ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Mission Hospital announced this week that it is investing millions of dollars into pay increases for employees across the hospital system. Health care advocates say those raises could help strengthen staffing and improve patient care.
“It really does lead back to increased quality of care with our patients and better communities,” said Bonnie Meadows, president of the North Carolina Nurses Association.
Improving morale and patient care is what the North Carolina Nurses Association says pay increases across the state can lead to. Locally, Mission Hospital has announced it will be investing $10 million in pay increases. The funding is coming from HCA Healthcare’s workforce investment strategy.
MISSION HOSPITAL SPENDS MORE THAN $10M ON EMPLOYEE PAY RAISES
The hospital was not available for an interview, but a spokesperson for Mission Health said the pay raises will benefit most full-time, part-time and as-needed workers, including nurses, CNAs, medical assistants and other staff who help support patients.
Meadows said pay increases are vital across the board.
FILE IMAGE – Exterior of Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: WLOS Staff) “We are the largest workforce when it comes to health care. We are also the largest group of citizens who are supporting the economic development and structures of just everyday lives for American citizens,” she said.
According to a report from the North Carolina Institute of Medicine, the state ranks 33rd in the country when it comes to pay for nurses.
$1.56M CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT TO RESULT IN WAGES RETURNED TO MISSION HEALTH EMPLOYEES
The North Carolina Nurses Association says aside from low pay, nurses across the state are dealing with poor working conditions and excessive workloads. But in hospitals that have implemented higher pay, Meadows says the improvements are clear.
“It is improving their lives in how they show up, because they’re not dealing with those financial stressors. It can be a morale booster, because they’re not dealing with the financial stressors of what’s going on at home,” Meadows said.
Meadows also says higher pay not only keeps nurses in the industry but also recruits new ones.
“Students who want to become nurses because they see it as a viable future. There are so many options that are available for nurses. Once you get into the profession, you have the option to be able to grow, to further your degree, and that expands to be able to allow you to make more money,” she said.
Mission Health says employees will see the increases as soon as their June 5 paycheck.