ED Pay vs Med/Surg Pay

[trumley]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if where you work, do the nurses that work in the ED get paid more than nurses that work on Med/Surg floors?

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Really? I am regular staff in NV (Las Vegas) working for two different hospital systems and haven't heard of or noticed this to be the case. Maybe I'm wrong?

Here are the systems I've worked for, or am working at now, as perm staff in Las Vegas. Valley Health, HCA, St. Roses. All of these pay med surg/tele a lower base pay than critical care. This was for perm, full or part time. So these are the only ones I can attest to.

Of course most of the hospitals out here are unionized so a med/surg nurse with a certain number of years experience could definitely make more than someone who is just starting out in critical care. But if you look at the union handbooks, critical care nurses will make more than med surg/tele nurses with the same step level. Valley is not union. But they class their RNs by steps also. An RN I (med surg) gets less than an RN II (IMC, progressive care), who gets less than an RN III (critical care). This is with all other things being equal like number of years with hospital, etc.

I'm not sure if there is a difference for per diem positions. If you work for a unionized hospital system, just ask your union rep for a copy of the pay grade/step system. If working for a nonunionized you can ask the HR department.

[HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Not only is it not a thing in the midwest, but it's not a thing in any of the hospitals in which I worked in Washington State, nor is it a thing in any of the hospitals I've drawn paychecks from on the east coast. (Ex-husband was in the military.) I've had countless HR departments tell me they DON'T do that.

Not trying to start a fight. Just stating what I've observed. I have had a different experience than you most likely because we have not worked the same hospital systems. I have never worked on the east coast. All of my experience is based on the West or West Coast. I apologize for the generalized statement about the midwest, I was going on what has been related to me by colleagues who have moved to the midwest. To clarify, here are the hospital systems I've worked in that provided a differential for critical care.

Washington - Peacehealth

Oregon - Peacehealth

CA - Sutter, Sharp

NV - Valley Health, HCA, Dignity (formerly St. Rose Dominican)

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Every job I've had in California pay was the same for all departments. I've worked in 3 ICUs and 2 ERs.

Dignity, Hoag and St Joseph health system paid floor and ICU the same in Southern California.

ive also worked for the UC system and kaiser.

Always the same pay for all floors.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Here are the systems I've worked for, or am working at now, as perm staff in Las Vegas. Valley Health, HCA, St. Roses. All of these pay med surg/tele a lower base pay than critical care. This was for perm, full or part time. So these are the only ones I can attest to.

Of course most of the hospitals out here are unionized so a med/surg nurse with a certain number of years experience could definitely make more than someone who is just starting out in critical care. But if you look at the union handbooks, critical care nurses will make more than med surg/tele nurses with the same step level. Valley is not union. But they class their RNs by steps also. An RN I (med surg) gets less than an RN II (IMC, progressive care), who gets less than an RN III (critical care). This is with all other things being equal like number of years with hospital, etc.

I'm not sure if there is a difference for per diem positions. If you work for a unionized hospital system, just ask your union rep for a copy of the pay grade/step system. If working for a nonunionized you can ask the HR department.

Thats where I'm confused....every Union I've worked for steps were based on experience alone. Not department. Clin 1 is a new grad, Clin 2 is some experience depending on their rules and Clin 3 and 4 you have to apply and obtain through committees, extra projects and involvement in staff education, etc. The only exception was my one non Union job that just tried to pay everyone as little as possible.

Im assuming different health systems, but even dignity health was like that in Southern California. And from what I'm told by others Northern California as well.... Must be your systems in your specific regions.

[foggnm]

When I worked in the VA, there was 'critical care pay' which applied to ICU and ED. No other facility I've worked at has had that feature. Nor did I think it was fair even though I was one of the people that received it.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

My hospital is union so base pay is based on job class (Nurse I, Nurse II, etc.) and years of experience. This goes across all specialties both inpatient and outpatient. The medical clinics have a separate system.

So if I had the exact same job class and years of experience in psych as an ED nurse has in ED, we'd both be getting the same base pay.

Now if I were to transfer from psych to the ED, my years of ED experience would then be used for determining pay since I would now be an ED nurse...since I don't have any ED experience, I'd be taking a pay cut. It would be the same for the ED nurse who didn't have psych experience and who decided to transfer into psych--their pay would drop too.

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

At both facilities I work base pay is the same for all specialties and determined by years of service, but there is a critical care differential for ICU and ER.

[JerseyTomatoMDCrab, BSN]

I've worked on a med/surg/tele floor and compared to the ED it was way lighter work. I sometimes feel like I'm doing the work of 2 people.

I'm curious as to where this M/S unit is located, I've never heard med-surg nursing described as lighter work.

[Dallas_RN, BSN, EMT-P]

ED and ICU get a "critical care" shift diff, I think it's $3/hr

[guest769224]

If you work for a unionized hospital system, just ask your union rep for a copy of the pay grade/step system. If working for a nonunionized you can ask the HR department.

My mistake, I looked and you are correct. I feel lucky to work critical care for both positions. Thanks haha

[cocoa_puff]

Med Surg and ED nurses make the same.

On-call, certifications, and experience are what increases the pay.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I'm curious as to where this M/S unit is located, I've never heard med-surg nursing described as lighter work.

^^This!!!

I want to understand....

I'm a med-surg nurse!