COMP NEWS – Registered nurses employed by the state of New York are getting an extra pay raise to combat staffing shortages.

Registered nurses employed by the state are getting a pay raise.

Various nurse positions across 15 state agencies will have a starting annual salary of nearly $90,000 upstate and $108,000 for RNs and nurse practitioners working downstate.

The series of pay increases, announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, was done in attempt to improve recruitment and retention of staff amid an ongoing labor crisis in the health care sector.

“After more than two years on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19, New York nurses deserve more than our gratitude — they deserve fair and competitive pay,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “These wage increases reflect our state’s commitment to supporting our healthcare workers and will help us retain and recruit the next generation of nurses to keep New Yorkers safe.”

The pay increase will be between 4.5% and 10%, based on the time of shift being worked.

Each position will see a pay increase of about 4.5%, according to the governor’s office. Registered Nurse positions will be hired at the midpoint of salary range, and receive an updated shift pay including an increase of 7% of base pay for the evening shift, and a 10% increase for night shift base pay.

This pay increase is separate from the yearly raises that nurses usually receive based on their geographic location.

Registered and licensed nurses received an increase in their geographic pay differential this year based on their region. That increase is separate from the pay raise.

More than $4 billion was legislated in the last state budget to fund health care worker pay and bonuses.

“New York State employs thousands of nurses, who provide critical services across our state agencies to protect the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers,” Department of Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues said. “By offering our nurses with these well-deserved pay increases, our partner agencies will be better positioned to retain these talented and dedicated employees. Under the leadership of Gov. Hochul, the Department of Civil Service is working hard to implement changes to best support and retain our current public workforce and to ensure our compensation is competitive to attract the next generation of talent to public service careers.”

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