Yes, another salary negotiating question!

Nurses General Nursing

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Okay yes I know this has been mentioned a million times before and yes I have looked at a few of the threads and none have helped me. But I have not gone through them all.

Anywho, my question is how do I negotiate salary as a new grad WITH hospital experience. I have worked in a hospital for the past 3+ years so I am not completely new to the health care field. I think I deserve more as a new grad with hospital experience compared to someone who worked for walmart until the day before graduation and the only hospital time they had was clinicals. So how do I bring this up when discussing salary?

I was offered a position in the ER once I graduate and I will be the first and only New grad they have ever hired in the ER so I don't want to ruin anythng, but I don't want to settle for less than I am worth. Please help if you can. Just trying to think of the right words to say or how to let them know I am worth more than someone that is completely new.

TIA

By the way, I do know some of you are frustrated with new grads wanting more pay. But if you don't stand up for what your worth, hospitals and everywhere else are going to offer you as little as possible.

Well, you can always ask, but it's been my experience that hospitals don't budge much on their salary offers. I think they have a formula that says "this many years experiences equals x."

When I went from part time to PRN I got a 2.50/hr pay cut. Why? I'm at the top of my pay scale, but all PRN make the same amount, regardless of years worked. I asked them to match what I'd been making, and they said they had no control over it, that corporate set wages.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

Well, I guess each facility is different. I have worked in home health and patient care tech. HR took my experience in consideration and yes I was paid more than the average new grad. I was a patient care tech on the same floor I became a RN on for 3 yrs. I have been a RN for over 3 years. When I was full time I couldnt complain about my pay. Now I work in a Central Resource Pool, enabling to work 3 different units is awesome. This position is prn. I love the money and the freedom of the politics. I feel like a free agent.

Maybe the reason why you are able to get a job in the ER as a new grad maybe it is because of your hospital experience. You can wait until you hear the offer you can except or decline. The most important part you have your foot in the door. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

Congrats on the new job!

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't push the salary issue very much. In this economy, it's so hard to find any job at all, and you were lucky enough to be offered ER as a new grad. When I started out as a new grad RN, I had PCT, HHA, and LPN experience. But I still started out with new RN pay.

IMO, the ER experience you will gain is much more valuable than any small increase you may/may not receive from the hospital at this point. Good luck!

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

@ Fribblet: don't be so snippy! The OP has a legitimate question that isn't helped by more nastiness on this site.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think that one must honestly assess whether asking for more money is worth possibly losing the job offer first?

Where I live, new grads get what new grads get. I'm sorry but that is the reality of it.

3 years working in a hospital just doesn't translate to RN experience. Even if you use the same computer system and stuff like that, the RN palatte is so different and the job is so different too.

I just wouldn't push it or you are liable to find yourself without a job offer.

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Specializes in Educator/ICU/OB.
@ fribblet: don't be so snippy! the op has a legitimate question that isn't helped by more nastiness on this site.

i was thinking the exact same thing. many times, i have seen people respond to posts in a very negative manner, and that is unnecessary. the question was legitimate, and needs responses to help her understand the matter.

that being said, i went into nursing as an lpn, worked 6 yrs., then as an rn. at different facilities i have worked, they do not give credit to work that has been prior to nursing. they will give credit for licensed nursing years, but they rate those years differently. years of service is paid for 1 year for every rn year, and 1/2 year for every lpn year. so, in my 18 years i have been a nurse, 6 years were as an lpn, and 12 years as an rn. that gives me 15 years service to figure into the base salary.

sorry, but every place i have been to only gives credit to licensed years. best of luck to you, and congrats on the er job!!:yeah:

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

Congrats on your job! You are well within your right to negotiate salary as you see fit but I don't think anything outside of nursing experience will count towards a base pay increase.

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Keep in mind that I am just starting nursing school (but have a lot of business experience)--so take this for what it's worth!

I like the post that mentioned asking if the salary was negotiable. The worst they will most likely say is no, so you might as well ask. I would also add when you are asking if the salary is negotiable, tell them about the value that you will add (willing to do any tasks required, willing to help cover shifts, willing to learn, friendly, helpful, etc.)--and ask about room for advancement, and what would help you get a raise in the future. That you want to be a valuable member of their team and want to know what skills they are looking for. Most places like a go-getter attitude. Even if they say no, you will learn about what skills that do value and you can work toward improving yourself in that direction.

Focus on what's in it for them, not for you, and you will advance--even if there is a seasoning period you must go through first. Best of luck to you and keep us posted! :)

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Hi Calixan,

I worked as a nurse recruiter for a couple of years before going to nursing school and in my experience, hospitals are unlikely to negotiate your hourly rate. They base the rate on years of experience as an RN, and esp if there is a union, it is strictly enforced. Chances are, they hired you because of your previous hospital experience. You might possibly inquire regarding a sign-on bonus? Although those are few and far between these days, usually for hard to fill positions or in under served communities. Do you get more vacation time for having been with the hospital for more years? Congrats to you on landing an awesome and challenging specialty for your first position. I am also a new grad starting in PICU next month. Good luck!

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If you can argue that it will be less costly to train you as a new grad since you will need less time in orientation, then you can bring up the salary issue.

Chances are, you will need just as much time in orientation as a new grad without hospital experience.

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My two cents . . .

I had 10 yrs experience as an RRT before starting as an RN at the same hospital that I worked at before . . . I was still started at the bottom new grad salary.

However, after working one year, I got a good annual review and received a 4 step increase (over $8K).

IMHO, this economy is not conducive to salary negotiating because there are a hundred, no a thousand, new grads who'd be glad to have your job. Just work hard and the salary increases will come.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
Well, you can always ask, but it's been my experience that hospitals don't budge much on their salary offers. I think they have a formula that says "this many years experiences equals x."

YEs, exactly this. And "experience" means AS AN RN.

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