Upstate Medical gives nurses another pay raise in bid to fill hundreds of vacant jobs

Doctors, nurses lead valiant effort to keep Covid ICU patients alive at Upstate University Hospital

In this file photo, Upstate University Hospital nurses care for Covid patients in an intensive care unit.N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. – Upstate Medical University is giving nurses another pay raise to make itself more competitive amid the severe national nursing shortage.

Upstate’s 1,481 registered nurses will get annual raises ranging from $9,000 to $14,187 based on years of service, experience and education. Upstate’s 125 licensed practical nurses will get annual pay raises of $7,000.

The pay raises announced by Upstate are a sign of the fierce competition among hospitals in Syracuse and nationwide for the limited supply of nurses.

Crouse Hospital has been offering $15,000 sign-on bonuses for experienced, full-time RNs. Many hospitals also are filling vacancies by hiring temporary travel nurses who are often paid two to three times more than staff nurses.

This is the third raise Upstate RNs have received in the past four years. It’s the first raise for LPNs.

Upstate has more than 400 job openings for nurses and nurse practitioners listed on its website.

Upstate officials said in a prepared statement the pay hikes will help it recruit and retain nurses.

“Upstate nurses have been at the front line of this pandemic for over two years,” said Dr. Robert Corona, CEO of Upstate University Hospital. “They show up and give it their best for all of our patients.”

James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com

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