Healthcare Industry - Statistics & Facts

Introduction 

Mercy North Hospital is a health organization that is enriched with competent professionals in healthcare that have specialized in various fields to provide the community with outstanding medical services and care. Amongst these care providers, the hospital maintains high and personalized standards for each department. Our group conducted an analysis of the hospital concerning various job positions in a bid to determine the compensation structure for the nursing positions at the hospital. Information and survey on the hospital were evaluated, and important feedbacks were likewise collected and compared among the competitors and partners, thus enabling the group to determine the internal and external alignment of compensation structure for the hospital. The professionals in the nursing industry considered are Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses, Radiologic Technologists, as well as Certified Nursing Assistants. 

Job Analysis Conducted by our Team 

Our team conducted an analysis of the job position for healthcare providers at the organization. The various job positions were evaluated based on their competences and charged responsibilities at Mercy North Hospital, which henceforth helped in designing the internal alignment of compensation structure. 

To begin with, the Registered Nurses were entrusted as the only licensed professional with the responsibility of offering immediate care to the patients involved in the hospital. The level of competency for the Registered Nurses included either a BSN (Nursing Degree) or the RN (Associate Nursing Degree), together with state licensure. Their tasks generally involve administration of medicine, communicating between, patients, physicians, and family, as well as taking charge of the entire responsibility that involved taking care of the patients daily O*Net Online, 2019). Essentially, they assess the health problems of the patient together with their needs, which helps them to develop and implement nursing care plans. They likewise maintained the medical records of the patients. 

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are licensed professionals tasked with assisting with patient care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. An LPN must obtain a license through either a trade or vocational program. Licensed Practical Nurses are tasked with the care of ill or injured patients or persons with disabilities. Specifically, these individuals are tasked with observing patients, reporting changes in conditions, measuring vital signs, and recording patient medical histories. Individuals in this role also administer basic health care and treatments, such as the application of bandages, dressings, or splints (O*Net Online, 2019). 

Certified Nursing Assistants are tasked with the basic care and help of patients, disabled, or elderly individuals. These healthcare professionals must obtain state licensure through either a trade or vocational program. In actual sense, they have duties that revolve around helping patients to clean and bath, as well as, use the restroom. Daily activities also include dressing, transferring patients between beds, wheelchairs, and other mobility assistance apparatus. Certified Nursing Assistants will also listen to and record patient's health information, measure vital signs and serve patients meals while an assistant with them eating as necessary 

Radiologic Technologists specialize in the use of equipment to diagnose patients and their ailments. Radiologist Technologists are professionals that require an associate degree and state licensure to work in the healthcare industry. These individuals will work in either a hospital or other clinical setting, such as a doctor's or dentist's office. They are tasked with taking MRI and x-rays that helps in patient diagnosis. Radiologic Technologists operate and oversee the use of this equipment while administering correct position and adjusting controls for correct exposure, time, and distance. They are also tasked with conveying critical information to patients in their care, such as procedures while observing patient safety and comfort 

Internal Alignment of Compensation Structure 

The compensation structure of health providers and Mercy North Hospital was based on their level on the varied work positions present at the hospital. The different duties and competencies among these individuals helped the group to define the internal alignment of the compensation structure, thereby ensuring that every employee is rewarded accordingly to their position status in the nursing department. The compensation structure is presented in the table below. 

External Alignment of Compensation Structure 

With regards to the external alignment of the compensation structure at Mercy North Hospital, the minimum, average, and maximum wages for these positions were found using Salary.com with the location set for Atlanta, Georgia. Each of these sets of wages consists of employees in these positions with 0-1 years of experience in each respective field. Salary.com found that Staff Nurses, with the RN designation, in Pediatrics, had a minimum salary of $62,502 with 25% reportedly earning that wages. Conversely, the average salary is $68,929, and maximum, at 75%, is $78,951 (2019). 

Salary.com also found that 25% of Licensed Practical Nurses in Atlanta, Georgia are earning a minimum of $43,795, with $48,162 being the median wage, and the maximum at 75% is $53,921 (2019). Certified Nursing Assistants in Atlanta are earning a minimum of $28,204 at 25% reporting that wages, a median of $30,948, and a maximum of $34,169 at 75% (2019). Radiologic Technologists in Atlanta are earning a minimum of $49,149 at 25%, a median of $54,149, and a maximum wage at 75% of $59,976 (2019). 

In comparison to any other nursing field, it is apparent that a registered nurse earns more than licensed practical nurse and certified nursing assistant because of the increased level of qualification and requirements needed for him or her to accomplish in the hospital (Condliffe & Link, 2015). 

Integrate Biblical Principle 

Proverbs 11:14 states that "Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is a victory." The wage survey is supposed to guide those aspiring to join the industry and give them an insight of the wages or salaries they will expect. It is also going to help those currently holding nurse positions to self-evaluate their salaries and wages to improve. 

References 

O*Net Online. (2019). Summary report for 29-2061.00 – licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Onetonline.org . Retrieved from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2061.00 . 

O*Net Online. (2019). Summary report for 29-2034.00 – radiologic technologists. Onetonline.org . Retrieved from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2034.00 . 

O*Net Online. (2019). Summary report for 29-1141.00 – registered nurses. Onetonline.org . Retrieved from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00. 

Salary.com. (2019). Registered nurse – RN – pediatrics, licensed practical nurse, certified nursing assistant, radiologic technologist. Salary.com – what am I worth . Retrieved from https://www.salary.com . 

Condliffe, S., & Link, C. (2015). Registered nurses: the impact of wages on labor force participation and hours worked-are wages an effective mechanism for addressing RN shortages with evidence from 1960-2008. Applied Economic Letters, 23(12), 849-852.