What's up with nursing signing bonuses?

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Hello,

I am going to graduate in December with my BSN. A few years ago I heard some nursing colleagues talking, and a few mentioned that their friends had moved out of state: motivated with some very nice signing bonuses. One person mentioned that her girlfriend was given $150,000 bonus for signing a 2-year contract to work in Alaska.

My questions:

1. Are companies/clinics/hospitals still offering signing bonuses for nurses?

2. How do I find legitimate RN signing bonuses?

I have a feeling that the economy and the subsequent saturation of nurses all across the country has depleted RN signing bonuses...

I am not expecting a bonus of $150,000, that is absurd. However, I would like $5,000 or $10,000 to put towards student loans.

Any help or information would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Allen

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

They are only giving sign-ons for experienced RNs in my part of the country.

$7500.00 for 18 months--in a hard to fill specialty that is...

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As a new grad, anywhere that will offer you a sign-on bonus in the current market is not likely to be a place you want to work as a new grad. Places offer bonuses because they are struggling to fill staffing holes and most places struggle with staffing because they are not good places to work for one reason or another.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

wow , i'll pack up my 6 kids , husband and cat and head to alaska... i wish ... lol.... i do get a bonus yearly at my work , which is due in nov .. yes right before christmas!! i recieve $ 2,400 a year retention bonus... now you know where i get my christmas money.... lol....

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

In this economy, just be thankful to get a nursing job...

All the best,:up:

Diane

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Neuro-surgery/Med-Surgical/.

yeah, be VERY aware of any hospital offering sign on bonuses.....these are usually the worst places to work for....I know as I was a traveling nurse that would fill in temporarily! The short term assignments couldn't end fast enough!

These days, new grads are having a very hard time even finding a job...so sad!

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Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.

Ok ...now is not about "the hospital" is about sign-on bonus internal politics of hospitals or facilities. BE SURE that when someone offer you a sign on bonus or relocation assistance, BE VERY SURE to ask them if these money are with taxes or without taxes, if they will be included or not in pay check.

A 4000$ bonus is may be 2000 after taxes nad IF is included in salary... is a trick with bonuses, nobody will tell you so ask them before to say YES!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi/Tele.

If someone was offering me a sign on bonus with a job offer in this time of "new grads" not being hired I would take it no matter where it is. You can always manage 12 months and then move on. :trc:

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Specializes in ICU.
If someone was offering me a sign on bonus with a job offer in this time of "new grads" not being hired I would take it no matter where it is. You can always manage 12 months and then move on. :trc:

Oh noooo.... you obviously haven't worked the places I have.

I would work at McDonalds before I would go back to a few of the hospitals I worked at. THat is bad. Once you experience this,, you will not make a statement like this anymore.

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Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

You mean 15,000, not 150K.

No one would offer such a bonus.

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Specializes in Emergency Only.

Yeah, those sign on bonus things need to be discussed in private during the interview, and in my opinion,they do not necessarily need to be mentioned in an ad to be

had

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Keep in mind also that if you accept a bonus and it's given early on and you decide to leave before your time is up you will be expected to pay at least a portion of it back. Some will require that you pay it all back in a lump sum. Some will allow payments, and some will allow payment with interest.

I'm always very leery of sign-on bonuses. At one point they were more common in certain areas because the shortage was just that bad. But in many cases, the bigger the bonus the worse the working conditions. And in the economy any facility offering a sign-on bonuse has got to be extremely desperate so I'd be extra careful.

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