What's up with nursing signing bonuses?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
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:

i'd be very careful with that -- you want to still have your license when you're moving on!

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You mean 15,000, not 150K.

No one would offer such a bonus.

You never know. They are hurting for nurses. I did travel nursing and heard an RN's horror story. But, geez if it was for real can you imagine how bad it must really be. :trout:

Anyhow, I agree with the previous posters about the whole "something must be wrong". I wouldn't do bonuses. Did that once. It was an awful place. Left after three months. They wanted there money back. But, since I was harassed by a physician and the physicians treated nurses like crap, :angryfire and it was legitimate reason to leave. I had to go over HR's head and contact corporate. who decided to let me go on with it.

I can tell you NOT EVER AGAIN!!! :nono:

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.

I was given a sign on bonus at my current place of employment and it's the best job I've ever had. It was a relocation bonus.

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Specializes in ICU and Telemetry/Step-Down.

I don't think you necessarily have to be wary about sign-on bonuses. I think some hospitals are offering them to gain a competetive edge over other hospitals. I know in the Omaha area most (if not all) of the hospitals are offering sign-on bonuses. Of course you do not get the full amount right away, you have to work on average a minimum of 2 years to receive the full $5,000 or $10,000 bonus.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
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.

I beg to differ. I had seven months of experience when I got my $4000 sign on bonus for one of the top cardiac hospitals in the Southeast. Now mind you it wasn't advertised, and was more of a treat when I found out I was getting it, but sign on bonuses do not always mean desperation. This was in 2007.

Tait

As just an FYI, my sign on bonus is broken up into installments each six months, so if I do leave before 2 years, I don't owe anyone, I just don't get the rest. I did work with a guy back in school whose sister got a $10k SOB and then flunked her NCLEX. They had already spent the money, and were expected to pay it back the DAY of the NCLEX if she didn't pass, so watch those stipulations!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

The US Public Health Service Commissioned Corp. has been offering a sign on bonus of $25,000. It seems they have to offer this bonus because the work locations tend to be in rural areas, and a BSN is required since this nursing position is as an officer, not enlisted.

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I beg to differ. I had seven months of experience when I got my $4000 sign on bonus for one of the top cardiac hospitals in the Southeast. Now mind you it wasn't advertised, and was more of a treat when I found out I was getting it, but sign on bonuses do not always mean desperation. This was in 2007.

You don't feel the current market is different than it was in 2007? Perhaps in your area it hasn't changed at all and there are not only positions for new grads but bonuses for them as well! Though I think most would agree that's not true for the majority of the country.

A few years ago, that wasn't the case as pretty much everywhere offered bonuses! Times have changed though and with many facilities cutting staffing, freezing wages and decreasing or eliminating benefits I think any thing that sounds too good to be true (like a bonus or significantly higher than average wage) should be viewed with caution and investigated carefully.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.
You don't feel the current market is different than it was in 2007? Perhaps in your area it hasn't changed at all and there are not only positions for new grads but bonuses for them as well! Though I think most would agree that's not true for the majority of the country.

A few years ago, that wasn't the case as pretty much everywhere offered bonuses! Times have changed though and with many facilities cutting staffing, freezing wages and decreasing or eliminating benefits I think any thing that sounds too good to be true (like a bonus or significantly higher than average wage) should be viewed with caution and investigated carefully.

Of course I realize the climate is different at this time.

Tait

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