Scroll down to read letter to editor about low wages & UPMC

Nurses General Nursing

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Non profit, that term is SO decieving, we in healthcare seem to think that because we work for a non profit they will be different than the for profits, different title , same tacics. They probably want to replace the nurses they have now with nurses who are greatful to them for the grant money and will behave with much gratitude toward them, good little nursies who would never question motive.MHO.

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The one I am posting about in particular is "think of workers", but "This is health money" and "UPMC's extracash" are very pertinent.

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MOST hospitals, for and no profit, have monies that they give as charitable contributions. Most for profits actually have money set aside in a special fund for this and many no profit have special "foundations" that they use to give this money away. Usually the hospital is forced to do it as a political move. They get money/items donated to them, tax breaks, etc. in return for "giving back to the community". It is very much political. Just like our politicians give up their beliefs on one issue to get another person to back them up on something else, the players in healthcare do the same thing. Healthcare is all about money and if giving money will get money and support somewhere, that's what will happen.

I do find that the sum that UPMC is giving away is extreme. I would like to see an accounting of where the money came from and what UPMC is getting for their contribution. I am interestested to know what the working conditions are like as well as the true quality of the care they give.

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MOST hospitals, for and no profit, have monies that they give as charitable contributions. Most for profits actually have money set aside in a special fund for this and many no profit have special "foundations" that they use to give this money away. Usually the hospital is forced to do it as a political move. They get money/items donated to them, tax breaks, etc. in return for "giving back to the community". It is very much political. Just like our politicians give up their beliefs on one issue to get another person to back them up on something else, the players in healthcare do the same thing. Healthcare is all about money and if giving money will get money and support somewhere, that's what will happen.

I do find that the sum that UPMC is giving away is extreme. I would like to see an accounting of where the money came from and what UPMC is getting for their contribution. I am interestested to know what the working conditions are like as well as the true quality of the care they give.

I will have to warn you I am about to get very political. Our very young mayor, who I personally happen to like, was instrumental in setting up this fund into which non profits were supposed to voluntarily contribute. Trouble is no one was doing it. Post-gazette did a article few days before this huge contribution was made insinuating he was become a laughing stock because this fund was going over like lead balloon. Shortly after that article appeared, UPMC road in on it's white horse and made a huge contrabution to the voluntary fund. Save his political reputation it did. Perhaps like you say it is all about politics. You know our mayor is only 27 years old. The chance of him running for Governor or Senator or some other influental position sometime in the next half century is about 100%.;)

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He's only 27? He's barely old enough to wipe his own behind! Sorry, I might be "age-ist" but I really wonder where a 27 year old has gotten enough life experience and wisdom to be a mayor. A college education does not make up for lack of life experience and/or a brain. Boy, it really does sound political to me. Maybe you need to find out what kind of ties this kid has to someone at the hospital.

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I am a UPMC employee & work at one of the LTC facilities. I'm an LPN & make 15.45/hr. A friend is an RN (with 5 yrs experience) who works the floor & as supervisor & his base pay is 21/hr. That's UPMC. Unfortunately they own most of Pittsburgh, so we have limited options.

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He's only 27? He's barely old enough to wipe his own behind! Sorry, I might be "age-ist" but I really wonder where a 27 year old has gotten enough life experience and wisdom to be a mayor. A college education does not make up for lack of life experience and/or a brain. Boy, it really does sound political to me. Maybe you need to find out what kind of ties this kid has to someone at the hospital.

Oh there is an interesting story behind the young mayor. Our city counsel is very contentious and always involved in infighting. Luke Ravenstahl went in to politics right out of college and had been just recently been elected to counsel at very young age. When the president of city counsel position came open he had been there such a short time that he had no enemies. So everyone decided "lets just avoid fighting about who should be president of city counsel and give it to the kid". Shortly there after the mayor died unexpectedly. Just so happens we have no leutenant mayor. The city charter says that when mayor dies the city counsel president becomes mayor. So there you have it. At age 25 Luke Ravenstahl becomes mayor of Pittsburgh. He has since been reelected. :balloons:

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I am a UPMC employee & work at one of the LTC facilities. I'm an LPN & make 15.45/hr. A friend is an RN (with 5 yrs experience) who works the floor & as supervisor & his base pay is 21/hr. That's UPMC. Unfortunately they own most of Pittsburgh, so we have limited options.

Those are pretty low wages. I knew UPMC paid poorly but didn't know it was that bad.

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WOW..I'm kinda happy with my pay now. UPMC does offer a bit more as far as benes and continuing ed.

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