2005 Salary Survey Results: Salary and staffing levels stay steady in 2005 for providers who work in family planning
2005 Salary Survey Results
Salary and staffing levels stay steady in 2005 for providers who work in family planning
Modest raises, stable staffing trends seen in annual survey responses
Have you taken a look at your paycheck lately? Most family planning providers say their salaries have recorded a slight increase in 2005, according to the results of the annual Contraceptive Technology Update salary survey. (See the graphic for "What is your salary level?", and "In the past year, how has your salary changed?".) The survey was mailed in July to 1,129 subscribers and had a response of 165, for a response rate of 14.6%.
Location and place of employment can make a difference when it comes to compensation. About half (45%) of CTU responses came from those working in health departments, with about one-fourth of responses from those working in a clinic setting. About 14% said they worked in a student health center, with about 8% from an agency. The remaining responses came from those in academic settings (3%), private practices (2.5%), hospitals, and consulting (both less than 1%).
Most work in rural programs
Most (32.39%) survey responses came from those working in rural facilities; 29.58% were from urban areas, while 23.24% came from midsized cities and 14.79% came from suburban areas. About 31% of all responses came from the Southeast, while about 24% came from the Midwest. About 16% came from the Southwest, and 15% from the West. The remaining 11% of responses were from the Northeast.
What’s up for nurses?
In the 2005 CTU survey, average salary for nurse practitioners (NPs) rose to $58,367 in 2005, up from $55,265 in 2004. Median salary for NPs also showed an increase: $62,500, up from $55,465 in 2004. Nurse practitioners represent almost half (48.17%) of the 2005 responses.
What is your assessment of the current "state of the union" when it comes to salaries for NPs in reproductive health? Susan Wysocki, RNC, NP, president and chief executive officer of the Washington, DC-based National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) sees room for improvement when it comes to pay.
"Some leveling off of nurse practitioner salaries is reflective of the leveling off of funds to public health clinics," observes Wysocki. "But even in the private sector, salaries are not increasing, due to the fact that reimbursements for many of the typical services NPs provide are not going up."
Registered nurses participating in the CTU annual report showed a slight decrease in pay; median salary levels dropped to $49,545 from $53,725. Administrators, on the other hand, reported a median salary of $71,667, up from $60,000 in 2004. Nurses comprised about 20% of the 2005 responses, while administrators represented about 18% of the total number. MDs and health educators each represented about 5% each of the total; about 2% were nurse midwives.
MDs see smaller raises
With Medicare and other payers restraining reimbursement and practice costs rising, many providers are seeing smaller increases in salary.
According to the Medical Group Management Association in Englewood, CO, physicians’ compensation flattened out overall in 2004, with compensation growth for specialty physicians falling behind that of primary care physicians for the first time in several years.1
Staffing levels stay the course
While pay may not increase, at least staffing levels are remaining steady at many family planning facilities. About 56% of CTU survey participants say staffing levels have remained unchanged in the past year, while about 23% report employee increases. About 20% say employee numbers have dropped in 2005. Work hours also are remaining at manageable levels, say survey participants. (Review staffing and salary information in the graphics "How many hours a week do you work?".)
Almost half (42%) of CTU survey participants have a graduate degree, survey results indicate. (See graphic for "What is your highest academic degree?".) The trend toward such advanced education is growing; the number of nurses pursuing master’s degrees and doctorates has tripled over the past two decades.2 By 2015, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in Washington, DC, is looking for those who enter advanced practice fields that now require at least a master’s degree, such as nurse practitioners and nurse midwives, to hold a doctorate of nursing practice.2 Doctorates will not be required for those advanced practice clinicians currently in practice; they will maintain their authority to practice, similar to when advanced practice nursing moved to the master’s level.3 NPWH is keeping a careful watch on this issue, says Wysocki.
"Our concern is whether a nurse going through an expensive PhD level program will be able to afford to work in areas, particularly in public health, where the salaries are typically lower," she states.
Branch out on the web
If a job change would bolster your salary outlook, check the Internet for valuable job resources. (Check your length of service; see the graphic for "How long have you worked in your present field?".)
"The job listings at NPWH’s web site, www.npwh.org, have been a great resource for both clinicians and employers," says Wysocki. "It should be noted that our job listings are linked to a job search board for many types of job listings for NPs and non-NPs alike."
Nurse-midwives can check professional opportunities across the nation and internationally at ACNM’s dedicated web site, www.MidwifeJobs.com. The web site, launched in 2001, allows nurse-midwife job seekers to freely link to hospitals, birth centers, physicians, and any health care organization seeking midwives to expand their services.
"One of the great things about being a nurse-midwife is the variety," says Deanne Williams, CNM, MS, executive director of the Silver Spring, MD-based American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). You can work in a number of different settings, and you have the opportunity to serve many different patient populations, Williams says. "Most love attending births, but many are very satisfied working in settings where they provide primary health care services, including family planning," she says.
References
- Medical Group Management Association. Specialty group practice physicians’ compensation stagnates. Press release. Aug. 31, 2005. Accessed at: www.mgma.com/press/physcomp-2005.cfm.
- Levine S, Marek AC. Nurses step to the front. U.S. News World Rep 2005; 138:66-71.
- Steefel L. New doctoral degree aims to advance nursing practice. Nurseweek 2005; May 9, 2005: Accessed at www.nurseweek.com/news/Features/05-05/DoctorOfNursingPractice.asp.
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Have you taken a look at your paycheck lately? Most family planning providers say their salaries have recorded a slight increase in 2005, according to the results of the annual Contraceptive Technology Update salary survey.Subscribe Now for Access
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