When an employer asks 'what's the lowest wage you are willing to accept'...

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What would you say as a new (ADN RN) graduate ? Especially when you have student loans that will need to be paid on very soon ? I have been offered one job at a 'skilled' unit of a post-hospital care facility and the number is in the teens (19) when I was at least expecting 20 something/hr. The patient load will be around 20. Is that too much to ask for a new grad? No one told us it would be so difficult to find a decent job when we were in school.....

My class graduated in May and less than half have jobs. Idk if I should hold out for something better or not. In a perfect world, I definitely would.

This makes me sad. A Registered Nurse in USA is making $23.00/hr In 2013? In an LTC/skilled facility with trachs, IVs and feeding tubes? Something is wrong.

We all know that the work-load in LTC/skilled is difficult. What's the nurse-patient ratio?

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In LTC, there is always the wound care, which can take 20 minutes to a half-hour, per patient, per nurse. Wound-care nurses are so important. They know everything about pain relief, etc. ("Give pt. pain relief 20 minutes prior to dressing change.") I love wound care nurses, and patients and families love them too. We depend on them.

Our facility had only one for the entire house. Sometimes, the wound-care nurse had to call out. And, in some LTCs, wound-care nurses don't work weekends. They are Mon-Fri Days.

It would make sense for LTC/skilled facilities to have a plan to have wound-care nurses on-call or available through agencies.

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"Would you be willing to discuss with me your typical range? After researching, I understand that an average new graduate rate of pay in this area is $25 an hour, $23 with differentials. So I would be willing to negotiate."

If $19 an hour is not going to pay your bills, it is not going to pay your bills. And if it is not a union facility, you could be talking about an extended period of time that you would not get any raise. However, if you need clinical experiences that will help you in your future endevours, this may be a place to do so. And to take advantage of any certifications that you may be able to obtain such as IV therapy, wound care certifications, diabetes educator....

Best of luck

You are right. Should have said that. I'm TERRIBLE at negotiating!! Next time, next time...

HR said "We pay based on experience, and we start our new grads out at $19/hr". I think I'm gonna have to tell him thanks, but no thanks. Yeah, I need a job, but I'm uncomfortable with the patient load and add in the low pay??/! My gut says 'nope, not gonna do it'. Am I wrong though?

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You are right. Should have said that. I'm TERRIBLE at negotiating!! Next time, next time...

HR said "We pay based on experience, and we start our new grads out at $19/hr". I think I'm gonna have to tell him thanks, but no thanks. Yeah, I need a job, but I'm uncomfortable with the patient load and add in the low pay??/! My gut says 'nope, not gonna do it'. Am I wrong though?

It bears asking yourself if $19.00 an hour is going to work for you. And what is the "new grad" period and when can you assume that the rate will go up?

If you have student loans coming due, then you may have to take the job based on your expectation of clinical experience and any certifications. Research how much experience you need to gain for whatever position you would like to have.

Another option would be to look into home health, try per diem postions, or even an MD's office.

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Thank-you! I looked into home health and there is some supposed law/restriction in my state (OH) that won't allow HH agencies to hire new grads until they have had a yr. of experience. That was never mentioned in school, or by anybody else that I know either. Believe me, I am applying for almost every job out there. Idc if it's a PRN position at a hospital or what. After finding out the low pay and low reputation at this employer, I might just wait for another job but Idk. Yes, I do have loans I need to pay starting in 2 wks. I have a little money set aside, but it won't last long.

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You are a trooper! I don't think I could handle the commute, but that's awesome you had such great strength! An inspiration for sure!

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Well anyone who thinks $19/hr. is low for OH should know that at least one large NYC hospital system has a new grad program offering just that as a starting wage. See thread: https://allnurses.com/new-york-nursing/nyp-new-grad-828011-page23.html

Don't know how far nineteen dollars an hour goes in OH, but it certainly won't go very far in NYC area. Union nursing assistants (certified) make $17/hr. at the nursing home/LTC across the street from us.

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Well anyone who thinks $19/hr. is low for OH should know that at least one large NYC hospital system has a new grad program offering just that as a starting wage. See thread: https://allnurses.com/new-york-nursing/nyp-new-grad-828011-page23.html

Don't know how far nineteen dollars an hour goes in OH, but it certainly won't go very far in NYC area. Union nursing assistants (certified) make $17/hr. at the nursing home/LTC across the street from us.

Idk what your cost of living is over there in NY, but... wait. NYC? NYC's is higher than Ohio's for sure. That would probably be like making $15/hr. here or something, I don't really know. Anyways, at least that program offered HOSPITAL training where the patient load is presumably much less than a LTC/skilled facility where they accept all the pts. on IVs, trachs, and wound vacs that they can. They want me to take care of 20 pts. such as this as a new grad, and from what Ive heard, their 'orientation period' leaves a lot to be desired! I sympathize, but at least that hospital increases the wages in short durations. There is no pay raise in sight at this place for at least 6 mos. And it's not more than $1, bringing my wage up to a measly $20. I want the working experience, but I'm worried about being able to handle all they are asking for. A job at a crappy mega-corporation is not worth loosing your license over. Starting to feel like they can take this job and shove it...

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I'm with you Nola009, keep looking...Besides you can defer your student loans, call them, they will work with you.

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Thanks all comments! Yeah HFN, I think I'm gonna keep looking......:)

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I would take it and get experience all the while still applying elsewhere. Then if and when you get another offer you can tell them and give them the opportunity to meet or beat it or lose out............ any experience you can gain will help you.

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Thanks all comments. I decided to keep looking in this case. If it was just low pay that would be one thing, but I think they want to push the limits of safety too far... too many higher acuity pts. Taking pts w/ 'buffed' charts just to maximise profits. Not cool. Not cool at all!

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