What to do about pay?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

First of all, I still haven't been told what my RN pay is going to be. I argued to get brought up to $22.72, and I have an email saying that would be the rate, but now... the DON that emailed me.... quit.

Are they still obligated to give me my 22.72/hr? or am I going to be bumped back down to 21/hr like they wanted to?

Is my email valid?

I've gotta get outta there.

When you are a nurse you will understand how the OP has a valid complaint. It's essential to look at the whole situation, she is getting paid less than a new grad and she had to fight to get that lower wage.

So it may be safe to assume that even in nursing men will continue to be paid a higher wage. I am curious as to if

A. The higher paid newer male nurse was hired by a male...or

B. If he was hired by a female, did she have the hots for him

C. The higher paid newer nurse was hired by a male...and he had the hots for him

I've been in the same situation before but didn't have it in writing but talked with the new DNS and she honored the previous wage offer. I don't know if it'd be worth making waves over what someone else's wages were or just bag it and look for a job willing to pay you for your experience.

Hired by a male. Ex- military. Apparently was bragging about being paid RN wages even BEFORE his NCLEX! Whether that is true or not, I have no clue....

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Whatever you have in writing is what you should be paid.

I am at a lost for words, though. $22 per hour? Whaaaat? My friend works at Costco, has no education, and makes more than that. Please look for work elsewhere.

When I started working as an staff nurse RN (a ADN new graduate) 2 years ago I was offered $40 per hour. I thought that was barely making it. BSNs make a few dollars more per hour. I've since been bumped up and make about $44 per hour (a $4 dollar raise for 2 years of service is lousy to me, in my opinion). It is still the same at my hospital even with the current economy. I think I need to say this isn't even a "bad place" to work either - they are very good to their employees. We are unionized so that has something to do with my pay, but even local non-union hospitals pay essentially the same rate. The cost of living around here is cheap, too. I'm really in shock over your pay rate and would be hightailing it out of there as quickly as possible.

That pay rate is a joke for what we have to put up with. Just my two cents.

Just curious, what kind of nursing job is this? I work in Medical-Surgical, so it's not even like I have special qualifications/training/experience.

I completely disagree with the person that said a few dollars and change doesn't make a difference/consider a different career. Please. This is the same type of attitude that allows women and nurses to be paid less than what they are worth. It DOES make a difference and IS important. It may not make a huge difference per hour, but at the end of the year it makes all of the difference. Beyond that, nurses have bills to pay. There's a word for people who have all heart for something without any interest in pay - it's called volunteering. I'm really sick and tired of some nurses saying people shouldn't go into nursing for the money. GET REAL PEOPLE. (I'm not venting at any specific person on here, it's just a general frustraton I have). People pick careers based on the income all of the time, and they are damned good at what they do, too. With that said, there are bad apples in every profession.

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I agree that the money part of nursing is important. If they didn't pay me I wouldn't go in. I would print off the email and ask for it to be honored. Where I live $21 is alot for a new grad. 3.5 years ago I started out at $17.61 and now make just $21.40 before shift dif. I have looked around here and my pay is pretty standard. Cost of living is very low here though. I own a 3 bedroom ranch style for $90,000. I am aware that pay is very low in my state.

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whatever you have in writing is what you should be paid.

i am at a lost for words, though. $22 per hour? whaaaat? my friend works at costco, has no education, and makes more than that. please look for work elsewhere.

when i started working as an staff nurse rn (a adn new graduate) 2 years ago i was offered $40 per hour. i thought that was barely making it. bsns make a few dollars more per hour. i've since been bumped up and make about $44 per hour (a $4 dollar raise for 2 years of service is lousy to me, in my opinion). it is still the same at my hospital even with the current economy. i think i need to say this isn't even a "bad place" to work either - they are very good to their employees. we are unionized so that has something to do with my pay, but even local non-union hospitals pay essentially the same rate. the cost of living around here is cheap, too. i'm really in shock over your pay rate and would be hightailing it out of there as quickly as possible.

where are you from? around here... the pay is about normal, unfortunately... i wanna come to where you are for $40/hr! :)

that pay rate is a joke for what we have to put up with. just my two cents.

just curious, what kind of nursing job is this? i work in medical-surgical, so it's not even like i have special qualifications/training/experience.

i am in corrections.

i completely disagree with the person that said a few dollars and change doesn't make a difference/consider a different career. please. this is the same type of attitude that allows women and nurses to be paid less than what they are worth. it does make a difference and is important.

as i said, i am currently looking for another position. it just takes time, i guess.

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Southern California. Before you say the cost of living here is high - well, that's a stereotype. What you see on TV (The Real Housewives of Orange County, etc.) is NOT an accurate depiction of Southern California. Just like every other state out there, there are affluent areas and there are middle class, average areas. Most of Southern California is average. Where I live, you can buy a 3,000 sqft home for $200K, so please, don't believe what you read or see on TV.

I made $110,000 last year (with OT, of course). This wage hardly seems fair for what I have to put up with while I'm at work. I have to walk up and down hallways, do paperwork, and there have even been some shifts where I've been so busy that I hardly had any time to sit down and talk/catch up with coworkers. $110k may seem like a good income to some, but you have no idea how much the federal and state government takes away from me. I barely have anything to my name at the end of the year.

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Sent you a PM.

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The money part in nursing is one of the least important things. If one dollar and some cents is making you wanna leave, maybe nursing is not for you. Of course the paycheck is important but nursing is a field that people with heart need to be in. If people are only in it for the money, they will get burnt out real quick.

This is one of the most self-righteous speech, I have heard in a long while. What exactly makes it so wrong, about advocating for a wage increase that had already been agreed upon?

No, this is not what makes most nurses burn out? What makes nurses burn out is the unfairness of trying to be cheated out of what they have earned amongst other things....and perhaps attitude and comments like quoted?

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Whatever you have in writing is what you should be paid.

I am at a lost for words, though. $22 per hour? Whaaaat? My friend works at Costco, has no education, and makes more than that. Please look for work elsewhere.

When I started working as an staff nurse RN (a ADN new graduate) 2 years ago I was offered $40 per hour. I thought that was barely making it. BSNs make a few dollars more per hour. I've since been bumped up and make about $44 per hour (a $4 dollar raise for 2 years of service is lousy to me, in my opinion). It is still the same at my hospital even with the current economy. I think I need to say this isn't even a "bad place" to work either - they are very good to their employees. We are unionized so that has something to do with my pay, but even local non-union hospitals pay essentially the same rate. The cost of living around here is cheap, too. I'm really in shock over your pay rate and would be hightailing it out of there as quickly as possible.

That pay rate is a joke for what we have to put up with. Just my two cents.

Just curious, what kind of nursing job is this? I work in Medical-Surgical, so it's not even like I have special qualifications/training/experience.

Enough! I could tear my hair out in vexation. Where exactly in the post does the OP ask to know what specific amount you're making. Pay depends on what location you are.

Was your post supposed to help soothe her or provide a solution to the immediate problem she has now? How does quoting your pay and stuff help her? She is already feeling unhappy with her pay as it is, why flaunt yours in her face. TWO years ago, you were paid that. THIS year, one is appreciative of having a job and then working towards getting their dream job. And the dig about your friend working in costco and earning same amount as her, so what?

She has something your friend doesn't have- an education and a degree, like you mentioned yourself.

If you cannot be a part of the solution, then please stop instigating!

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I was making a point and stating my opinion, as I mentioned in my post. And please don't personally attack me, it's unwarranted. Don't you dare tell me what to say or not to say, ever.

I was quoting my salary to inform her (or him?) how absolutely absurd that wage is. Nurses deserve better. Much better.

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Calliou, you're being treated UNFAIRLY and you better make a stand for yourself NOW unless you'll just end up hating your place of employment.

Im not going to go off on a tangent here, but trust me when i say what you're going through is something most RN's go through at some point during their employment.

I agree with what idontknowbetter is conveying: you must speak up and be your own advocate. When i was hired they, being HR, quoted me their avg salary/hourly, I remember simply chuckling on the inside and saying to myself( better come back with a real offer).

I negotiated as a new grad two years ago with 0 exp 2-3 dollars higher than what their so called base was even without my shift differential.

Others simply just accepted what they were offered but after discovering that they were outsmarted by management and didn't attempt to negotiate it affected their overall joy at work.

Even i later discovered that what a few people negotiated better than i did, but im happy with my pay and that all that matters.

Therefore, take this concern of yours into Prayer for starters. Then set up a meeting the this ex-military guy. Now as a guy I know what hes expecting from you, this nice little nurse who appreciates having employment,sweet,soft,mild,quiet, " vanilla."

I would approach him in a language we Men speak and trust me he'll understand, AGGRESION but be MODERATE ( in other words stand up to this injustice but know when you're pushing something too far).

Don't be passive or quiet about this. We men are visual so print out that faithful email with the salary, show it to him, and simply let him know that anything less just leaves you feeling kinda naked at this point. Let him know how much this deeply bothers you because you feel that you're being treated unfairly.

No matter the outcome remain professional, thank him for his time and exist his office. Continue to do your work so well that no one else could do it better and begin looking for a new place of employment. Hope this helps.

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Btw what i meant was if your're not 100% happy at your current place of work, then seek something better but keep it mind you could get your dream wage but nightmare coworkers and so on, you get my drift, later.....

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I would look for a new place of employment and not set my sights on anything being rectified. When your pay was being ratchetted down from $23/hour, they were already paying the less experienced nurse $25/hour and were absolutely aware of the disparity. No amount of correcting this is going to put you in the right light at this place. You know you can never trust their word and this will always be in the back of everyone's mind. Go somewhere where you might stand a chance to be treated with respect from the first day forward. Good luck.

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