Why such a difference in pay????

Sounds like they're already playing games. Your concern is you don't have much to negotiate with; meaning you have no experience. BTW; it is most places rule that staff do not share what they make.

I guess my question to this post is why so little $$$$? Are both places not unionized?

Maybe its karma

Sorry, jk, but I had to!

I worked as a MA, then a tech for the hospital I'm working in now, before I became an RN. I got to keep all my raises when I moved to an RN position (4 years worth) so I started out about $5/hr higher than my classmates who hadn't previously worked for the hospital. Maybe that's what's going on here? I agree with the previous posters,..don't share details about your pay.

BTW I'm in Missouri,.our new grads with no experience are starting at just under $18/hr.

Just out of curiosity, how did it go at your other job? Did you get back and forth with minimal time returning late? I was worried you might try driving too fast in noontime traffic.

I think I took an extra 35 minutes for my lunch. I stayed at the interview for 50 minutes... 20 minutes more than I had planned, so i had to rush home and pump real quick (not as long as I would have liked). And then I went back to work. I didn't have any issues, and I didn't really say much before I had to go other than I need to leave a little early for an appt. Oh, and i said I would be back around my normal time, because I still need time to pump. My supervisor just said ok, that's fine.

Not sharing salary info allows employers to keep nurses in the dark regarding pay discrepancies. It's BS...they cannot order you not to discuss your life among your coworkers. When you behave like good little supplicants, the veteran nurse has no idea that she is getting only a few bucks more than a new nurse. The facility saves money and are unconcerned care about the obvious inequity/unfairness. They demand you possess integrity and honesty in your practice. But they make up their own rules as they go along.

I don't necessarily have a problem with people disclosing to one another their salaries, depending on the situation. However, I don't grasp how it is "unfair" to allow each individual to negotiate their own best compensation package.

Hi, Is it not unfair for a 20-year veteran to receive a salary that is little more than a new nurse?

I don't think so. I think each person should be allowed to earn to the best of his or her abilities.

That's a big difference in starting pay. My thought is that they are trying to hire you for less based on your current pay. When negotiating with your new boss, you could mention that in your research of pay scales in the area, you've found $24-26 to be the norm for your experience level.

This is stellar advice. I would have a print out with me of the base salaries in your area when you re-negotiate, and I would suggest that you do this face to face instead of over the phone. You can negotiate much more effectively face to face. I would also raise the point that you need more compensation as a PRN nurse because you would not be getting benefits. The employer is low-balling you for sure, and it never hurts to counter offer with a much larger number. They can always go back to the drawing board and come up with a reasonable number that you both are satisfied with, and if you DON'T ask for more, you will be starting your new job with a bit of resentment. Even if it doesn't bother you now, you will always have this in the back of your mind (as a previous poster stated) and it will gradually build until it is in the FOREFRONT of your mind.