Tia*Rae

I work in an exceptional VHA hospital in the midwest....have for 24 years and I can tell you our nursing management will put up with very little BS from Docs, whether it be questionable patient care or bad behavior towards the nursing staff. I have seen and known of countless times when a situation was reported and direct action taken immediately by our DON with the Medical Director standing right beside her. About 8 months ago our Director actually got an ortho surgeon suspened for 1 month for horrible behavior towards one of the surgery nurses. Our Surgery Director feels we have a unique hospital in that if he goes out on the limb for us the higher ups won't cut the limb off while he's out there. Sometimes you can find Management who keep their integrity just fine but they won't stay with an organization that lacks a backbone. We also have very little turnover and virtually no nursing shortage. Our patients feel this positive energy. I think, if I ever work in another healthcare environment, I'd not last 1 month in place that didn't take good care of our concerns. But they are out there. I feel bad for anyone, patients, physicians and staff going to the kind of place you decribe. Do not for one minute let this affect your own sense of what is right or wrong. And what you describe is just wrong......period. And doesn't always happen.

Thanks Katro, your imput is helping me put together some ideas for my Director who is trying to get us in the proper category. He has asked that we revise our job descriptions to reflect all we do and the skills required. We have revised positions for GIAI and GIAII which should also help our cause. The system just hasn't been kept up to speed. Your imput should help our facility (god willing) bring our payscale up a notch or two. I'm also happy to have imput from someone like you who has a management slant on things and many years of endo experience. If you think of anything else that might help our situation feel free to fill me in. Thanks again.

Yes, thanks this does help. I know my boss will ask this......is this pay for RN, LPN or unlicensed personel? I am a CNA but the other two are not yet certified, but will certify in endoscopy as soon as SGNA has the program up and running for associates. We all function in the same capacity though.

Hello all, I am curreently working in a VHA hospital in the endoscopy area as a tech/associate actually assisting the Doc with all aspects of procedures...ie colonoscopy, EGD, ERCP, bronchs, pegs in addition to all cleaning and sterilization of all scopes. My hospital is trying to figure out how much to pay us....there are three techs able to assist. I am a CNA with 6 years of endo experience and would appreciate any ideas as to how other facilities catagorize staff like me as far as pay scales. I'm hard pressed to find much online regarding GI associates and wages. Thanks much, Tia