Administrator's Salaries

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Dec 17, 2001

RNEd, I won't speak for anyone else, but yes, it makes me mad! They don't leave their family's behind to come in on holidays, do they? They have every holiday off, AND That kind of pay and bonuses. I work short so some manager can bring home a bonus on the sweat of my labor b/c they didn't use OT.

And so what if other companies are making millions? CEO's at many other companies also have employees who don't have to work holidays or take the risks we do in our everyday practice. Just b/c they make huge salaries, doesn't make it right. Should pharmaceutical companies make zillions when people who are too poor to afford meds go without treatment?

I hope they buy themselves a nice bed with all that money, it's a wonder they can sleep at night!

Teshiee · Dec 17, 2001

You have to consider. You live in NY, cost of living is very expensive just like California. I am not about to sacrifice my salary for what? We work damn hard we are the back bone of this health industry, no nurses! no hospital. Like that old saying the less you do the more you make in this country, go figure. They do absolutely nothing for my taste. If nurses could just market themselves and demand the pay registries do I bet their salaries wouldn't be that high! I know for a fact if I worked 2 fulltime jobs as a nurse I would make a 100k easy. I rather just have my own damn business.

nightingale, RN · Dec 17, 2001

We are in a field that directly impacts our fellow man. No, I do not believe that nurses are the people who are to sacrfice; Nor do I believe that the majority of ealth should go in the CEO / Administrators pockets!

Shame on the upper managements shoulders who allow this to happen (the disproportionete wealth).

What of the insurance companies? Where does their wealth come into play.

I do not profess to know the answers but only have more questions. It sickens me when I read of this type of greed!

grouchy · Dec 17, 2001

This is so upsetting. I've wanted to respond several times, but it's hard to even articulate everything I want to say. I do want to address several of RNed's points. First of all, just because the growing gap between compensation for management and labor exists in other U.S. industries does not make it right. Second, many programmers, and others in the software industry are spectacularly well-paid, and share in the profitability of the business via bonuses and stock options. Everyone is getting a big slice of the pie, rather than management stealing the worker's slice and leaving them with crumbs. Finally, be aware that huge gaps between compensation for workers and management are not the norm in other countries. Over the past decade, there has been a huge redistribution of wealth in the U.S. so that, on average, CEO pay is 90 times that of the average worker. In Japan, there are fewer layers of management, and CEOs make about 10-15x average worker compensation. These figures are not specific to healthcare. Maybe I'll continue in another post when I calm down.

grouchy · Dec 17, 2001

You know, I also have to say that St. Catherine's is obviously a Catholic hospital, and thus, presumably, non-profit. Furthermore, management compensation has to be approved by the Board of Directors, and I'm assuming that the Sisters who run the hospital have at least one seat on the board. The Catholic church prides itself on championing social justice-let's see them walk the talk in their own hospitals. P.S.-I also work for a Catholic hospital, in Connecticut, a high-wage state. While I have to commend them for relatively good RN salaries and providing care for the indigent, I'm upset that they are paying over $500,000 to their CEO to run a medium-size hospital. There was a story in the New York Times business section last year regarding hospital CEO compensation. I'll try to find it online and post a link here for you guys. Apparently, our CEO is making the same as or more than the CEOs of much larger institutions in New York City, an even more expensive area.

wildtime88 · Dec 17, 2001

Yes, this is appalling. Nurses have to suffer with low pay in relationship to our duties and responsibilities a long with poor benefits, high nurse to patient ratios, lack of support staff, working without breaks and lunches, and other poor working conditions. Almost all of these things boil down to expenditures/money.

One of the main reasons for this attitude and reality on the hospital administration's part is the view that nurses are easily replaced. The nurse is seen as easily replaced part of the framework by not just them but also by the some of our own professional organizations. In other words, Need new nurses, then just make it easier to train new ones to replace the one's who get fed up and leave. There is no reason to have to deal with nurses and their problems if you can find a way to replace them.

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12422

Jay Levan · Dec 17, 2001

Well Well, this thread is a cause for celebration, because it makes it abundently clear that the Knowledge of one of the Negative influences, that are holding us down is becoming well known by many. What is also abundantly clear that some of us, (RNED) are either married to or have friends that are Hospital Administrators and will Inject these discussions with their friends?Spouses? Aquaintences, viewpoint. Thereby causing some concern on some of our parts(Not mine:( ) that "We" are being Greedy:confused: All I would like to see happen is that I or any other Nurse would not have to work "Overtime" to bring Home a living wage in todays society, and be Comfortable in Retirement. We are considered as "Money Vacuums" by most administrators because according to their philosophy, expressed to me personally by keeping us where we belong, it frees up much needed funds that go directly in their Pockets. Question "Where is that Sucking sound Originating." I believe if you really take the time to listen you can find it behind a door with a nameplate usually says CEO, or HA or Senior VP etc, etc. It certainly doesn't say Staff Nurse, nor should it. I just wish we could keep the message simple, as discussed above, I don't wish to break the Bank, just to be able to withdraw some funds that are there in order to be able to feed my family, not make it Rich :cool: PS. I am aware that this post could be construed to making assumtions where RNed is concerned, but their position as I view it Supports CEO's position on these matters and questions Nurses motivation as to bettering their ability to make a Living Wage in Today's Society This is a tactic that is as old as Negotiating Contracts is, and is designed to Divide and Conquer by Hospital Admin.

-jt · Dec 18, 2001

The hospital claims it can't afford the improvements the nurses need to attract and RETAIN nurses for staff nurse positions....

Take a close look at the figures and where the hospital's money is going. Look at the yearly raises and pensions the administration gave themselves! And these are the people telling the nurses they "can't afford" to improve workplace conditions or increased salaries or benefits for the nurses>>>>>>

>President - Total Salary - $1,312,330.oo.....

>Sr. VP - Total Salary - $437,810.00.....

>Part-time CFO - Total Salary - $264,816.00...

>Per Diem Administrator - Total Salary - $341,735.00.....

Those figures were from 1999 - the latest ones available. They were increased by at least $100,000 from the year before so who knows what these guys are being paid now by the mid-sized, suburban, non-profit hospital that "cant afford" safe conditions and improvements for the nurses.

The Smithtown News on Long Island got one look at this information from NYSNA and exploded. They are now investigating the hospitals public financial reports, writing a story on it & contacted the hospital for an explanation. The hospital told them they shouldnt be writing that story! The editor said "Are you kidding! This is the best part of the story. Damn right, we're writing it!!!"

Keep an eye on the Smithtown News. It should be an eye-opener.

Administrator's explanations as to why they need higher salaries & benefits is:

"to ATTRACT the best and KEEP them here"

Kind of makes our case for us, doesnt it?

grouchy · Dec 18, 2001

JT- I found the article I mentioned in my earlier post, but can't link to it. Access is restricted, unless you pay. However, it is so relevent, that I think it would be worth it for the striking nurses to obtain it for free via a local library, or for that reporter to obtain it. It only costs $2.50 to obtain it online but you have to set up an account.

Title: "Big Pay at Not-So-Big Hospitals"

Source: New York Times, Business Section, April 1 2001

Author: Jennifer Steinhauer

Abstract: "At a time when hospital executives in cities around the country are crying poverty, it can gently be said that compensation figures are not declining..." "Executive pay at hospitals, especially at not-for-profit institutions where stock options are not available continues to rise despite a cost-cutting trend in the industry"

As I stated before, you'll find that your CEO's pay exceeds that of CEOs managing larger institutions in Manhatten. You can find the abstract at http://www.nytimes.com. You have to register, but access is free. Go to advanced search, to search articles for the past year.

PhantomRN · Dec 18, 2001

watch out for this recent management tactic......

at my hospital last month we had 4 nurses quit. at the same time upper management were saying we were not making enough money and had to think of ways to save money. well anyway the staff meeting rolled around and the manager decided to try a new tactic.

she told staff that these four nurses were quitting and asked for their suggestions as to what to do about it.

so what does the staff get led by her into saying.................

that no we don't need to hire new nurses to replace the ones that quit. we all will just do more ot!!!

that is called attrition (sp) in every other hospital.

oh, we all know where the extra money is going that the floor is not using to hire more staff............right into their pockets. starting with our own nurse manager.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Dec 18, 2001

Re Administrators salary:

The Health care system that I'm employed by had CEO leave ~1 1/2 yrs ago after HIS salary was over a million dollars. An administrative center was built under his watch about 2 years ago.....only to be anounced this month sold and services being transfered to a hospital who's inpatient unit + ER is closing.

I keep in mind that building occurs because of Tax monies and grants provided....but not always to community's benefit.

RNed · Dec 19, 2001

There are many points that could be made. I choose to say, we will not gain more by continuing to get angry at every executive who makes more and appears to have an easier life. This fight is around every corner. We waste energy on something not winnable rather than making gains for nursing or gains in our personal life.

If and I doubt it, but if there is a reduction of executive salaries, I do not believe those savings will pass on to nurses.

This is the best we have to offer, a verbal tongue lashing to any healthcare executive that makes what we consider an enormous amount of money on the backs of its workers. A message heard since the first union rally demanding better pay and better working conditions. Yes, I could have jumped on this wagon, but didn't, my mistake.

Do I support these inflated salaries and benefits, no. There is a widening gap between labor and management across the board. Do I support that gap, again no. Nor, do I believe narrowing the gap in the healthcare industry alone will resolve nurses' poor compensation, when we should focus more on narrowing the gap as a whole. In the absence of that, I support increasing nursing compensation.

We are measured by those above us and they by those above them. Obviously, they have sold a better (perceived better) product to their buyer than we have to ours. Should we be angry at them? How dare they achieve what we desire? Well, I say shame on us. We fail to send a new message because we are to busy sending the same old message. I do not suggest I have the answers, I do suggest the same old ones do not work. We need new leaders and new ideas.

On a personal note. When I see those who have success, I applaud that success. They achieved it, we did not. And in all likely-hood it was achieved by others' hard work and maybe, just maybe, some achieved it by their own hard work, if that is possible.

Being rich in this society is a stigma, because those not rich believe those that are, got it without hard work and of course, always on the back of labor. How many times have we identified someone as rich and have our friends if not hear ourselves say they don't deserve it.

Maybe we should support a Federal Healthcare Compensation Act reviewing all salaries of all workers within the healthcare system? Again, out with the old thinking and in with some new.

There were assumptions made about me. A fair assumption, I can not fault the reasoning behind it, or the ones who assumed it. I said something others do not believe or wish not to believe. And it was fair to assume, I support executive salaries do to those statements. However, I do not support inflated salaries and benefits for people not getter their work done, executive or nurse, inside or outside the union.

I restate, I doubt any reduction in executive salaries will be passing to nurses, which was my original point.