$150,000 for a nurse executive

[-jt]

VA Nurses... what do you think about this?

VA Seeks Improved Pay for Nurse Executives

as well as physicians and dentists

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi recently proposed to Congress changes in the pay system for healthcare professionals that will help the department recruit and retain high-quality nurse executives, physicians and_dentists.

"VA is facing a critical situation," said Principi._"The complex and outdated pay system, combined with an increasing workload, have made it difficult for VA to attract and keep sufficient numbers of the best healthcare professionals."

The proposed legislation would authorize VA to approve special pay to the nurse executive at each VA medical center and at VA Central Office.

Nurse shortages, challenging healthcare environments and growing administrative demands have placed a premium on highly skilled nurse executives at all levels._The current pay structure puts VA at a competitive disadvantage when recruiting and fails to provide adequate incentive for VA nurses to seek leadership positions and increased responsibility.

For nurse executives, whose yearly salaries are now capped at $125,000, the new pay system would add $10,000 to $25,000 annually.

"With the veteran population aging, and increasing numbers of veterans enrolling in the VA health care system, it is critical for VA to offer more competitive compensation for its physicians, dentists and nurse executives," said Principi.

Physicians and Dentists

The VA compensation structure for physicians and dentists is a complicated system consisting of as many as eight different factors._The pay system for physicians has not changed since 1991._This system lacks the flexibility to adjust to the changing competitive market for many medical specialties and subspecialties.

In shortage specialties, such as anesthesiology, cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology, orthopedic surgery, radiology and urology, VA's total compensation lags behind the private and academic sectors by 35 percent or more, according to studies.

"We are proposing a three-tiered system -- base pay, market pay and performance-based pay," Principi said. "VA will be able to offer all physicians and dentists market-sensitive pay based on achieving specific performance goals."

The first tier would be a base pay range that would apply to all doctors and dentists in VA's health system, regardless of grade._Placement in this range would depend on a person's qualifications.

The second tier, market pay, will be determined according to geographic area, specialty, assignment, personal qualifications and experience.

Indexed to the salaries of similarly qualified non-Department physicians, the flexibility of this tier would allow VA to keep pace with market trends.

The third pay element is linked to performance and would be based on specific achievements in quality, productivity and support of Department goals.

Under the proposal, a VA radiologist with 10 years experience, who can make about $190,000 annually, could receive pay hikes ranging from an additional $32,000 - $82,000.

http://www.AdvanceForNurses.com

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[ainz]

No wonder the federal government spends so much on healthcare and we are in a "crisis."

[-jt]

"VA will be able to offer all physicians and dentists market-sensitive pay.....">

funny. when we told our assemblyman that RNs were leaving hospital jobs because those jobs were not competitve with what was being offered in the private sector, he said that nurses had to realize that hospitals are not funded by the private sector - its public funds - so hospital nurses cant expect to be paid according to private market. Looks like the doctors and dentists can, though.

[redshiloh]

Ok that just blew me away...

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by -jt

For nurse executives, whose yearly salaries are now capped at $125,000, the new pay system would add $10,000 to $25,000 annually.

Holy s---!

[Gomer]

I'm a little confused. Are you saying $150K is too much or not enough for a CNO?

In L.A. area it would be not enough, but is a less expensive area it might be too much. Also, when talking about the VA you should remember that their benefits and retirement plans are more than great which makes up for the wages.

[-jt]

For the responsibilities they have, its not enough. Besides that, if you keep down the salaries of the nurse executives, you HAVE TO keep down the staff RNs salaries to maintain a difference between the 2. Im sure the other executives are earning way over the amount being paid to nurse executives. And the doctors and dentists on staff will be paid up to $100,000 more than the nurse executive. I find it ironic that, although they arent increasing nurse executive salaries enough, they are recognizing the need for increases in order to attract & retain the best but still resist applying that same philosphy to the staff nurse.

"Nurse shortages, challenging healthcare environments and growing administrative demands have placed a premium on highly skilled nurse executives at all levels. The current pay structure puts VA at a competitive disadvantage when recruiting and fails to provide adequate incentive..... "With the veteran population aging, and increasing numbers of veterans enrolling in the VA health care system, it is critical for VA to offer more competitive compensation for its physicians, dentists and nurse executives,"

Same should apply to staff nurses.