differential or bonus pay for picc team nurses?

Rexie68 · Jul 14, 2009

We take turns doing PICCs, as part of the IV team.....or vascular access nurses, our new name. PICC nurses don't get paid any more than the other nurses on the IV team, since we're all sharing duties. I may do PICCs on one day then take a regular IV assignment the next day. We're all competent so it works for us. The only ones who don't get assigned to PICCs are the LPNs. It works for us and we enjoy switching between the PICC assignment and the regular ones.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2009

You are going to have to find a way to recruit new nurses another way as it would be rare to find a picc team paying RNs more for this skill...as then all specialties would then demand the same......what you can do is recruit your own help AND market yourself within your facility...I have done both for years now.....First, you will need the business...so make sure you know the benefits of your team..and market your skills to the MDs and nurses..identify those patients that will benefit from a PICC early in their hospitalization..... check out BARDs early advantage program to assist with ideas in this area..then you can find nurses that enjoy venipuncture and then ask them if they would like to expand their skills...it is essential that you pick the right RN candidate to train...you need to do both of these things to keep the team going...check with INS they have a packet on promoting IV teams

hisdudeness · Jul 14, 2009

I think,that if icu, ed & other specialty nurses get special pay why wouldn't a handful (5) of nurses that CAN insert piccs get some specialty pay??? I mean out of 300-400 nurses that work here only 2 can do it... that's less than 1% seems pretty special.

iluvivt, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2009

I see your point....but can every area can be considered special...med-surg and oncology are specialities too....I do have to say that some hospitals do pay extra if you are certified in thre speciality area in which you are working...I know the university hospital pays 100 $ extra per month...yeah not much..I know....ask your nurse amnagers and HR if you can increase the pay and see what they say????

Rexie68 · Jul 15, 2009

Our hospital has done away with paying nurses extra because of where they work. All nurses work hard....regardless of the unit. What they do pay extra for is education/certification and experience. As a vascular access nurse, I may the same rate as someone in the ER/ICU/Med-Surg, etc. =)

hisdudeness · Jul 16, 2009

My point exactly, this is not just daily duties we are talking about... once again only 2 out of around 300-400 nurses in our hospital can do this. That to me sounds certified, and of course we are both certified to do this. My 1st ? was... We are starting this Vascular Access team and we need incentive for nurses to join, I love it, but I am a radiology nurse and have many other duties, so starting a picc gets put on the back burner until I can get to it. If you offered $$$ then we could build this team and then our problem would be solved.

Rexie68 · Jul 16, 2009

Well, good luck. I hope you're able to convince administration to pay more....if you are...let me know how you do it! I work in a 500 bed hospital and there are 18 of us who put in PICCS, but we don't get paid more. Hopefully the excitement of learning something new and being part of an elite team will be an incentive for nurses to join you. =)