Exeter Hospital--starting pay?

dweezil · Jan 30, 2006

Hi,

This is an easy question to answer as Exeter Hospital doesn't hire LPN's. They have one LPN, who is super, who's been there about 25 years and is kind of "grandfathered" in.

They staff Exeter via their "New Grad" program and with whatever travelers they can find. Advertisements mailed out to the locals advertise their need for RN's in every single department.

Exeter also owns it's own rehab facility across the street. They have a new LPN program there and use these LPN's to staff the facility. You might try there.

irishnurse67 · Jan 31, 2006

Hi,
This is an easy question to answer as Exeter Hospital doesn't hire LPN's. They have one LPN, who is super, who's been there about 25 years and is kind of "grandfathered" in.
They staff Exeter via their "New Grad" program and with whatever travelers they can find. Advertisements mailed out to the locals advertise their need for RN's in every single department.
Exeter also owns it's own rehab facility across the street. They have a new LPN program there and use these LPN's to staff the facility. You might try there.

Thanks, but I was wondering what they pay RNs to start. I've been an RN for 2 yrs and an LPN for four years before that. Four years in LTC and 2 years in acute care. I just hear that NH pays horrible compared to MA, but then again the hospital in Exeter seems great!

dweezil · Feb 1, 2006

Hi,

Sorry - I didn't understand that you were an RN. The new grads said that they were started at about $19 so I'm guessing that you'd probably get about $20 to start. Don't know what shift you're looking for but unlike some places where you have to start on nights, they usually always have openings on days too.

They run 2 med-surg units. One is a 20 bed med-surg/tele unit with a focus on orthopedics and oncology. On days, there's a Clinical Resource Leader (charge nurse), 4 nurses and 3 LNA's. With 6 private rooms (hello MRSA) - 4 plumbed for dialysis and a "Palliative Care Room", the place is high turnover and high stress. All of the hip/knee replacements go there, you've got dialysis pt's, pt's receiving chemo, etc. Nights are a nightmare.

The other med-surg unit is 22 beds and usually gets the pneumonias, hysts, turps, etc.

Schedules are done six weeks out and you're required to sign up for at least 12 hours of "on call" time in addition to your regular time. Although you only have to work every 3rd weekend, the "on call" slots are usually always on the weekends - and you always get called in, so you end up working lots of weekends. Also, if the census drops, you get cut and put "on call" at home - and they pay you $2.00 an hr. - to be at home, at their beck and call and ready to be there within 20-30 minutes. It sucks.

Physically, the hospital is really expanding with many new additions. Morale sucks though as nurses wonder how the hospital can float $44 million dollars in bonds for a new addition - but say that there's no money for raises.

Realistically though - it's better than a couple of other hospitals I've worked at and most travelers consider it gravy compared to some of the nightmares they've been sent to. Good luck.

irishnurse67 · Feb 1, 2006

Hi,
Sorry - I didn't understand that you were an RN. The new grads said that they were started at about $19 so I'm guessing that you'd probably get about $20 to start. Don't know what shift you're looking for but unlike some places where you have to start on nights, they usually always have openings on days too.
They run 2 med-surg units. One is a 20 bed med-surg/tele unit with a focus on orthopedics and oncology. On days, there's a Clinical Resource Leader (charge nurse), 4 nurses and 3 LNA's. With 6 private rooms (hello MRSA) - 4 plumbed for dialysis and a "Palliative Care Room", the place is high turnover and high stress. All of the hip/knee replacements go there, you've got dialysis pt's, pt's receiving chemo, etc. Nights are a nightmare.
The other med-surg unit is 22 beds and usually gets the pneumonias, hysts, turps, etc.
Schedules are done six weeks out and you're required to sign up for at least 12 hours of "on call" time in addition to your regular time. Although you only have to work every 3rd weekend, the "on call" slots are usually always on the weekends - and you always get called in, so you end up working lots of weekends. Also, if the census drops, you get cut and put "on call" at home - and they pay you $2.00 an hr. - to be at home, at their beck and call and ready to be there within 20-30 minutes. It sucks.
Physically, the hospital is really expanding with many new additions. Morale sucks though as nurses wonder how the hospital can float $44 million dollars in bonds for a new addition - but say that there's no money for raises.
Realistically though - it's better than a couple of other hospitals I've worked at and most travelers consider it gravy compared to some of the nightmares they've been sent to. Good luck.

Thanks so much for all your help! I can't believe that they can get away w/calling nurses off when the census drops and then paying you $2 an hour to wait to get called in! Where I work, they can't call you off unless you want to. Also can't believe the 12 hr on call deal. And 5 pts w/one of them being a knee or a chemo makes my hair stand on end just thinking about it! Also, can't see taking a $6 cut in pay. Had no idea Exeter was like that. Thanks so much for all the info. You've been great!

Needsmorechocolate · Feb 24, 2006

Hello Irishnurse67:

I started at Exeter Hospital as a new grad in Sept. 05 and the base rate was $19.50. The diffs are $1.00 for 7p - midnight and $4.50 for midnight to 7a. I am not sure what they would start you at as an experienced nurse. I hope this helps. If I can answer any more questions, you can send me a pm.

TCM-MAMA

elite · Jan 27, 2008

Just to give you a bit of positive feed back on Exeter! Exeter doesn't solely staff with new grads and travelers. Yes, there are quite a few new grads (as there are in most hospitals because of the great number of retiring RNs), and there are a few travelers (not as many as in some hospitals) - but there are also, many RNs (and other staff) who have worked at Exeter for many years. The RN:patient ratio is pretty comparable, if not, a little better, with the other Seacoast hospitals. As for the pay diff., it could be better. It goes by % of base pay; evening/noc diff. is 20% (max $4.50/hr), w/e diff. is 7% (max $1.25/hr). There is mandatory on call time to pick up but it depends on how many hr/pp you work. Also, there is standby for low census that is only $2.50/hr but you can use your earned time to make it up-that does suck. Lately, low census is so infrequent that the RNs and LNAs welcome the call at 530am to stay home until needed-and if you want to come in there is always someone else that will take the standby! If you have worked at any of the Mass. east coast hospitals you would probably find that little Exeter Hospital is quite nice to work at.

In my many years of nursing I have only worked in the Seacoast area(Ports.Reg.Hosp. :madface: , Went.Doug.Hosp. :up: )Exeter Hospital has been the best hospital I have worked at. Of course, Exeter has it's problems (what hospital doesn't??)but not at the magnitude of other hospitals.

The Seacoast area hospitals don't pay as well as Mass. but considering travel time and gas??

Hope this helps.

irishnurse67 · Jan 27, 2008

Just to give you a bit of positive feed back on Exeter! Exeter doesn't solely staff with new grads and travelers. Yes, there are quite a few new grads (as there are in most hospitals because of the great number of retiring RNs), and there are a few travelers (not as many as in some hospitals) - but there are also, many RNs (and other staff) who have worked at Exeter for many years. The RN:patient ratio is pretty comparable, if not, a little better, with the other Seacoast hospitals. As for the pay diff., it could be better. It goes by % of base pay; evening/noc diff. is 20% (max $4.50/hr), w/e diff. is 7% (max $1.25/hr). There is mandatory on call time to pick up but it depends on how many hr/pp you work. Also, there is standby for low census that is only $2.50/hr but you can use your earned time to make it up-that does suck. Lately, low census is so infrequent that the RNs and LNAs welcome the call at 530am to stay home until needed-and if you want to come in there is always someone else that will take the standby! If you have worked at any of the Mass. east coast hospitals you would probably find that little Exeter Hospital is quite nice to work at.
In my many years of nursing I have only worked in the Seacoast area(Ports.Reg.Hosp. , Went.Doug.Hosp.)Exeter Hospital has been the best hospital I have worked at. Of course, Exeter has it's problems (what hospital doesn't??)but not at the magnitude of other hospitals.
The Seacoast area hospitals don't pay as well as Mass. but considering travel time and gas??
Hope this helps.

How much mandatory on-call time do you have to pick up if you work full-time? Also, what does the hospital do if nobody wants to take the stand-by? I know where I work, if you're not per diem and you're not on overtime, they can't cancel you unless you want to be cancelled. If you do choose to be cancelled, they have to cancel you for the whole shift, they can't just cancel you and then call you a few hrs later to come in. How does all that work at Exeter?

elite · Jan 28, 2008

If you work 80hrs/pp you don't have to pick up on call time. 72hrs/pp it is about 3 4hr blocks in the 6 week schedule, 68hrs/pp 4 4hr blocks, etc. As far as low census on call is concerned, it rotates through all of the staff. You can either be put on call or called off, depending on how low census is, that decision is made by the CRN (inpatient supervisor). If you are called off then you don't have to wait around to be called in-you are free. If you are put on call, then called in any time after your shift started you get paid time and 1/2. Trust me, by the time it is your turn for it, you want it!! The other plus of Exeter is the fact that the managers and scheduler really try to make your schedule work for you.