Nephrology Social Workers’ Caseloads and Hourly Wages in 2010 and 2014: Findings from the National Kidney Foundation Council of Nephrology Social Work Professional Practice Survey

Abstract

In 2010 and 2014, the National Kidney Foundation Council of Nephrology Social Workers (NKF-CNSW) conducted online surveys of nephrology social workers to assess caseload and salary trends at the state, national, and End-Stage Renal Disease Network level. Between 2010 and 2014, outpatient dialysis social workers experienced decreases in mean caseload size from 79 to 75 (down 5.1%) for those employed 20–31 hrs/wk, 121 to 113 (down
6.6%) for those employed 32–40 hrs/wk, and 126 to 116 (down 7.9%) for those employed 40 hrs/wk. Increases in mean hourly wage between 2010 and 2014 were also reported across all three employment status groups: $28.16 to $29.45 per hour (up 4.6%) for those working 20–31 hrs/wk, $27.18 to $28.23 per hour (up 3.9%) for those working 32–40 hrs/wk, and $26.93 to $28.21 per hour (up 4.8%) for social workers employed 40 hrs/wk. Pre-transplant evaluations of potential donors decreased between 2010 and 2014 for social workers who were employed full time (32–40 hrs/wk) and those who worked 40 hrs/wk. Specifically, the mean number of potential donor evaluations declined from 40.5 to 22.1 (down 45.4%) for those employed 32–40 hrs/wk and 44.7 to 23.0 (down 48.5%) for those employed 40 hrs/wk. However, pre-transplant evaluations of potential recipients decreased for those employed full-time (522.5 to 283.7, down 45.7%) and increased for those employed 40 hrs/wk (232.6 to 315.6, up 35.7%). Mean hourly wage data showed a slight increase for transplant social workers employed full-time ($29.56 to $30.74, up 4%) and a slight decrease for those employed 40 hrs/wk ($29.79 to $28.74, down 3.5%). In general, decreases in social work caseload and increases in hourly wages were found on a national level; however, variability across states requires further attention.