ICU pay differential?

[Mr. Murse]

So I'm moving to our surgical ICU next month and have found out that I'm getting no pay increase for intensive care. I'm not the only one, the last couple of people I know to have transferred down there haven't gotten anything extra.

Is this happening anywhere else or is my hospital just ripping us off? I guess the rationale is that floor nurses are just as valuable in patient care......in which case we should be making the same as doctors too. I'm happy about moving but this has put a real damper on my anticipation.

[scottaprn]

No where I have ever worked has paid more for ICU. May be different other places but not anywhere around me.

[Fiona59]

I've never heard of ICU nurses making more than other nurses in the hospital setting. We all belong to the same union and it would never fly.

[guest769224]

Why would ICU nurses deserve to make more? An RN is an RN.

Critical care differentials are quite uncommon.

You are paid more in the knowledge you'll gain.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

So I'm moving to our surgical ICU next month and have found out that I'm getting no pay increase for intensive care.

I guess the rationale is that floor nurses are just as valuable in patient care......in which case we should be making the same as doctors too. I'm happy about moving but this has put a real damper on my anticipation.

Why would you consider ICU nurses to be more valuable than floor nurses?

I have worked both acute care and critical care and I find critical care to

be less headache inducing and less wear and tear than floor nursing.

You will also find that ICU positions tend to be easier to fill and high in demand, thus no need to pay more. In addition, often ICU requires longer orientation, making it more costly to hire for it.

As far as MDs, you are comparing apples and oranges. The work flow is different so no adequate comparison. In addition, most MDs are not employed directly by the hospital, therefore, the pay rate is not set by the hospital.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

No specialty differentials in my area. Yes, there are some specialties that make more than others, but it is due to call requirements where overtime comes into play- with the trade off of more time at work and less time at home.

No, your hospital is not ripping you off.

[MOSTLYHAPPYRN]

ICU nurses do get paid more where I work. I think there's the whole hierarchy thing happening here though, and I don't agree with it.

But it is expected and known that you get more in ICU in both hospitals I have worked at.

It is like a hospitalist vs. a specialized doctor, like a surgeon. Med surg nurse vs ICU- age old comparison/ competition/whatever you want to call it.

Everyone is needed for their role and everyone is important!! And we all need raises

[SionainnRN]

I have never heard of ICU nurses making more than floor nurses. And where would that leave ER nurses? A couple extra bucks when they have an ICU pt? Pay goes by years as a RN in every hospital I've worked at, union and non-union.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Hospitals in my area do not pay ICU nurses more or offer them higher differential than those who work the floor or other units.

And in a few cases, nurses in 'less desirable' areas (med/surg, acute renal, etc) are offered a little more money to slow down the rate of attrition. Simply put, employee turnover rates are high on med/surg floors, so the extra money is an enticement to get people to stick around.

[Caffeine_IV]

ICU nurses do not get paid extra in any of the 3 hospitals I've worked to my knowledge.

I think floor nurse ARE just as valuable in patient care.

You are expanding your knowledge base and making yourself more marketable so I wouldn't be upset about it.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Why should ICU nurses be paid more ? In my area all nurses are paid the same unless you are float pool.

[amoLucia]

Maybe a union might have effected some type of differential?

To Grammar Police - should it be affected?