[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ style=”font-style:italic;”]In our [hen-ui-link href=”/ask-a-nurse/”]Ask a Nurse[/hen-ui-link] series, experienced nurses provide an insider look at the nursing profession by answering your questions about nursing careers, degrees, and resources.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-card variant=”background-gray”] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Question: Is it possible to negotiate a higher salary as a new nurse? Do you have any tips?[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-card-content][/hen-ui-card][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Great question. Yes! It is possible to negotiate a higher salary as a new nurse. There is no rule book that says you can’t. No one will scold you or punish you if you negotiate. As a matter of fact, according to the 2019 Job Seeker Nation Survey [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.fastcompany.com/90465186/before-you-accept-that-job-offer-do-this-to-negotiate-salary” target=”_blank”]report from Jobvite[/hen-ui-link], your potential employer expects it.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The [hen-ui-link href=”/resources//the-gender-pay-gap-in-nursing/”]gender pay gap in nursing[/hen-ui-link] is real. Women make up 87% of the nursing workforce, but get paid 10 cents less than male nurses. That’s about $7,297 a year. Imagine losing $7,297 every year?![/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you are Black/African American, Hispanic or Latino/a, and/or Indigenous, you make even less. That’s why negotiating a higher salary for yourself needs to happen — especially if you are a woman and/or a minority. Negotiating your salary is one way to close the gender pay gap.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Nursing Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does It Mean to Negotiate Salary?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Christopher Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, says everything in life is a negotiation. Learning how to negotiate will only improve your life. This is how you should look at salary negotiation.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When you’re negotiating your salary as a new nurse, this means you and your potential employer are figuring out, and finally agreeing, on a salary amount. In return, you work for the employer.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Negotiating isn’t only about your salary. You can negotiate:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Sick days[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Vacation days[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Parental leave[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Tuition reimbursement[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Working remote[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Travel expenses[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Is It Important to Negotiate Your Salary in Nursing?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]It’s important to negotiate your salary because you are letting your employer know how valuable you are to the company. It lets them know:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You are confident[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You know your worth[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]You’ve done your research[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Life isn’t all about money, but, if you are a woman, getting paid less to do the same job as your male counterpart also isn’t right. Negotiating is important because you are playing an active role in one day ending the gender pay gap.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Are the Steps to Take Before Negotiating Your Salary?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Negotiating can feel scary. You may even feel embarrassed to ask for a higher salary. Let’s face it: Some of us were taught to be happy with what we are given.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Learning how to negotiate doesn’t have to be stressful. See below for a few steps you can take before negotiating.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Do You Negotiate a Higher Starting Salary in Nursing?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]When you give a counteroffer, which means coming up with your own offer, make sure the number is realistic and goal oriented. Have a number in your head based on your research, personal needs, and future career goals. Focus on the value you bring to the company.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Whether you provide a counteroffer in person or in an email:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”ordered” bullet-style=”number”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Start off telling the company why you want to work for them.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Highlight the value you are bringing to the company.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Let them know your counteroffer.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Thank them for their time and patience.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Should You Not Do When Negotiating a Salary In Nursing?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]At the end of the day, it’s your decision to accept or decline the position. Be confident and professional, but don’t:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Be condescending[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Give ultimatums[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Make it all about you[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Lie[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Should I Do if My Offer Is Not Accepted?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If your offer isn’t accepted, that’s okay. You don’t know what other projects the facility is working on or their budget. If you really want to work for the facility, ask what you need to do to reach that salary, how long it may take, and how often are employee performances and salaries reviewed. Based on their answers, make your decision.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Michelle Obama says resiliency is a muscle. You have to practice to become stronger and not shut down if things don’t go your way. This concept is the same for negotiating. If you don’t get exactly what you offered, or your counteroffer wasn’t accepted, don’t give up.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Written by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Joelle Y. Jean, RN, FNP-BC” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/e_grayscale/v1624389609/NurseJournal.org/Headshots/T029AV3QX-U023CN6J725-f8be079e4258-512.jpg” img-alt=”Joelle Y. Jean, RN, FNP-BC” layout=”horizontal” background=”none” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Joelle Jean has been a nurse for more than 10 years and family nurse practitioner for over three years. She has a background in pediatric emergency room, labor and delivery, and primary care medicine. Her passion for the nursing profession and writing led her to her current role as a senior writer for NurseJournal.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]