason many of the people commenting here are in shock is because for the last fourteen years or so since 2008 the nursing job market for new grads was a disaster  and everyone had to compete and fight and be grateful for what they could get. In my day, it took hundreds of applications and a bajillion rejections and a lot of embarrassment to get a job in a hospital which may not have been that great or trained you well. I think the tides are finally turning. 

[klone, MSN, RN]

Nah, I think we're mostly just in shock that there is a place paying CNAs $32/hour.