[RNKitty]

Can you believe it? My hospital is to announce layoffs on Monday. Where in the world but the NW do hospitals ever lay off nurses? It's not for lack of need of nurses, but rather the hospital cites decreased reimbursements leading to financial troubles. Meanwhile, the VP's still get their country club memberships paid by the hospital as part of their "compensation package".

[Tweety]

So sorry to hear that. We went through the same thing about six years ago. They regreted it tremendously as they became chronically short staffed and it took a long time to recover. Good luck.

[mrdoc2005]

Originally Posted by RNKitty

Can you believe it? My hospital is to announce layoffs on Monday. Where in the world but the NW do hospitals ever lay off nurses? It's not for lack of need of nurses, but rather the hospital cites decreased reimbursements leading to financial troubles. Meanwhile, the VP's still get their country club memberships paid by the hospital as part of their "compensation package".

My cousin works in the ED in Gadsden, Alabama and they just had a major layoff. They went from 8 nurses per sift down to 2

[RNKitty]

So where is this nursing shortage everyone supposes is around? Hmmm. Makes one wonder. I, for one, feel there isn't a shortage of nurses, just a shortage of nurses willing to work in crappy conditions.

The LPN's at the hospital are all convinced they are axed tomorrow.

[RN4NICU]

Originally Posted by RNKitty

So where is this nursing shortage everyone supposes is around? Hmmm. Makes one wonder. I, for one, feel there isn't a shortage of nurses, just a shortage of nurses willing to work in crappy conditions.

The LPN's at the hospital are all convinced they are axed tomorrow.

I've said this and heard it said by others many, MANY times. And to add insult to injury, the conditions will only get worse when nurses are laid off (higher ratios and lower morale don't make for a happy work setting).

I can only imagine what they teach these people in business school (or clown college or wherever they come from). It must be something along the lines of nurses being an expense, labor, a cost that should be minimized by whatever means possible. Vacation packages, bonuses, and country club memberships for VPs, and other such ridiculous expenses, however, are VITAL to the functioning of the hospital.

[movealong]

I was laid off in a clinic setting: Yhey replaced as many RN's with LPNs as they could. It turned out to be the best thing for me. Found another job 2 months later, paid 10,000 more a year, more benefits, gave me different ( and better) skills, and was a much better work environment. So it was a blessing. But it sure didn't feel that way when I was first laid off. I was freaking out, as I am single and my work is my only income. So I know how it feels: pretty scarey.

But like I said, it really turned out well for me. I hope it works the same way for you!

[traumaRUs]

Good luck today - sorry you are under such stress!

[WyomingRN]

Originally Posted by RN4NICU

I've said this and heard it said by others many, MANY times. And to add insult to injury, the conditions will only get worse when nurses are laid off (higher ratios and lower morale don't make for a happy work setting).

I wonder what would happen if the nurses and patients joined in a class action lawsuit citing patient endangerment as a cause of action. The patients real argument is that they are not paying for their life to be endangered by the facility. It could be an interesting precedents. This would be a good opportunity for these nurses and patients to take the initiative. An opportunity to do something constructive about the problem rather than just complain.

[Q.]

I was laid off 2 years ago at a clinic and just this past June my hospital went through major layoffs as well, for same reasons. Not just nurses though. All staff. Reason being financial dire straits.

I don't know about your facility, but our facility IS hurting financially. I see the budget and I see the numbers. We gave out 35 Million in charity care. No hospital can afford that. And I feel suing the hospital won't help the situation one bit. You'll sue yourself right out of a job.

Sorry to hear you are going through this.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Susy K

I was laid off 2 years ago at a clinic and just this past June my hospital went through major layoffs as well, for same reasons. Not just nurses though. All staff. Reason being financial dire straits.

I don't know about your facility, but our facility IS hurting financially. I see the budget and I see the numbers. We gave out 35 Million in charity care. No hospital can afford that. And I feel suing the hospital won't help the situation one bit. You'll sue yourself right out of a job.

Sorry to hear you are going through this.

It's the indigent care that is killing us as well. My spouse sees the numbers in a monthly meeting (he's in administration) and we're barely hanging on month by month. Also, the uninsured have a longer length of stay because they can't get good rehab, home health, etc. The county I live in is one of 4 counties out of hundreds in Florida that doesn't support a hospital, so it's tough. I understand that.

During our layoff, they laid off a bunch of nurses, then a bunch of nurses paniced and quit, then there was natural attrition people moving, going back to school, etc. They were calling back people they laid off within weeks, most of whom said "um...no thanks I found another job" and for the first time we had to use agency nurses and increase the use of travelers.

I hope the op's hospital has the sense to leave a few extra nurses for comfort.