July 06, 2005 -- 

The national median salary for Director of Nurses is $66,917 according to the twenty-eighth annual AAHSA Nursing Home Salary and Benefits Report, just published by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service (HCS). This represents an increase of 7.07% from the 2004 median salary of $62,500.  The national average bonus reported for Director of Nurses was $10,766, or 16.08% of salary.  The national average salary of Directors of Nurses receiving bonuses was $66,963.  This represents an increase from last year’s average bonus percent, which was 13.20% of salary.  

The hourly rate for Staff Nurse (RN) increased 5.42% to $23.52 in 2005.  The 2004 increase for RNs was 4.79%.  The average position vacancy rate during the last year for RNs was 17.64%, down from 20.48% the year before.  The average length of time to fill an RN position was 47.46 days, compared with 47.65 in 2004. 

2,336 Nursing Homes participated in the study and provided compensation data on 216,770+ employees nationwide.  1,528 for-profit and 808 not-for-profit homes provided data.  The Report covers 42 management and 41 nonmanagement positions.  Data are reported according to revenue size, bed-size, profit status, geographic region, state, and city.  Also covered are 22 fringe benefits, turnover rates by department, and projected salary increases for 2005 to 2006.  Data are effective as of May 2005.  The Report is published in cooperation with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and supported by the American Health Care Association (AHCA).

The complete 380-page Report is available for $295 from HCS.   The reduced rate for both AAHSA and AHCA members is $225.  To place an order call (201) 405-0075, visit www.hhcsinc.com, or write to PO Box 376, Oakland, NJ 07436.