Season 2 • Episode 71

Emory University: How to Negotiate Your Best Nursing Compensation Package (With Ama Mathewos, Dr. Catarina Fernandes and Dr. Kim Dupree Jones)

Jan 6, 2026

1:11:54

Episode Description

How do you ask for more money in a profession that’s built on selflessness? In this episode of the Emory University series on nurse empowerment and advocacy, host Ama Mathewos sits down with Emory professors Dr. Catarina Fernandes (Goizueta Business School) and Dr. Kim Dupree Jones (School of Nursing) to unpack the art and science of negotiating your best nursing compensation.

Together, they break down why negotiation isn’t selfish, how systemic factors (gender, hierarchy, race) shape nurses’ pay, and why nurses are often socialized to underestimate their own value. From understanding the difference between “fixed pie” vs. “integrative” negotiations to getting clear on your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement), this episode gives nurses language, frameworks, and confidence to advocate for themselves.

Listeners will learn how to:

Think beyond base salary and negotiate the whole compensation package (schedule flexibility, education support, childcare, role titles, and more)
Use data, peer networks, and job interviews to understand their true market value
Reframe negotiation as a way to improve patient care and strengthen organizations—not just “ask for more”

Whether you’re a bedside nurse, advanced practice nurse, faculty member, or leader, this conversation will help you own your worth, get paid closer to what you deserve, and push the profession toward fairer, more sustainable compensation.

>>How to Negotiate Your Best Nursing Compensation Package

Jump Ahead to Listen:

[00:02:31] Hierarchy dynamics in healthcare.
[00:04:43] Strategies for negotiating nursing compensation.
[00:09:39] Understanding integrative vs. distributive negotiations.
[00:11:34] How negotiation shows up in nursing roles.
[00:15:05] Challenges tied to nurse reimbursement models.
[00:19:05] Gender-based pay disparities in nursing.
[00:24:35] Systemic barriers affecting nurse negotiators.
[00:27:26] Gender influences on negotiation behaviors.
[00:30:35] Advocating for and articulating nursing value.
[00:35:07] Charge nurse duties and workplace pressures.
[00:39:16] Preparing effectively for negotiations.
[00:40:43] Considering non-financial elements in negotiation.
[00:44:34] Approaches to negotiating salary.
[00:49:02] Market-based factors that shape negotiation power.
[00:51:08] Tactics for strengthening your salary negotiation.
[00:55:05] Additional methods for optimizing salary outcomes.
[00:58:39] Exploring compensation options beyond base pay.
[01:01:50] Using accurate data to inform negotiations.
[01:06:54] Viewing negotiation as a collaborative, constructive process.
[01:09:21] Taking action to secure better compensation.