NOV/DEC 2018
A NEWSLETTER FOR NYSNA RNs AT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER
ECMC NPs Lynn Kordasiewcz, Audrey Hoerner and Mary Carol Scrocco celebrate pay upgrade
Nurse Practitioners Win Upgrade For years, ECMC had trouble recruiting and retaining Nurse Practitioners because of a pay discrepancy regionally. NPs working in the private sector in Western New York could make quite a bit more money, so public sector nurses would frequently leave ECMC for more pay elsewhere. Nurse Practitioners at ECMC came together as a group, because they recognized that recruitment and retention of NPs was a big enough problem that they needed to tackle it together. They held a series of meetings, and invited NYSNA Reps to brainstorm solutions with them. Together, they met with management to collaborate and find a solution. In meeting with management, NPs argued that there was not a big difference between what N5 and N6 NPs do, even though it’s a different job description. They proposed some changes to the civil service rules to
move all NPs to N6—and to get the additional pay that comes with that. Management agreed there was a problem with Nurse Practitioner retention, and was willing to come together with NYSNA NPs to solve the problem. They agreed that an increase in pay would be helpful in retaining NPs, who play a vital role at ECMC and are a more cost-effective solution to hiring more Physician Assistants. Beginning on November 15, NPs at ECMC will be moved to the N6 level, and will begin seeing additional pay in their checks at the end of November. The pay difference will range from an additional $8000/year for Step 1 NPs, to $11,000/year for NPs at the top of the scale. Lisa Kalinka, RNFA, MSN, ANP-BC, one of the NPs who spearheaded the effort, concluded, “It was a good collaborative effort. The pay increase will be helpful with future retention and recruitment!”