I started a few months ago at a much larger, well known hospital in NJ. I'm an ER tech. I took the job for a few reasons... They pay more then my previous job, they have tuition reimbursement... and I'm told having this establishment on my resume just looks good, and their goal is to hired their employees once they finish school.
This hospital is non union...
the past couple months I have learned just how different the pay is between people of the same title and even "lesser" titles.... I dont know a better way to put it...
I'm an ER tech, including the duties of a CNA, I draw blood, do EKG's, and hook up telemetry pt's. in this hospital the RN's are not allowed to do EKG's
So it's come to my attention that the new hire ER techs were being hired at 14.75/hr. The techs that have been here are make around 18/hr. Because I had experience they offered me 16.50/hr
The CNA's make the same I do as a tech....and security makes 17.50/hr
In most companies you start out at a lower rate and hopefully advance over the years. You were fortunate they were willing to pay you more than the starting rate as it is non-union, they can do whatever they want! It is expected that more experienced staff who have been at the place longer would make more money. If everyone is paid the same what is the incentive for employees to remain at one employer? But I will tell you in general the healthcare industry is not known for generous wages and compensation and usually there is quite a bit of wage compression. However, as a new employee you might possibly be given a higher raise than the experienced staff as this is the latest corporate practice to cut costs and further compress wages.
As far as not being happy with wages for your job relative to others such as security, again any job that is traditionally female, unless unionized, tends to have a lower wage than a comparable male job. You will find that some unionized city janitors and garbage collectors make more than nurses RN's for example. Most plumbers, electrictions and masons make a lot more than nurses for example. Again without a union, you have absolutely no say on wages or most working conditions. Magnet status and shared governance would like to convince you otherwise but the bottom line will always be money!
Scary to think an ED RN can't be trusted or taught how to place EKG leads properly, but they are supposed to interpret that rhythm. And treat it. And monitor it on a screen....
Something is clearly wrong there.
How can that look good on anyone's resume??
What a wonky behind policy. Wonky means horses, and ya'all know what behind means.
I was surprised when they told me that as well. I was told the reasoning behind it was "the tech have specific training to perform ekg's and their placement" Idk if it has to do with placement. Pt positioning, or being able to identify artifact( muscle, placement, lead reversal)Or maybe it was one bad egg that ruined it for the rest
I just dont feel that it is fair that the new hire ER techs get paid so much less then the current ER techs. I also don't feel it is fair that CNA's and security make more then the new hires as well.
So you were thinking that they would decrease your pay, when you stayed longer.And depending on the type of security, and the difficulty of the work, they may deserve more. I work in an inner city hospital. The city (not including the 'burbs) has a homicide rate of between 200-350 per year, with the most of them in our part of the city. The facility covers several large city blocks, and has a large clientele coming from out of town/out of state/out of country. The crime rate on the grounds and adjoining grounds is kept extremely low for the past ten years or so, through improved security. You bet that I want security paid well.
In our hospital (especially ER) Security ALL have degrees....and they all carry guns
IN fact, they aren't really called security either but police.
We have metal detectors and buckets for belongings like an airplane that go through x ray machines just to get into the ER, and these people risk their lives everyday for us.
OF course we are inner city in a violent city.....but I'm sure that with their degrees and all, they make waaay more than an ER tech (and should).
I've never once cared to ask anyone how much they make.
I only care that they are by my side when I call for them:)
Well, a large prestigious medical center probably has their finger on the pulse of the local economy and knows the market.
The opposite is true in my city- the large prestigious university hospitals pay well below market value, attracting medical staff on their name alone :-/
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I started a few months ago at a much larger, well known hospital in NJ. I'm an ER tech. I took the job for a few reasons... They pay more then my previous job, they have tuition reimbursement... and I'm told having this establishment on my resume just looks good, and their goal is to hired their employees once they finish school.
This hospital is non union...
the past couple months I have learned just how different the pay is between people of the same title and even "lesser" titles.... I don't know a better way to put it...
I'm an ER tech, including the duties of a CNA, I draw blood, do EKGs, and hook up telemetry pt's. in this hospital the RN's are not allowed to do EKGs
So it's come to my attention that the new hire ER techs were being hired at 14.75/hr. The techs that have been here are make around 18/hr. Because I had experience they offered me 16.50/hr
The CNA's make the same I do as a tech....and security makes 17.50/hr
This just doesn't seem right to me.....
I don't mean to be obtund but....you expect to be paid more that those already employed by the hospital with seniority? So........ You wouldn't mind that once you have seniority that you have earned by hard work and good job performance that they would bring in a "newbie" at what they pay you that you would have to train and orient? and that would be OK with you....right? Pay is not just experience based but loyalty based on years with a facility and what has been based on merit (you did state it is non union).
I am still curious.......Do you have certifications have you earned like the "Certified Nurses Aid" that was acquired by schooling and testing? You may have CNA duties as well as your own but even as nurses our job description and duties cross over to other job descriptions....we are a TEAM. Are you certified in phlebotomy? It is common for non licensed employees to given on the job skills that are very marketable and desirable but that doesn't devalue any other co-worker and their responsibility and skill set.
Hooking a patient up to a monitor is an admirable skill and knowing how to use a 12 lead ekg machine is as well......but very different that interpreting the results. I am sure the nurses know HOW to perform a 12 lead and I am also sure it has been decided that the licensed personnel are better used elsewhere doing tasks that cannot be fulfilled by non-licensed personnel.....who have the time and who's responsibility it is to ensure proper lead placement.....which is crucial to the 12 lead itself. Therefore, it has been decided by the medical/clinical staff the this is the policy of this facility. That you were told by your preceptor that the nurses aren't "allowed" to do EKGs does not elevate you or anyone else to be better valued that the person next to you.
I have always found that the best departments to work in are those that work as a collaborative whole......each member a valued member as the next. If there was a human chain over a volcano and the person in front of you was the one who dumped the trash, or was the CNA, or security and they let go.....whether or not you are "better" that them...you will still burn.
Personally.....I think security in the ED aren't paid enough. They are frequently place in highly volatile situation with a high risk of violence to restrain these people which places them at risk for litigation. Some security personnel have special training in security services and go to school and certifications that entitle them to a higher rate of pay. Frankly, I am in favour of paying the people who save my butt whatever they want for I am highly opposed to physical assault.:yelclap:
I am curious....what is your decision tree for discerning who is of lesser value and therefore have the "LESSER" titles. How did you go about deciding which "Title" is "better"?..........Titles are a funny thing as they don't truly convey your value. I think that maybe you need to re-evaluate your thoughts about this and learn how to value all member of the team. If you are concerned about how you are treated by your co-workers...maybe you are projecting a less that desirable demeanor that is provoking them into self preservation. You will attract more bees with honey that lemons. If you expect to be treated with respect then you need to show respect.
I hope this has helped to see a different point of view. If I was your manager I would make it very clear that the pay of other employees is not your concern and regardless of pay or "title" each and EVERY member in the department are valued as professionals and friends. That for you to grow professionally and personally you need to work out how to become an equal member of the team.
I saw on your posts your dog was hit by car....I hope your baby is oK.:hug:
Ditto Esme :) And our security are actual police officers recognized as so by the city our hospital is in, so yeah, they should be making more than a tech. And as for the 12 lead...wow...we do them on 1kg kids without a problem...the tech won't touch our kids lol
A top medical cneter where the ER nurses "aren't allowed to perform ekgs" . SCARY. believe me op almost every nurse out there knows how to do this, maybe not read ANY rythym but how to hook them up considering most machines have a picture somewhere on there......
(you did state it is non union).
brandy1017, ASN, RN
2,910 Posts
In most companies you start out at a lower rate and hopefully advance over the years. You were fortunate they were willing to pay you more than the starting rate as it is non-union, they can do whatever they want! It is expected that more experienced staff who have been at the place longer would make more money. If everyone is paid the same what is the incentive for employees to remain at one employer? But I will tell you in general the healthcare industry is not known for generous wages and compensation and usually there is quite a bit of wage compression. However, as a new employee you might possibly be given a higher raise than the experienced staff as this is the latest corporate practice to cut costs and further compress wages.
As far as not being happy with wages for your job relative to others such as security, again any job that is traditionally female, unless unionized, tends to have a lower wage than a comparable male job. You will find that some unionized city janitors and garbage collectors make more than nurses RN's for example. Most plumbers, electrictions and masons make a lot more than nurses for example. Again without a union, you have absolutely no say on wages or most working conditions. Magnet status and shared governance would like to convince you otherwise but the bottom line will always be money!