What kind of sign-on bonuses are in your area?

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Specializes in Gynecology/Oncology.

They're offering all kinds of things for nurses around here to sign even a 2 year contract. Some will offer to pay off your student loans, cash bonuses up to $5,000, lawn care and spa treatments (really!), and of course, the flexible benefit packages and choose your own schedule. Any others?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Gee - when I lived in Indy (92-96) there were no sign-on bonuses! Darn! However, I would take the money. Here in central Illinois - our competing hospital is currently offering $10,000 bonuses for critical care RNs (experienced).

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at my area hospital in eastern ky, they did have a $5,000 but in the last couple of weeks or so they have raised it to $6000. it is paid within 30 days from when you begin working there. that is with out any experience at all! it may have other perks for their who are experienced i am not sure about that. hopefully it keeps going up until i can begin work in 2006 (i hope) :) i have heard of up to $14000 (yes thousand) in some areas not here :crying2: plus they offer you help with money for college you get so much per term if you agree to work for them for i think it is 1 year. i do not know if we would get the sign on bonus too. it would be great if we did. :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

A few places tried sign-on bonuses a couple of years ago, but they have declined in popularity as hospitals realized it just encouraged nurses to hop from job to job frequently. They also caused a lot of dissatisfaction with the existing staff, who saw that they were being paid less than the new people (when you factor in the bonus).

My hospital chose to offer retention bonuses instead. You get cash on the aniversary of your hire. The longer you stay, the higher your bonus is. That encourages experienced nurses to stay and provide the sophisticated care and leadership that a hospital needs to thrive. We think it is a better system. Our retention bonuses start at $500 for the first year and go up to $10,000 per year at 27 years.

llg (in Virginia)

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

llg - that is the way things should be done! Your hospital obviously values its experienced staff.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
llg - that is the way things should be done! Your hospital obviously values its experienced staff.

Thank you. That was nice of you to respond. We think it is the best way to go and wish that other hospitals around the country would follow suit. Experienced nurses need rewarded and encouragement to stay. Retention is more important than recruitment -- particularly when it is accompanied by a comprehensive staff development program that rewards and encourages continued growth within those you retain.

How can we get the job applicants and new grads to focus on those retention characteristics of a hospital rather than the slick, up-front recruitment strategies? If more nurses would insist on them before they accepted jobs, the hospitals would be more likely to see them as valuable and maybe start offering more.

llg

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

llg - I couldn't agree with you more. For instance, I've been employed at my hospital for 8 years and have 12 years experience total as a nurse. Yet, I make only $8/hour more than a new grad! Since I went to a salaried position - I also gave up clinical ladders and shift diff (even though I work second shift). However, our hospital is still nurse friendly and I actually like the upper management. Our nursing exec is amazing - she knows my name and even greets me in public by name! She really inspires us.

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Specializes in ER.

in my area in CT none, at least none that are advertised.

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I've looked in different papers around Texas, and I have seen up to $5000 offered. I have also seen offers for maid service for a year, laundry service, etc. Some places are even offering a new car.( I heard that one from my dad...said he heard it on a radio talk show):)

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Where I work as a tech, they're offering $3K for a one year committment, $10K for two years, and $15K for three years for new grads.

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:chuckle In eastern Washington state the LTC is offering $1,000 sign on bonuses to both RN's and LPN's. I don't know how long you have to promise to work in order to get these sign on bonuses.

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

I'm all for a combination of sign on bonuses AND retention bonuses!! :D

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