Anyone work at Banner??

PhoenixGirl · Oct 31, 2005

All I know is hearsay. I hear new grad pay in phx is $19-21. I know for lpns they start at 11.50 for externs and 13.50 for licensed. Lu Ann will probably know more, she's secured a job there!

I have a friend that works there as a tech and she said the differential for not taking benefits is 15%. I'm unsure about night or weekend differentials.

rn in 3 years · Nov 2, 2005

Doesn't anyone out there in the PHX area work for Banner? I am curious about the OP question too. Anybody? Please, pretty please.

Hoozdo, ADN · Nov 3, 2005

Wondering if any of you are nurses at a Banner Health hospital? Wondering what they start new grads at? Also....I was told that if you agree to work every weekend they pay you an additional $7 an hour. Can that be right? Any info on how their pay scales work would be great (eg. per diem, w/e, night pay, etc). If you have the inside scoop I would really appreciate it. I am just a student right now but am curious. Thanks!:)

I am working at Banner Good Sam as an LPN extern and will work as a new grad starting this December - or January if I want the holidays off, LOL. Also, I have done LOTS of clinicals at Banner Thunderbird.

THey can hire you full time as an Extern 2 when you are ready to take Nclex - that pays 16.00 an hour. They will pay $300 for an NCLEX review course - SUPRISE - both Kaplan review and Hurst review cost more than that :angryfire

OK, once you pass the NCLEX the new grad pay is 20.88 an hour. Night shift differential is 15%. There is no weekend differential - which most hospitals have. The new grad pay is in line with what other valley hospitals are paying - except I think Mayo starting pay is in the 22 an hr range.

At Good Sam, there are different kind of pay programs. For example, there is a Baylor pay program in which you work 2 weekend days and they pay you for 3 days. The disadvantage is that you don't get benefits. Many nurses love that shift so there isn't much forced weekend work.

The health insurance isn't a great bargain unless you are young and healthy and can go with some cheapo options. I was kind of disappointed with that since tonight I compared the health benefits with my husband's (who works at Honeywell) and it isn't that much cheaper at Banner for the comparable benefits we have now.

All in all, I like Good Sam. We have good teamwork and good management on the unit I am on. There are no backstabbing or gossipy nurses. So far no eating their young nurses. I have talked to another new grad on day shift that hates the same unit though - totally different experience than I have on night shift.

Only one more week to finals :coollook:

Lu Ann

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2005

Good to know guys, thanks so much!

LuAnn........best of luck to you!!!! :)

mattsmom64 · Nov 3, 2005

I am working at Banner Good Sam as an LPN extern and will work as a new grad starting this December - or January if I want the holidays off, LOL. Also, I have done LOTS of clinicals at Banner Thunderbird.
THey can hire you full time as an Extern 2 when you are ready to take Nclex - that pays 16.00 an hour. They will pay $300 for an NCLEX review course - SUPRISE - both Kaplan review and Hurst review cost more than that :angryfire
OK, once you pass the NCLEX the new grad pay is 20.88 an hour. Night shift differential is 15%. There is no weekend differential - which most hospitals have. The new grad pay is in line with what other valley hospitals are paying - except I think Mayo starting pay is in the 22 an hr range.
At Good Sam, there are different kind of pay programs. For example, there is a Baylor pay program in which you work 2 weekend days and they pay you for 3 days. The disadvantage is that you don't get benefits. Many nurses love that shift so there isn't much forced weekend work.
The health insurance isn't a great bargain unless you are young and healthy and can go with some cheapo options. I was kind of disappointed with that since tonight I compared the health benefits with my husband's (who works at Honeywell) and it isn't that much cheaper at Banner for the comparable benefits we have now.
All in all, I like Good Sam. We have good teamwork and good management on the unit I am on. There are no backstabbing or gossipy nurses. So far no eating their young nurses. I have talked to another new grad on day shift that hates the same unit though - totally different experience than I have on night shift.
Only one more week to finals
Lu Ann

Lu Ann,

Thanks so much for all of the info! Good luck on your finals!

Congratulations! You're almost there!

:balloons: :yelclap: :cheers: :flowersfo

PhoenixGirl · Nov 3, 2005

Thank you Lu Ann! And as soon as you start working there as a new grad (you should take the holidays off, you deserve it ) we wanna hear all the details.

It sounds like a good place to work. Like I mentioned before, I have a friend who works as a tech in neuro, and she came from LTC and says it is so much better. I'd rather take a little less in pay too, as a new grad, and have a more positive work environment. Maybe that will change when I'm more experienced and can work on my own, but as a new grad I'd rather take less pay and not get eaten alive!

rn in 3 years · Nov 3, 2005

Thanks Lu Ann. Can I ask one more question from you? Did you do the thing where Banner pays for your school in exchange for a 3 year commitment? I was wondering if you did this do they offer you they same starting pay as someone they just hired w/out having done that?

boomerfriend · Nov 3, 2005

I asked that question at the Banner Fellowship info meeting and they assured me that starting pay for fellows and outside hires would be the same.

I, too, appreciate the info from this thread. Perhaps we should all pass the word about this message board at the hospital we work at. I'd love to tap into the knowledge of some of the seasoned nurses there.

rn in 3 years · Nov 4, 2005

I asked that question at the Banner Fellowship info meeting and they assured me that starting pay for fellows and outside hires would be the same.
I, too, appreciate the info from this thread. Perhaps we should all pass the word about this message board at the hospital we work at. I'd love to tap into the knowledge of some of the seasoned nurses there.

Hi Boomerfriend! Thanks for responding. Since you were at the meeting maybe you could answer this. Do they stick you at what ever hospital they need you at, even if there are hospitals closer to where you live or can you pick which hospital? Also, are they going to stick you in just any department or can you choose what specialty you would like to work in? It just scares me to think I would be at their mercy for 3 years, KWIM?

boomerfriend · Nov 5, 2005

Hi Boomerfriend! Thanks for responding. Since you were at the meeting maybe you could answer this. Do they stick you at what ever hospital they need you at, even if there are hospitals closer to where you live or can you pick which hospital? Also, are they going to stick you in just any department or can you choose what specialty you would like to work in? It just scares me to think I would be at their mercy for 3 years, KWIM?

I got the definite impression that they would work with you. Although, she also put in the caveat they'd put you where they need you most. She gave the example of a nurse wanting L&D at a specific location. She said they could accomodate the location but can't guarantee the specialty. I'd recommend that if you have a specific specialty you want to work in and are not willing to work anywhere else, Banner's program is not for you. Although, if you are wanting a wide range of experience and are willing to work anywhere, the program may be for you. She did say she tries to place people at the hospital they desire. Hope this helps!

Hoozdo, ADN · Nov 5, 2005

Thanks Lu Ann. Can I ask one more question from you? Did you do the thing where Banner pays for your school in exchange for a 3 year commitment? I was wondering if you did this do they offer you they same starting pay as someone they just hired w/out having done that?

No, I didn't do the pay for school thing. Sorry, can't help you there.

On another note, I had my first code last night on the unit. I couldn't believe all the people in one hospital room after calling a code. About 7 doctors, about 10 nurses....wowzer. The patient ended up OK after a Narcan bolus :)