What to do about pay?

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

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.

Oh my! It is a hard and sometimes dangerous job and adequate compensation is deserved and should be fought for.

Caring about patients should not turn us into un-thinking patsies willing to be used and abused.

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

1rockstar....

I appreciate what you're saying, and plan on doing just that. But the ex military isn't the boss... the guy making more money is.

We both have the exact same degree, and he graduated (RN) 6 months before I did. I've been a nurse (LPN) 8 years longer than he has. That's it. We do the same job, the same place, just different days.

But yet, there is a (probable) $4/hr difference in pay.

Thank you to everyone for your opinions. I do not believe they will honor the email. I do believe I'm screwed. :mad:

Am in the process of calling the EEOC for advice. All I'm asking for is equal pay.

Katie5 · Feb 16, 2010

I know you not from anywhere. It was not a personal attack because it wasn't meant to be one.Calm yourself.

Would you also quote your salary to the countless many others, in different geographical locations, with different market situations ,other economical factors and other prevailing factors, how much you make to prove a point. What point exactly?

rn4ever? · Feb 16, 2010

I think that the OP wants to really leave the job because she is unhappy with her work place in general. Money is important because it pays the bills. But in these tough economic times, I think that if your job situation wasn't that bad (e.g. your pay isn't that great but your compensated elsewhere) you would have had stuck with it. If $1.72 (I know it's about 3K per year if you work 36 hours) would make you quit, I guess you really want to leave that job in general.

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2010

I think that the OP wants to really leave the job because she is unhappy with her work place in general. Money is important because it pays the bills. But in these tough economic times, I think that if your job situation wasn't that bad (e.g. your pay isn't that great but your compensated elsewhere) you would have had stuck with it. If $1.72 (I know it's about 3K per year if you work 36 hours) would make you quit, I guess you really want to leave that job in general.

I am angry about the principal of it.

I have 8 years experience on the other nurse, yet he is being paid more than I? And if I EVER get an answer from management... it may not be a mere $1.72, as some of you are stating.. it may be a full $4 and some odd change if they do not honor the email from my old boss.

THAT pi**es me off!

And yes, I do plan to leave, due to other circumstances making my employment there unsafe.... but that has nothing to do with equal pay for equal work.

caliotter3 · Feb 16, 2010

I am angry about the principal of it.
I have 8 years experience on the other nurse, yet he is being paid more than I? And if I EVER get an answer from management... it may not be a mere $1.72, as some of you are stating.. it may be a full $4 and some odd change if they do not honor the email from my old boss.
THAT pi**es me off!
And yes, I do plan to leave, due to other circumstances making my employment there unsafe.... but that has nothing to do with equal pay for equal work.

I could have written these words myself. I did not get a satisfactory answer when I asked why someone with less experience as a nurse and newly hired, was being paid $4 an hour more than me for the same work. I also left for the same reasons, and never agreed that the employer should go back on their word that everyone doing the same job was being paid the same. A lie is a lie, no matter how you look at it. You are only right to stick up for yourself. If you don't, who will?

jlcole45 · Feb 17, 2010

I've been a nurse for more then 20 years and I've never made $44 hr, even as a CEN, and with tons of critical care experience, CVRU, etc.... I will say I've never worked where there was a union. But how can someone complain about $44 a hr? Are your math skills deficient or are you just money hungry? Because that is well over $80K a year, for 3 shifts a week.

Nurseinator · Feb 17, 2010

I am amazed to here what they are paying you. You have every right to ask for a raise. What surprises me is why are nurses paid so little in the united states? I was thinking in the U.S you guys would be paid way more than what we are paid up here in Canada.....But I guess that is not the case.

Batman25 · Feb 17, 2010

What email did you send? I think I missed something somewhere. I'm lost. lol

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2010

What email did you send? I think I missed something somewhere. I'm lost. lol

The email I am referring to is FROM my old DON that just quit. He had promised my pay to be at least $1.72 MORE than what the company had changed and began to pay new RNs.

However, upon hire, I was told my pay would be $2 MORE than what the company offered when it all came to a head.

Example: Told I would start at 26, price went down to 24, old DON sent an email to me saying he could only get company to go up to 25.72.

Meanwhile, brand new RN with less experience started at 28.

Idontknowbetter · Feb 17, 2010

It seems to me that whatever you were quoted by the DON while he was employed by the hospital is something that the hospital should/has to honor. Whether they will or not is totally different.

P.S. Mrs. Katie, I've seen your other posts so I'm not even going to attempt to reason with you. To the other person: Yes, I'm money hungry, I'm a complainer, and I don't know how to do math to boot.

To the OP, you deserve better than what this facility is offering you.

jschut, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2010

Thanks Idon'tknowbetter.... :)