The Commonwealth has set varying start rates for wages across the state as their approach to the issue of nurse recruitment and retention.  This “band-aid” approach has not resolved the issue.  Many facilities remain understaffed due to the inability to recruit or retain nurses. 

We have submitted a comprehensive recruitment and retention proposal that the Commonwealth has neglected to meet and discuss with us. This inequity in wage rates has impacted our chapter and staffing in a more critical way.

We have also submitted a wage equity proposal to the Commonwealth separate from, and in addition to our initial recruitment and retention proposal. This proposal would not only increase the start rates to equity for Danville and Wernersville State Hospital, but would also include all the remaining facilities within every agency in our chapter so that we could reach equity across the state. It also provides an incentive for our members that currently hold service to the Commonwealth.  This would provide all facilities with the ability to recruit nurses and retain our dedicated professionals at each facility that have provided years of service and care to the citizens of our Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth committed to reviewing our proposal and providing a response in a timely manner; however, they have not yet set a meeting date to respond.

We need to reach out to our legislators to put pressure on the Commonwealth to discuss our proposals and reach an agreement that will improve recruitment and retention at all state facilities.