Any one getting down sized yet?

What happened to staffing ratios? How are they getting around the law?

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington

Nurses are not laid off, but overtime is forbidden,extra shift bonus is gone, our on call pay was done away with (now we have flex hours where we are not needed, and they have to re-evaluate staffing every couple of hours. You could be scheduled 7p-7a, "flexed" 7-11p, work 11-3am then sent home again)
There is not much in the way of loyalty to any of the nurses who are the backbone of the hospital.Nobody can seem to find a copy of "flex hours" as a policy.
Our managers just can't figure out why nobody wants to get involved and be on committees, or do the extra things we used to do to make our unit a great place to work, nor can they figure out why everyone has taken a pool job just to make ends meet. It is so sad to work there anymore.

We are closing 1 out of three hospital inpatient dept (the ED and elective surgery suite will remain open) 20 clinics in the area belonging to us, the pediatric dept and the adolescent psych unit. About 400 personel were affected at least 100 RN's all the in pt LPN's have lost their jobs not to mention how many CNA's. And that does not include all the Brass affected. housekeeping,transport etc.

In San Francisco where there is a dire budget crisis I am wondering what will happen. The union is urging us to make concessions, although "old-timers" say that these concessions which are promised as temporary will remain in force forever, as this is how it has gone down in past economies. The nurses I work with say our jobs are secure b/c of mandatory staffing ratios - but when I pose the question, "What if they close beds?" they don't have an answer. Being a new grad in a county hospital that is at the mercy of the city's budget I can't help but be concerned...

I feel that it is wrong to cuts the fat as far as staff, our hospital in VA cut the fat by switching out suppliers and streamlining our admission policies. No one in our hospital has lost their job thank GOD and of course we cannot have double overtime but thats ok. We have been a little short staff and have gotten rid of ALL travelers but it had worked out ok. I work in the ER by the way. I wish you all the best of luck.

What???? A CRNA sent to work in the ICU??? I'm from the mid-west and I have never heard of such a thing. It will be interesting to hear if any other facilities in CA are doing the same. I've heard the job market in CA has always been tough for CRNAs but that is absurd.