PCT duties for US salary?

[PD82]

I am a pre nursing student who started working on a postpartum unit as a US/PCT (both positions). They mainly needed a US to answer call lights and telephone, but also pick up tech duties as needed. That position quickly turned into 90% tech; the nurses are spoiled with me and the evening US/PCT because we do everything starting from morning vitals on up to 17 patients-and charting them, beds, showers, foleys, wound/peri care, set up rooms, take out patients, etc. When we are lucky we can sit and answer the phones/call lights. Sometimes nurses even make comments that we don't answer the phone enough, but its because I was off making their patients bed. They are very spoiled!

Anyway, after talking with techs from other floors, it occurred to us (me and the evening tech) that we are very underpaid. For example, techs on med/surg make 17-19 an hour, and we are making 13-14 and have the same amount of experience. That triggered me to look into our job descriptions, and there I discovered that we are labeled "unit secretary" and that is our pay grade.

NO mention of tech duties or US/PCT whatsoever. My badge says PCT. But my paycheck says secretary.

How/who do I approach about this? I'm assuming HR but also my manager or director? I just don't want to go above anyone's head, but at the same time its not fair that for the last 6 months we have been paid incorrectly.

What can we do??

Thanks for listening!!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Your job duties must match your job description. You are correct - talk to your manager first. If the situation is not addressed to your satisfaction, take your issue to HR.

Some keys to success:

* Begin the dialogue with a presumption of "good intentions"... assume that there may have been a mistake or mis-communication, not that someone is deliberately trying to take advantage of you.

* DO NOT try to represent anyone but yourself... don't refer to anyone else's situation/salary, etc. Just yours. If the other people want their situation's fixed, they need to take care of it

* Be factual and objective - "my job description does not match the work I am actually doing" "my name badge does not match my job description" Be prepared with an outline of your normal work tasks/assignments

* If there is a legitimate way for you to obtain salary information for PCT - as opposed to being informed by your co-workers, which is probably against policy -- refer to it. Otherwise, just stay quiet on that issue & focus on the job description mismatch. There is a salary range attached to each job description... if you get your's fixed, the salary will follow.

Good luck.

[PD82]

Good tips! I was unsure about mentioning discussions of salary among techs. Thank you