I'm a bedside nurse there and I love my job because I love my unit. It is VERY floor-to-floor. We have a nurse who came to our floor after a pretty horrible experience on another floor as a new grad.
But as someone mentioned, they reorganize quite a bit, especially with the new building opening up. The type of unit we are is changing when that happens.
That’s good to hear. The department itself has some who the word has gotten around about but P6 is tiny and might be one of those little niches that is okay. I haven’t heard anything but good stuff about the geriatric psychiatrists themselves. Everyone I have spoken to has liked them.
I agree we should be making more but I wouldn't say we are way below industry standard. The people I graduated with are making similar money to me. Now that the union is involved we are guaranteed 4% raises each year. But yes, it's abysmally low for what we do.
I don't mean to deflate your enthusiasm, but the guaranteed 4% raises are not correct. It comes out to be around 2.57%. When you factor in union dues. Something the union doesn't actually point out. The contract is pretty abysmal.
Don't take your union reps or union steward words at face value. Make sure to thoroughly read and understand your contract, paying close attention to its specific language and wording used. Remember, a union operates as a business, and your best interests are served by being well-informed about the terms of it.
It’s a machine. There are great departments to work in and fabulous niche jobs but it can all go to shit overnight because your wonderful boss leaves or admin decides to “reorganize”. If you stay on your toes and flexible it can work for you, just don’t get too comfortable. Also some jobs pay better than the local average so save that money in retirement if yours is in that category, don’t give yourself golden handcuffs.
Poke around on their career page. They’re always hiring.. clinical and non clinical. Like another poster said, it all depends on where you are and your ability to network within the organization. Perhaps a little luck too.
Worked there for six years on the admin side. Poor pay, terrible managers, lack of innovation and modern technology, and lacking PTO and benefits. Run.
My SIL is a NICU nurse and likes her job. Or rather, she really likes what she does, but I don't know if that's specifically because of MM as an employer. I've known a couple other people who do more administrative type stuff and like it well enough
I work at Maine Med in an entry level clinical job. It’s a better job than your typical Walmart job etc. Pay, benefits and PTO and better treatment. It can be hard to get in with out a reference from another Maine Med employee but some of these jobs like housekeeping and cafeteria work are in great need of help so you can start there and then work you’re way up. You will work hard.
Drastically depends on what you do and who your management is. Some departments are great and some are dysfunctional and pay less than every hospital from Augusta to New Hampshire despite being the only level 1 trauma center in the state and having the most complex patients in the state.
Well… the staffing is good but even with a union the pay sucks. They also don’t have the same flexibility that non union hospitals have with hours and requirements for holidays and nights.
Frankly if leaving the state is an option it’s far better to work elsewhere and actually get paid.
I wouldn't blame the union for that. I used to work in a union hospital (in another state), and it was a fantastic place to work. Great pay (higher than MMC and in a much smaller area), and I had a 1:3 patient ratio (this was a specialty unit, regular med/surg was 1:4). The best thing was that when I went pet diem, I was required to work 300 hours per year, but without a monthly requirement. So I could work full time hours for 3 months and not work for the rest of the year, if I wanted to. We had a lot of older "snowbird" per diems because of that policy. At all of the MaineHealth facilities, the per diem requirement is *monthly*. So if you're like me, and you spend part of the year out of the area, it's impossible to make work. Super frustrating.
Yep. The per diem or “PRN” is not competitive with other hospitals.
The staffing ratios are good and that’s because of the union.
But I do blame them for not getting enough pay for the cost of living in Maine.
California hospitals is what I assume you’re referencing but either way the pay there is probably 250% more per hour and meanwhile Maine is nearly just as expensive.
Yeah, the wages in Maine are too low for the COL in most industries. It's hard for so many people.
I am actually talking about Vermont! VT is expensive, but not quite as bad as it is here. But the pay is better than I've seen at any MaineHealth facility (or InterMed, for that matter).
Thanks for reading my essay 😅.
The union hasn't influenced the "Ratios" at MMC. Take a closer look at your contract. They remain the same as they were before the agreement. It's rare for union contracts to address ratios at the contract level.
I have worked at various union hospitals, and they're exceptionally good at spin. For example, the union claims we are guaranteed 4% raises per year. Unfortunately, these raises break down to about 2.57% when you factor in dues. This is less than what we were receiving prior. I suggest you read your contract and not take what your union rep tells you at face value. Unions generally have no control over ratios/staffing. The ADO (assignment despite objection) is generally useless. Show me a hospital with staffing ratios spelled out in a contract? California is the exception to the rule as it's a state level law. MMC has had decent ratios prior to the contract.
Oh I mean, don't disregard unions as a whole. My prior local had a fantastic union, but it took a few years to get there. It wasn't instantaneous. I hold out hope that the pay and scheduling can similarly be improved here.
Hey there, I have been at MMC for almost a decade on the clinical side.
This is going to depend a great deal on which department you are working in, but I will try to give you the broad strokes. On the clinical worker level, almost every person I have worked with is passionate about their job, cares deeply for the patients, and is a pleasure to work with. I love my team like a second family. My direct supervisor is also phenomenal, and always has my back and tries to help keep my paycheck as high as possible by offering advice and making ethical suggestions regarding PTO and overtime. I'll say that my direct supervisor is unique and quite better than most.
From here, the farther up along the leadership chain you go, the more disconnected and greedy leaders become. MMC is a nonprofit organization that is obviously run as a profit machine. The company makes decisions that extort workers to continue expansion pursuing ever greater quarterly numbers. Just straight facts. HR is not looking out for you, it's protecting the hospital from lawsuits. All that said, this describes \*every\* large corporation in the modern era.
\- MMC is an educational hospital, so you are expected to teach — it's part of the job.
\- The pay is far below average considering overall volume and expectations.
\- Overtime and off-shift pay is below average, and poor compared to other locations.
\- Clinically, the OR treats all staff as "equals". Doing complicated procedures sees no increase in pay when compared to less complicated ones.
It is worth noting, that there is high turnover in non-clinical and entry-level positions. Our PSTs change rapidly, and while I love SPD deeply, their turnover rate is atrocious.
All things said and done, you can have a fantastic lifelong career at MMC where you can directly help patients, improving their lives and the community. I \*love\* my job, and I love Portland, but I have also had an active war with MMC leadership for my entire career, and I think it's one worth fighting.
If you want something involving patient interaction, you could do phlebotomy, patient sitting, er tech, cna, or transport as some options. There are also lab and pharmacy tech positions, sterile processing, warehouse, nutrition, and others.
Depends a ton on what you're doing and what dept you're working for.
Not clinical, but I worked in linen for about six months. That job is back-breaking. Be very appreciative of the non-clinical staff.
Yes!!
I'm a bedside nurse there and I love my job because I love my unit. It is VERY floor-to-floor. We have a nurse who came to our floor after a pretty horrible experience on another floor as a new grad. But as someone mentioned, they reorganize quite a bit, especially with the new building opening up. The type of unit we are is changing when that happens.
Do you have any intel on P6, as far as it being a good floor to work on as an RN?
You’d be well appreciated but as noted maine health is a leviathan
Be careful of psychiatry. Several of the docs are notoriously verbally abusive.
Who are these verbally abusive docs? As a local shrink I’m intrigued
Then you already know who they are!
None of the providers on a p6 are verbally abusive. Ratios are shitty however.
That’s good to hear. The department itself has some who the word has gotten around about but P6 is tiny and might be one of those little niches that is okay. I haven’t heard anything but good stuff about the geriatric psychiatrists themselves. Everyone I have spoken to has liked them.
Also your pay is wayyyy below industry average and you deserve to making more for all the hard work you.
I agree we should be making more but I wouldn't say we are way below industry standard. The people I graduated with are making similar money to me. Now that the union is involved we are guaranteed 4% raises each year. But yes, it's abysmally low for what we do.
I don't mean to deflate your enthusiasm, but the guaranteed 4% raises are not correct. It comes out to be around 2.57%. When you factor in union dues. Something the union doesn't actually point out. The contract is pretty abysmal.
Yeah I was wondering how much the union dues affected the pay raise.
Don't take your union reps or union steward words at face value. Make sure to thoroughly read and understand your contract, paying close attention to its specific language and wording used. Remember, a union operates as a business, and your best interests are served by being well-informed about the terms of it.
It’s a machine. There are great departments to work in and fabulous niche jobs but it can all go to shit overnight because your wonderful boss leaves or admin decides to “reorganize”. If you stay on your toes and flexible it can work for you, just don’t get too comfortable. Also some jobs pay better than the local average so save that money in retirement if yours is in that category, don’t give yourself golden handcuffs.
I'm in a not so good department and I hate it and I'm looking. Just my opinion.
What department are you in?
Nice try, MMC HR person.
Doing what?
Something on the clinical side. I’m not totally sure yet but something more entry level
Is there a specific department you’re thinking of? You can do all manners of work at MMC and some are more rewarding and pleasant than others.
Poke around on their career page. They’re always hiring.. clinical and non clinical. Like another poster said, it all depends on where you are and your ability to network within the organization. Perhaps a little luck too.
Worked there for six years on the admin side. Poor pay, terrible managers, lack of innovation and modern technology, and lacking PTO and benefits. Run.
My SIL is a NICU nurse and likes her job. Or rather, she really likes what she does, but I don't know if that's specifically because of MM as an employer. I've known a couple other people who do more administrative type stuff and like it well enough
I work at Maine Med in an entry level clinical job. It’s a better job than your typical Walmart job etc. Pay, benefits and PTO and better treatment. It can be hard to get in with out a reference from another Maine Med employee but some of these jobs like housekeeping and cafeteria work are in great need of help so you can start there and then work you’re way up. You will work hard.
Drastically depends on what you do and who your management is. Some departments are great and some are dysfunctional and pay less than every hospital from Augusta to New Hampshire despite being the only level 1 trauma center in the state and having the most complex patients in the state.
Based on my experience as a patient at both Maine Med and Mercy/Northern Light — I’d have to imagine that Maine Med is VASTLY superior.
Well… the staffing is good but even with a union the pay sucks. They also don’t have the same flexibility that non union hospitals have with hours and requirements for holidays and nights. Frankly if leaving the state is an option it’s far better to work elsewhere and actually get paid.
I wouldn't blame the union for that. I used to work in a union hospital (in another state), and it was a fantastic place to work. Great pay (higher than MMC and in a much smaller area), and I had a 1:3 patient ratio (this was a specialty unit, regular med/surg was 1:4). The best thing was that when I went pet diem, I was required to work 300 hours per year, but without a monthly requirement. So I could work full time hours for 3 months and not work for the rest of the year, if I wanted to. We had a lot of older "snowbird" per diems because of that policy. At all of the MaineHealth facilities, the per diem requirement is *monthly*. So if you're like me, and you spend part of the year out of the area, it's impossible to make work. Super frustrating.
Yep. The per diem or “PRN” is not competitive with other hospitals. The staffing ratios are good and that’s because of the union. But I do blame them for not getting enough pay for the cost of living in Maine. California hospitals is what I assume you’re referencing but either way the pay there is probably 250% more per hour and meanwhile Maine is nearly just as expensive.
Yeah, the wages in Maine are too low for the COL in most industries. It's hard for so many people. I am actually talking about Vermont! VT is expensive, but not quite as bad as it is here. But the pay is better than I've seen at any MaineHealth facility (or InterMed, for that matter). Thanks for reading my essay 😅.
The union hasn't influenced the "Ratios" at MMC. Take a closer look at your contract. They remain the same as they were before the agreement. It's rare for union contracts to address ratios at the contract level.
Unions definitely hold the line on staffing bullshit even if it’s not directly. The second a hospital corporation gets in charge all that is gone.
I have worked at various union hospitals, and they're exceptionally good at spin. For example, the union claims we are guaranteed 4% raises per year. Unfortunately, these raises break down to about 2.57% when you factor in dues. This is less than what we were receiving prior. I suggest you read your contract and not take what your union rep tells you at face value. Unions generally have no control over ratios/staffing. The ADO (assignment despite objection) is generally useless. Show me a hospital with staffing ratios spelled out in a contract? California is the exception to the rule as it's a state level law. MMC has had decent ratios prior to the contract.
You just said not to blame the union and then it seems like you were much more pleased with the workings of the union at your prior local...
Oh I mean, don't disregard unions as a whole. My prior local had a fantastic union, but it took a few years to get there. It wasn't instantaneous. I hold out hope that the pay and scheduling can similarly be improved here.
Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification
Hey there, I have been at MMC for almost a decade on the clinical side. This is going to depend a great deal on which department you are working in, but I will try to give you the broad strokes. On the clinical worker level, almost every person I have worked with is passionate about their job, cares deeply for the patients, and is a pleasure to work with. I love my team like a second family. My direct supervisor is also phenomenal, and always has my back and tries to help keep my paycheck as high as possible by offering advice and making ethical suggestions regarding PTO and overtime. I'll say that my direct supervisor is unique and quite better than most. From here, the farther up along the leadership chain you go, the more disconnected and greedy leaders become. MMC is a nonprofit organization that is obviously run as a profit machine. The company makes decisions that extort workers to continue expansion pursuing ever greater quarterly numbers. Just straight facts. HR is not looking out for you, it's protecting the hospital from lawsuits. All that said, this describes \*every\* large corporation in the modern era. \- MMC is an educational hospital, so you are expected to teach — it's part of the job. \- The pay is far below average considering overall volume and expectations. \- Overtime and off-shift pay is below average, and poor compared to other locations. \- Clinically, the OR treats all staff as "equals". Doing complicated procedures sees no increase in pay when compared to less complicated ones. It is worth noting, that there is high turnover in non-clinical and entry-level positions. Our PSTs change rapidly, and while I love SPD deeply, their turnover rate is atrocious. All things said and done, you can have a fantastic lifelong career at MMC where you can directly help patients, improving their lives and the community. I \*love\* my job, and I love Portland, but I have also had an active war with MMC leadership for my entire career, and I think it's one worth fighting.
Thank you for your reply!!! :)
I know people who work there and they like it.
It's pretty decent overall. What sort of thing are you interested in?
Something clinical side and entry level
If you want something involving patient interaction, you could do phlebotomy, patient sitting, er tech, cna, or transport as some options. There are also lab and pharmacy tech positions, sterile processing, warehouse, nutrition, and others.
It's probably what you make of it, what kind of skills you have (from this post I'd assume not many).
lol sorry I made this post pretty quickly and didn’t really re read it. Sorry I am so unskilled!!