Today I received my special annual issue of Advance for Nurses, serving RNs in Southern California. I delayed my previously prepared Management Column for another issue of Plastic Surgical Nursing so that I might share some of the valuable information contained in Advance for Nurses with all of you.
The title of this annual edition of Advance for Nurses is "Job Watch." Not only does it contain pertinent information for all of California nurses but information about many and different aspects of nursing on a national basis (O'Brien & Hartner, 2007). Advance for Nurses analyzed the following data based on thousands of responses to an online survey. Before presenting the statistics that nationally pertain to nursing and nurses, here are some interesting findings about those who took part in the survey.
* 35% of respondents were relatively new graduates with 1-5 years of experience; 16% had 6-10 years of experience, 13% had 11-15 years of experience, nearly 11% had been employed for 16-20 years, and 9% had 21-25 years of nursing experience.
* Respondents indicated that 36% had been required to work overtime in 2006, an increase from 22% who had been required to work overtime in 2005.
* 43% of respondents had bachelor's degrees, up from 35% in 2005.
* Only 35% of respondents were certified in the specialty in which they practiced.
* The majority of respondents (54.5%) worked in a hospital setting, 5.9% in long-term care, and 10% worked in settings classified as "other."
The interesting national survey results that I would like to share with you include national salary ranges, state salary ranges, salary by credentials, national healthcare benefits, overtime, shift differential, salary by gender & employment setting, and union membership.
One of the most impressive statistics that can affect the salary of all nurses and that can specially apply to plastic surgery nurses is that credentialed nurses, those certified in their specialty, are paid more than noncertified nurses on a national level. One easy way for a salary increase, no matter where you live, may be to become a certified plastic surgery nurse.
I hope you find this information interesting and useful in your future planning and salary negotiations.
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