UPMC vs West Penn?? New Grad needs HELP

kbm318 · May 5, 2010

I can't really respond because I'm still in school but I know St. Margaret and Shadyside are both magnet status as well if you are looking for that.

LostButMakinGoodTime · May 5, 2010

I'd be surprised if West Penn was even hiring....WPAHS is talking about closing their Bellevue-Suburban campus, and West Penn is none too healthy itself.

simmaron · May 9, 2010

:twocents:

I have only worked at UPMC so I can't talk for West Penn. UPMC does have a significant monopoly in healthcare in Western PA, so it would be hard NOT to find a job somehow involved with UPMC. I do see a pretty decent and variety of different RN job openings, how competetive the position is with multiple applicants, I am not sure, but at least their are postings. West Penn seems to be downsizing, and I have heard of nurses losing their jobs in some areas, so it seems, at least on the outside, that it may be a risky venture to get hired by them right now.

The compensation at UPMC, however, is not great. It is in line with the area, but after your initial 1st year, where they do adjust for your years experience, the yearly "raise" is almost comical. The most you can receive is a 2.25% merit raise a year (per UPMC, they do not give a cost of living increase). When I started as a GN a few years ago, the starting salary was $21-22 an hour. And shift differentials, are laughable. A measly $1 an hour :eek: for nights and weekends is what everyone gets. At least at my hospital, there has been a big effort to reduce and almost eliminate OT, so don't count on that to boost your salary.

Benefits are decent though. The health/dental plans are ok and affordable, (and they should be if your WORKING for the company). They did, however, decrease the match to your 401K plan contributions from 6% last year to only up to 4% this year. This in addition to witholding our annual "raise" for 6 months due to "economy issues."

I know UPMC Shadyside just received their magnet status, and I know all the other UPMC hospitals are trying to achieve that as well. I personally, have not heard from those who worked at a magnet hospital that it makes a difference, but it can't hurt I guess. If you find your niche/specialty area you enjoy, then you should be happy.

My only recommendation when applying is to e-mail or call the nurse manager of the unit you are applying to at least mention that you are applying and to throw your name out there. I have heard from some managers that they do not even get the resumes of half the online applicants, so you have to go an extra step further if you really want to be noticed and given an interview.

Regardless, good luck in your search!

aura_of_laura · May 12, 2010

My husband is a nurse at UPMC Mercy, and has worked there since getting his license. He's been pretty happy with it... They have a good new grad orientation program, and there are a lot of opportunities for job growth (like being on the practice council, etc). The big UPMC hospitals get all of the "exciting" patients around here, so it can be a great learning experience as a nurse!

I agree with Simmarron about the pay and benefits - adequate, but not great.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · May 13, 2010

I have only worked at UPMC so I can't talk for West Penn. UPMC does have a significant monopoly in healthcare in Western PA, so it would be hard NOT to find a job somehow involved with UPMC. I do see a pretty decent and variety of different RN job openings, how competetive the position is with multiple applicants, I am not sure, but at least their are postings. West Penn seems to be downsizing, and I have heard of nurses losing their jobs in some areas, so it seems, at least on the outside, that it may be a risky venture to get hired by them right now.
The compensation at UPMC, however, is not great. It is in line with the area, but after your initial 1st year, where they do adjust for your years experience, the yearly "raise" is almost comical. The most you can receive is a 2.25% merit raise a year (per UPMC, they do not give a cost of living increase). When I started as a GN a few years ago, the starting salary was $21-22 an hour. And shift differentials, are laughable. A measly $1 an hour for nights and weekends is what everyone gets. At least at my hospital, there has been a big effort to reduce and almost eliminate OT, so don't count on that to boost your salary.
Benefits are decent though. The health/dental plans are ok and affordable, (and they should be if your WORKING for the company). They did, however, decrease the match to your 401K plan contributions from 6% last year to only up to 4% this year. This in addition to witholding our annual "raise" for 6 months due to "economy issues."
I know UPMC Shadyside just received their magnet status, and I know all the other UPMC hospitals are trying to achieve that as well. I personally, have not heard from those who worked at a magnet hospital that it makes a difference, but it can't hurt I guess. If you find your niche/specialty area you enjoy, then you should be happy.
My only recommendation when applying is to e-mail or call the nurse manager of the unit you are applying to at least mention that you are applying and to throw your name out there. I have heard from some managers that they do not even get the resumes of half the online applicants, so you have to go an extra step further if you really want to be noticed and given an interview.
Regardless, good luck in your search!

Good info....I've heard this before (go directly to manager) However I just contacted the recruiter for the position at the hospital I'm interested in to ask if I could email her directly w/cover letter and I was told no, I had to go through the website, they don't accept applications any other way.

What then? How do I even find out who is in charge? It's not exactly a floor position so I don't even know how that hierarchy works! I really would love just an interview to prove my interest. I fit their base qualifications, I just don't like to think I'll be lost in the sea of applications. Right now I can't even attach a cover letter w/my resume with the website's glitch, I told the recruiter that and she said don't worry about it, many send w/o cover letter!! I really don't want to do that...I emailed the website trouble shooting svc but who knows if I'll even hear anything. Thanks for any insight.

boobear61 · May 23, 2010

oh wow... was potentially looking at opportunities at upmc and west penn and relocating from CT... I found a M-F day job that I would LOVE after working 4 yrs of day/ eve. rotating with every third weekend.... Sounds like there are major differences in compensation/ benefits... i would probably start at what I made as a new grad in CT 4 yrs ago!!

aura_of_laura · May 23, 2010

oh wow... was potentially looking at opportunities at upmc and west penn and relocating from CT... I found a M-F day job that I would LOVE after working 4 yrs of day/ eve. rotating with every third weekend.... Sounds like there are major differences in compensation/ benefits... i would probably start at what I made as a new grad in CT 4 yrs ago!!

Cost of living here is so much lower than the New England area! Plus, Pittsburgh is just plain fun

bobwalkfan · May 24, 2010

I had worked for several years at 3 different UPMC Hospitals. (Passavant, Presby and Shadyside) I think Shadyside was the best one. Unfortunately, for a hospital system of this magnitude, their payscale is garbage. And their management leaves a lot to be desired... No doubt, the doctors and nurses are phenomenal, but I think it is the "highest up people", like the VP's and CEO that make it pretty miserable.

After 13 years in the system, I quit and went to a smaller hospital about 30 miles north. My hourly pay increased $3/hr and it's union. (BIG plus if you ask me!!)

The learning experiences that you get at UPMC are amazing though...

Good luck!!

pghfoxfan · May 26, 2010

I'd say go to West Penn.West Penn Allegheny Health System cares more about the patient. UPMC is all about making money and screwing West Penn Allegheny. They closed one of their hospitals, taking away health care from a large community and are building another 1 mile away from a West Penn Allegheny hospital. That community did not need a second hospital. They are like cancer invading Pittsburgh.

ncaru01 · Jul 13, 2011

I graduated last year and it was difficult finding a job anywhere. I don't know where you went to school. I assume you didn't do it with either system and your probably going to end up whatever is offered to you. I applied for around 100 jobs out of school as far as 90 miles away and got 2 interviews (nursing home & injury rehab)and was only offered one position. With about 6 months experience I applied for about 40 more jobs and was only interviewed for one at a position I knew someone. I work at Forbes in the ED. Their salary is no better than UPMC. It's actually roughly 8% less for a new nurse at least. I think I started 20.83 and I believe new UPMC nurses are making about 22.60 now?

My guess is the benefits aren't any better. Everyone complains about UPMC but it doesn't appear WPAHS is any better. I did all my clinicals in nursing school at UPMC hospitals and thought it was cool all the stuff they had. I didn't realize it wasn't standard until I worked a few other places. The ER I work at is very busy. I was told by a travel nurse that she doesn't care for the hospital that the ER other places runs better and there is more staff. Probably the only way to make more money is get away from the city a bit where UPMC doesn't own everything and WHAPS is struggling to keep up.

ncaru01 · Jul 13, 2011

Cost of living here is so much lower than the New England area! Plus, Pittsburgh is just plain fun

You will probably make more money though. There are areas where you will make more money and not spend much more to live or less. I hear Ohio pays better with a lower cost of living around Columbus. New England probably is a rough place to start but anytime anyone says I can make more here someone always has to point out cost of living. If you can make 20$ more an hour somewhere else odds are your not going to pay double for everything. It's not going to happen as a newer nurse but later on it might. I have read people claiming to make 50-60$ (ER RN) an hour around Philly sure it probably costs more however it doesn't cost 2 to 3 times more.