Virginia Pay

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Specializes in ICU.

What can be done about this pay because it is lousy as hell? What group is making moves to increase pay? A ICU day staff RN with 5 years exp is making 50k a year in Hampton Roads. What the hell?

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I'm in Hampton Roads with 5 years of ER/ICU experience, and yes, the salary to cost-of-living ratio is among the worst in the state. This area also happens to have the highest population of active duty military in the entire country, so hospitals have a constant supply of nurses (often military spouses) looking for work before having to move somewhere else in a couple years, so there's a pretty high turnover that's inevitable too. No need to offer competitive salaries if nurses have to live here short-term but still need a job. For such a large metro area, there really aren't a whole lot of choices on where to work either. There's a large hospital system (Sentara), a small hospital system (Bon Secours, based in Richmond), Chesapeake Regional Medical Center (independent), and Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Not much incentive to compete with each other for nurses when there's already a decent supply of them constantly moving in and out...

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Specializes in ICU.

Yes, I am familiar with the area population makeup. I don't understand how you all can accept that without trying to change your situation for the better. Form a union have a voice. Stop accepting garbage pay from Sentara. Inova pay sucks too. Ratios are bad. I looked at a travel assignment with Inova and ICU was 3-1. I told them find some other desperate sucker and when you get No one evaluate your staffing needs. Virginia needs to be a little more progressive because it is not your typical southern state.

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Lol, if only it were that easy. Virginia is a right to work state, so no unions. I take it you're not from here? Hospitals everywhere pay as little as they can get away with, and here it's pretty darn low due to the reasons I mentioned. Nurses reluctantly tolerate it because they have to if they want to work for a hospital. Moving to another area is not an option for many.

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Specializes in ICU.
Lol, if only it were that easy. Virginia is a right to work state, so no unions. I take it you're not from here? Hospitals everywhere pay as little as they can get away with, and here it's pretty darn low due to the reasons I mentioned. Nurses reluctantly tolerate it because they have to if they want to work for a hospital. Moving to another area is not an option for many.

Yes, I understand the right to work part. There is a way to change that. No one seems to darn interested though. It's sad because VA will miss out on a lot of great nurses. I have a VA past.

Here is some travel positions for Tidewater area Veteran Affairs hospitals. Those are 52 week contracts.

Hampton, VA:

Med/Surg - $1,786 /week

- 4 Day Shift, 4 Night Shifts Available

- $22.00/hr taxable

- $994/wk stipends

- OT: $65.00/hr

- 01/07/2018 Anticipated Start

ER - $1,894/week

- 4 Day Shift, 4 Night Shifts Available for Jan 7 Start Date

- 2 Night Shift positions available for 11/05/2017 Start Date

- $25.00/hr taxable

- $994/wk stipends

- OT: $68.00/hr

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