Survey highlights: Downturn has widespread effect on periop nursing
By Carina Stanton
Senior News Editor
From benefits to surgical activity, perioperative nurses who responded to AORN’s 2009 Salary Survey indicated that the economic downturn that began in 2008 had widespread effects on perioperative nurses in 2009.
According to the more that 3,000 survey respondents, 53% noted a decrease in surgical activity in 2009, while 14% noted an increase. This generally decreasing level of activity led many facilities to make changes. The most common steps taken at respondent’s facilities was a hiring freeze (50%) and a reduction in hours (31%). However, 51% said their individual positions did not change due to the economy.
Across the board, responses from perioperative nurses who participated in the survey indicated a drop in employee benefits, including retirement, health insurance, and tuition reimbursement. Paid conference travel was also an area with reduced employer support. Last year, 44% of respondents to the 2008 AORN Salary Survey reported employers provided financial support for conference travel, but in 2009, only 29% reported receiving this benefit.
Perception of the nursing shortage was also measured in the survey. In 2009, 30% of high-level managers reported a moderate-to-crisis level of effect that the nursing shortage had on their working environment, compared to 46% last year. Of the staff nurses asked the same question, 56% reported a moderate-to-crisis effect from the shortage, down from 66% last year and 72% in 2007.
This year, the average staff nurse earned $64,400, $2,900 more than in 2008, and the average VP/director/assistant director of nursing made $101,800, $4,500 more than last year.
Data from this 2009 Salary Survey is included in AORN’s online salary calculator tool, which provides average salaries for perioperative nurses. To use the salary calculator, visit aorn.org/CareerCenter/SalarySurvey/ and select “Salary Calculator.”
To read about all of the results from AORN’s 2009 Salary Survey, read the article in the December 2009 issue of AORN Journal.
AORN’s 2009 Salary Survey and online Salary Calculator are sponsored by:
Read more in AORN Connections.