Comparing Wages in the OR setting

Specialties Operating Room

Published

I work in a small town ambulatory surgery center.There are only five of us nurses. 4 Rn's and 1 LPN. The patients who come in only receive conscious sedation. We have no general anesthesia.

My questions might be a little bold to be asking. I was wondering what kind of wages are being paid to be an OR nurse.

I am now getting 17.89 an hour. I am fairly new in this field. I graduated with a ADN in 1999. I was just curious and was wondering what was out there in terms of wages.

dmclung

Good for you, Esther.

I know--what do these admin types and surgeons think, that a second crew will just materialize out of nowhere on a weekend? especially when they are getting paid NOTHINg, virtually?

Not only that, but don't they realize people have LIVES on weekends? Apparently not.

They don't seem to realize that people may want to take kids to soccer or baseball games and ACTUALLY WATCH THEM.

They don't seem to realize that some people want to barbecue, have drinks, and socilaize with friends.

They don't seem to realize that most nurses don't have nannies and cleaning ladies like they do, that child care is expensive, and that the weekend is the only time to catch up with children and housework.

Nowadays, most people don't even bother to answer their phones; they just let their machines pick up. Or else, if they are unfortunate enough to pick up the phone, they tell whoever is calling that they have just had 3 or 4 drinks and wouldn't feel safe driving in, let alone delivering patient care.

That way, they don't have to deal with the standard guilt trip laid on them by management on Monday morning:

"How would YOU feel if that was YOUR family member that they couldn't find a second crew for?"

Oh, please!!! These managers need to get up the ba**s to say firmly to these surgeons:

"The weekend call crew is to be called for emergencies ONLY. My staff has my support and my permission to refuse to do any case which obviously could wait to be scheduled as an elective case, when the schedule permits."

This practice of allowing only the surgeon to determine what constitutes an emergency needs to stop. We are intelligent professionals, and we are only too aware of how "emergent" these cases truly are.

Specializes in Surgery.

Well, yesterday we (director, clinical coordinator, 5 area specialists) had a talk with the head of the OR. We told him all about how we are unhappy with the measly call pay ($1.50/hr), too much time spent at work and not enough pay. Two of our nurses have signed on w/an agency and have given their 2 week notice. He was (or at least seemed) interested in our suggestions:

1. Call pay should be 1/2 of our salary per hour

2. Do not take away any call pay just because we have been called in

3. Hire a weekend crew so we don't have to be on call on weekends

4. Pay us time and a half when we do come out regardless if we have worked 40 hours that week or not

Well, it all sounded good and of course he seemed to hear us and acted as if he were going to do something about it. But I won't be holding my breath. As a matter of fact I have been checking with some agencies for local work.

Oh, well he did say he was trying to get the call pay increased sooner than January but it will be only $3/hr.

They just don't understand. I am sure he is happy getting a nice fat paycheck every two weeks - so he doesn't see any problems.

UNIONIZE!!! Form your own union, if need be.

Did you ask him what HE makes for being "O.R. supervisor on the weekends" while you are the ones actually in there WORKING?

Is call mandatory if you go per diem? If it isn't, and you won't lose needed benefits, you might consider going per diem.

Then, when they are forced to raise the call pay to a more reasonable figure, due to lack of staff to take call, you can always volunteer to take call--but only if it suits you.

Or, take a travel position or go registry. You can even do it at your own hospital, assuming they use travelers and registry.

You can still elect to take call if you want to ---but you can negotiate what you are willing to work for, and it will be on your terms.

And, if you do it as a travel assignment, you get a tax-free housing allowance.

When they start running out of staff RNs to take call because you are all defecting, they'll wise up.

What is keeping you at this particular facility, Esther?

Originally posted by heartholder

[ >we have voted down the last contract offer. because of mandatory overtime and lack of staff.>

Heartholder,

What kind of union do you have? It is important to recognize that a union is only as strong as it's members. Nurses need to unite and advocate for themselves in order to advocate for their patients. Nurses are great at taking care of everyone else; I don't know very many who actively advocate for themselves though.

What kind of language was included in the proposal that it didn't protect the safety of the pt. and the needs of the nurse? Safe staffing and Mandatory over time are hot issues right now and definitely bargaining chips in negotiating a contract. Being mandated to stay beyond a shift will continue to happen; language to spell out precisely who (via a rotation) and how long(max. # of hours o.t.), is essential.

Hang in there, it's gotta get better !

Pj

Pj the union at our hosptial is getting better, but the last offer by managment doesn't address mandatory overtime or staffing. and today......at least 3 RNs were mandatoried to work over. I know I was one of them and I am an occasionial nurse. I really wasn't mandatoried but I stayed for the patient. to management we are people with a life. we are bodies there to do a job... and there are times that I need a second person in the room. today I did a thyroid. and the surgeon sent out 11 frozen sections!!! it was a busy day. and I am so tired. but I still love what I do. but the management says because of the union we can't have a career ladder or any type of incentive to better ourselves. as a matter of fact, in the last contract they took away the bonus to be certifide, ie: CNOR, ACLS. I am kind of wandering. sorry.

Heartholder,

Is your union a State Nurse Union or some other one? What are your reps doing about working conditions? Boy,do I hear your frustrations; our challenge as perioperative caregivers is to advocate for ourselves and our patients. Don't settle for less. Don't let management interpret/ explain your contract Don't let management tell you what you can and can't have in it. That is what you have a union rep. for. Not to mention the paid rep. from the organization repsenting the union in your facility.

File a grievance every time you are mandated. Each time you are mandated tell the charge person that you will stay for 2 hours; beyond that time will put any patient at risk. If every staff nurse/tech unites and supports each other by doing this, the facility will have no choice but to provide a safer working environment.

Good luck,

Pj

we are SEIU service employees international union. and we are trying but that is a good suggestion. if everyone would only stay for 2 hours. they even manditory people on their days off. can you believe that!!! we just voted down the last offer made by the hospital yesterday. so I wonder if they will offer another one. last contract we gave notice of intent to strike. but at the last minute the union voted the contract. at the insistance of the union. our biggest complaint is fair wages and fair treatment of all employees. they are giving the nurses more than the techs. and of course another big issue is the overtime. I have went to management before when I felt I wasn't safe ( I had been at work for 21 hours straight) and told them that if they didn't get me relief. that I would document it. they found me relief.

Western Kentucky 2yr OR nurse 16.17hr (prior job 18yrs as Surg.Tech) call 1 weekend every 5 weeks 48hr call, 2.25 on call pay, time and half if called back, 2 days call during week every other week. Looking forward to traveling soon! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I am interviewing in NH (North Conway) for an OR position and am curious to know what the pay rate is there. I currently work in RI as an RN in the Electrophysiology Lab. I have 5 yrs. experience as an RN w/4 in coronary critical care. I have a BSN. Would I be realistic in asking for the same rate of pay I am now bringing in, if not more? The cost of living in the Northeast is very high and this is a resort area in New Hampshire.

PS I make a little more than 23.00/hr.

In the Alamo City, alot of the hospitals pay 17.00 to start...Where I'm at I started at $24.50, after taking ACLS I was given a raise of $1.00 . The MD's own the hospital.... Alot of other people in the OR, anesth...haven't gotten a raise, or cost of living increase for over 7 years. They also gave a bonus of $2,500. which was split into 3rds. 1st paycheck, $1000. 90 days, $750. then after being there 6 months the last $750. Make sure though you get it in writing on time distribution...because later the Nurse Recruiter, showed her fangs, and changed her story in front of her boss on how she informed myself and 2 other nurses on when we would get our bonus money, it was a big fiasko!

We only have RN's in our OR. There roles are: scrub, circulating and floating (cover in PACU) if required.

Our salary starts: $21.75 - 32.71 (Canadian)

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