NEW MILFORD -- Registered nurse Joanne Chapin is afraid New Milford Hospital administration's cost-cutting decision to lay off 22 employees and reduce hours for four others will not only hurt those losing jobs but the hospital's reputation as a good place to work.
After negotiations with administrators, the nurses' union president said Wednesday it appears one full-time operating room nurse and a part-time blood collection nurse will lose their jobs, six will be forced to take reduced hours and at least two will have to switch from day to midnight shifts. In total, the hospital administration is reducing the nursing staff by 122 hours in endoscopy, one-day surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, the operating room, clinical resource management and the autologous blood department.
"In the nursing community, this really hurts our reputation, and that's something we are going to have to work to overcome,'' said Chapin, a 15-year veteran who represents the hospital's 175 full- and part-time nursing staff. Skilled nurses are in demand, and this layoff could adversely affect future recruitment, she said.
The hospital administration disagrees. Administration officials said this week they are still seeking staff for select positions, and regularly accept applications from experienced nurses and other personnel. Five clerical and secretarial staff who are losing jobs will have an opportunity to be moved into vacancies in other departments, officials said.
Full Story: Nurses to feel pain of layoffs [Danbury News Times,CT]
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Re: Nurses to feel pain of layoffs
I was more than glad to escape from NO, LA standards when my b/f got his residency here in Austin. I thought CERTAINLY IT CAN'T BE WORSE! And in one way, I was right! It wasn't worse, but it wasn't all the peaches and roses I thought nursing was going to be or suppose to be. I switched from night shift to day shift and learned that pt's are numbers, and not based on acuity. As long as you have RN behind your name, the hospital will push you until you break. Mind you, after only working there a few weeks I was contacted by NNOC (an organization for RN's, why not ALL nurses I don't know???) But still, it spoke volumes to me. The hospital I work for has put a "freeze" on hiring LVN/LPN nurses and has resorted to hiring foreign RN nurses. But, based on another blog I read it seems that avenue may be closing for them as well. Anyway, now, after living here only 3 months, I have decided to give up on floor nursing for awhile and test the waters in Home Health. The sad part is, I really liked my job, when I was able to do it aptly and safely. I hope with the "sqeeze" that the hospitals are starting to feel they will make the right changes, and follow Ca suit. Until then, I (and others) will wait! 
