Nurse shortage not just at BGH, but nationwide
BROWNSVILLE – Brownsville General Hospital officials say the nursing shortage is a nationwide problem and not directly related to hospital pay wages and benefits, which are in line with the state average. “This (nursing shortage) is a nation-wide issue, one that we will not resolve overnight,” said Ray Royesky, director of human resources.
Comparing the hospital’s turnover rate to a national survey, Royesky said BGH is in the area of that national benchmark. Royesky said the national turnover rate for nurses is 19.8 percent. He said the hospital, in 2001, had a turnover rate of 23.5 percent and from January 2002 until August has a 25.7 percent turnover rate.
He said he has interviewed approximately 30 employees who decided to terminate their employment and found “there is no common thread” to their reasons for leaving. He said that five people gave family obligations as their reason for termination, four said wages and three said mandatory overtime was their reason for leaving.
Royesky said a recruitment committee was established in February to offer recommendations to address the nursing shortage and high turnover rate.
Among a host of programs, he said the committee has recommended establishing an “overtime incentive” program to encourage people to volunteer to work overtime. He said a person who volunteers for 8 hours during the week would be given a $40 bonus and $60 during the weekend.
Sharon Frost, interim director of nursing, said she has lost a number of nurses because of the mandatory overtime. She said she has 22 open positions with the nurses on staff covering those openings.
“(Mandatory overtime) is a big concern, but we have specific guidelines that we must follow,” she said.
Royesky said the hospital has implemented a referral fee for employees who refer workers to fill positions as RN, respiratory therapists or radiologists/technologists at the hospital for a year.
Frost said the hospital is looking at assisting LPN and other employees who are interested in becoming a nurse in exchange for an agreement to work for the hospital for a number of years.
“We’re looking at ways to keep staff here and to bring more on,” she said.
Royesky said that according to a survey done by the Hospital Council of Western Pennsylvania, Brownsville Hospital is in step with the state average salaries.
“I feel comfortable where our wages are,” he said.
Royesky said, according to that survey that state average starting salary for a nurse is $16.48 per hour. He said nurses at BGH begin at $16.41 per hour.
He said the overall state average for a nurse’s salary is $20.22 per hour, while BGH senior nurses are making $20.19 per hour.
In other business, board member Frank Ricco, suggested the board establish a retirement age or term limits for hospital board members.
“We need a retirement age for board members. Some of us have been here for 20 years, and I think 20 years is a long time,” Ricco said.
The board agreed to have the personnel committee look into the issue and see what other hospitals do.
The board also approved the addition of two new board members, Dr. Malkit Sing and Eddie Stevenson, a local business owner.