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
You switched to this hospital because the pay was better? correct? I don't see what the problem is.
I honestly don't see the problem either. I worked as a tech in a trauma ICU while I was in nursing school. It never occurred to me to even wonder what a security officer would make, but had I found out it was a dollar more an hour than I, I would actually have been stunned that they didn't out earn me by even more than that, especially if s/he was a security officer in an ED.
I'm still confused about the security guard thing. You said you feel that greater responsibility=greater pay. Sure, but wouldn't you agree that keeping staff and visitors safe from the crazy people in this world a pretty huge responsibility? What we do involves a large amount of responsibility as well, but these are two completely different, and as has been mentioned before, non-comparable careers. Personally I would have LOVED to get payed what you are getting payed when I was a tech, but I live in a totally different area where we got a measly $10.50-12/hour starting pay.
i know everyone is hung up on the why should you be paid more than a security guard issue, but why do you think you should get paid more than the cnas on the floor?
im a pca (equivelant to a cna without the certification) on a med surg floor. i do vitals, blood sugars, pull foleys, EKGS!! and telemetry, draw blood, I&O, as well as all the basic care stuff (feeding, turning, transferring, hygiene).
what do you do that is more than i do that you deserve more pay? just wondering.. maybe cnas have less responsibility at your hospital, in that case fine.. but where i work er techs do pretty much the same thing i do, except they are in the ER and not on the floor.
btw i get paid 11.06/hr, same starting wage as the er techs with the same amount of experience.
I don't think security is a lesser skill then a tech AT ALL! I would rather have a security officer in a room with me when I have a combative patient or an angry family member then a tech! A security officer may save my life by tackling a 300lb crazy man where a tech may save me a few minutes by doing my EKG for me.
Don't get me wrong I think techs are invaluable and do a lot but I don't think it's a highly skilled job. I think you make great money for what you do! Hell $14.75 was my RN starting pay 10 years ago!
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Don't forget that security also frequently has to provide their own equipment. Where I work, the security guards have to provide their own guns, pepper spray, uniforms (even though ordered through the hospital, they have to pay for them), and bulletproof vests (one security guard I talk to said his costs $600- and it only lasts about 3 years!).
I don't get why you're comparing your salary to someone who is in a completely different category of work. You don't do security's duties, and they don't do your ER tech duties. How can you compare the salaries? Also, why are people talking about their salaries? That's a surefire way to get people upset and make for an unpleasant work environment.
Maybe the "security" there may actually be contracted through another company, may actually be police officers, or have been there longer. However, those are 2 different jobs and pay can't be compared.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I guess I just thought with more responsibility comes more pay, maybe thats naive. But I do understand the points you have made, regardless of weather you have understood mine.
I didn't mean to come off as if I'm better then anyone else, I in no way feel that way.
As far as the whole EKG is concerned,(you all seem so offended) I was just stating a fact of how it is in this facility. But according to you all it was just my manager pretty much tapping the little tech on the head telling me to be a good little tech. yeah thats it right?
I have an easier time believing your manager did something along that line than I do believing the RN staff lack the competency to place a 12 lead. Really? It's been 10 years since I had to place 12 leads, and I still remember the process.
You're not getting the point people are trying to make with you re: the security issue. Who are you to decide that you have more responsibility than security does. Do you know what their responsibilities are? Have you thoroughly read their job description? If the answers to these questions are "No," then you pretty much have no room to gripe. Even if you answered "Yes" to both questions, you still have no room to gripe, since you probably didn't have someone holding a gun to your head making you accept this position. How new staff find out what other people make, I'm sure I'll never understand. It's absolutely unseemly to me to be preoccupied with what other people earn.
Either be thankful you have a job that's paying you a decent wage as a new employee, or go look for that greener pasture elsewhere. I'm sure someone else would be more than happy to do your job.
Working night shift as an RN I am so thankful for security and their ability and willingness to deal with unruly and/ or threatening patients and family members. I think they earn every single penny and probably deserve more. As for the skills debate, it's just silly CYA hospital policy, a "fewer hands in the pot" type thing. I'm an RN on a med surg unit who is unable to check CBGs, do EKGs, or pull foleys (although I can insert them, duh!). But, This is a-ok with me cause I'm plenty busy so this is one silly policy I hope doesn't get changed any time soon.
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Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
I honestly don't see the problem either. I worked as a tech in a trauma ICU while I was in nursing school. It never occurred to me to even wonder what a security officer would make, but had I found out it was a dollar more an hour than I, I would actually have been stunned that they didn't out earn me by even more than that, especially if s/he was a security officer in an ED.