Washington Hospital Center WHC "steps" pay scale

U.S.A. Washington DC

Published

Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

Hello,

I am moving to DC from Baltimore soon and am checking out various hospitals in the area. I've been an RN for 5 years. In regards to WHC's union contract I see there is a table referring to "steps" in relation to pay rates (https://ct1.medstarhealth.org/content/uploads/sites/6/2019/02/MWHC-Proposal_February-12-2019.pdf chart page 36) How does that apply to a new applicant with 5 years experience? Is there a general way to explain this chart? Any reviews about this hospital or other hospitals in the area? What hospitals are worth applying to vs any particular places I should keep my distance?

I'm definitely concerned with the change in cost of living compared to Baltimore, especially since I'm paying off endless student loans ? This year I was able to make $100,000 by picking up high needs overtime shifts. I'm hoping to be able to do the same where ever I end up working in the DC area.

Feel free to message if you don't want to reply publicly. Any information would be great. Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

WHC - Washington Hospital Center. The steps are the years of experience (RN). So, new hires are step 0, step 1 is after a year of experience. I do believe they pay pretty well in general. They have level 1 trauma, and helipad - separate "Medstar" admit for traumas that are not seen in the rest of the regular ER. Burn unit. Stroke center, etc. Parking is cheap for employees (parking garage next to hospital for low monthly fee).

From what I have heard, avoid Howard. For anything.

George Washington University Hospital (GW or GWUH) is next-door to a metro stop in downtown DC, parking is expensive $12-16/shift. Just got the helipad. About half the size of WHC and does not do burns. Patient population includes a good amount of tourists, locals and homeless.

Georgetown (also Medstar like WHC). Hear OK things about working there. Not to bad to get there from Virginia.

Maryland:
Prince George (PG) (part of UMMC now) is due to relocate to a being-built hospital Largo in the next few years, but has a poor reputation currently.

Holy Cross is okay from what I hear, could be a bit write-upey.

White Oak Medical Center (WOMC) was formerly Washington Adventist (and may still be called that) moved to a new hospital with all private rooms a few months ago. Has cath lab.

There are many hospitals to choose from, and some are easier to get to depending on where you choose to live. DC is (obviously) it's own nursing board. If you live in Maryland and keep your MD (compact) license, you still need one for DC hosptials. If you move to Virginia, you'll need a new (compact) license if you move since compact licenses only work as compact in your state of residence.

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.

@CalicoKitty wow thank you so much! My bf and I are looking into a lot of neighborhoods for when we move so I’m not exactly sure where I’ll be yet but definitely within DC. I need to start the process of getting licensed in DC. I’ll likely continue working in Baltimore in the meantime. I’m currently a Psych nurse at Hopkins but have almost 3 years experience in the ER prior to my current Psych experience. Does that mean for WHC I’d start at step 4 or 5 bc I have that many years of experience? It’s confusing bc on their pay scale graph there are columns for years that correlate with steps. Anyway, still seems like a good hospital and I’ll likely apply there once I get closer to moving. Still trying to decide if I want to continue psych, go back to the ER, or try a new field. Clearly I’m very indifferent but excited to move to a new city. Thanks again for all the info your shared!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

I believe you'd start at step 5 since you have 5 years of experience. Then the next part is the year/date or whatever. There are usually 2 pay bumps per year - hire (step) date and the annual one.

WHC has an inpatient medical psych unit and a separate inpatient psych (not medical) unit (kinda in another building, but still attached to the main hospital by corridors and stairwells).

They have the ER and also if you're into trauma, MedStar (The trauma section of the ER that is separate and I believe staffed separately).

Get your DC license. Also keep in mind, DC requires I think 25 CEUs for license renewal.

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU, Emergency, Psych, Art Therapy.
On 1/7/2020 at 9:52 AM, CalicoKitty said:

I believe you'd start at step 5 since you have 5 years of experience. Then the next part is the year/date or whatever. There are usually 2 pay bumps per year - hire (step) date and the annual one.

WHC has an inpatient medical psych unit and a separate inpatient psych (not medical) unit (kinda in another building, but still attached to the main hospital by corridors and stairwells).

They have the ER and also if you're into trauma, MedStar (The trauma section of the ER that is separate and I believe staffed separately).

Get your DC license. Also keep in mind, DC requires I think 25 CEUs for license renewal.

@CalicoKitty Thank you so much, again! Very helpful info. I’ll work on my dc licensure. I already have about 60 ceus bc I’m about to take my psych nurse certification exam so that shouldn’t be an issue. Thanks again!

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Move to Cali and get paid. Boggles my mind why people live in the mid-atlantic. .

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Hello I am planning on accepting a position on the CVICU at Medstar WHC, can anyone tell me what they heard from that unit or if anyone has worked there before? 
Thank you! 

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