all the latest tricks to keep nurses.

[alansmith52]

education loan repayments, carret reward step ladders, Training, housing, trasportation, new postions, internships, externships, crosstraing, baylor shifts, shorter shifts, longer shifts,

can't you see. they will do absolutly anything but what you really want. what? you got a raise was it 5 cents or 3 dollars. either way is not a raise at all. they do this on purpose unless your raise surpasses the cost of living index ITS NOT A RAISE.

It is my deepest hope and desire nurses that you continue to look elsewhere. broaden you horizons, change venues. you are too smart for this. do you want to spend the rest of your days slaving away and give all the credit to the doctor and worse the MBA sitting behind the desk trying to figure out how he can rape the community of more money next year.

I hope everyday that some new grad doens't fall victim to one of those contract signing deals. please relize you can work anywhere you want to. don't let them tell you "well you could work in the ER if you sign a two year contract" that is simply not true.

I mean this as a warning and a becon to all. please know that if there are any detractors from this statemet they are probably the very ones whos jobs depend on tricking you into staying down. and you are too good for that.

[PMHNP10]

bummer

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Originally posted by Brownms46

Ummmm excuse me, but are you "beholden" to the instution you owe the loan to?? And isn't that over your head??

Just curous:)

Not to speak for anyone else, but you can't compare being beholden to a bank to mandatory overtime, working short-staffed, or dangerous nurse-patient ratios. Then, if something bad happens to a pt, as a result of poor-staffing, you will be bankrupt, and sued for malpractice. Meaning that it is often institutions which are hopelessly short-staffed that promote these offers. But obviously some people are getting what they were promised, and that is refreshing.

I got a flyer in the mail, for critical care nurses, with a 15K sign-on bonus, plus numerous other perks. I always ask myself, if this place was so great to work for, why aren't people flocking to it? I immediately see these kinds of offers as red-flags to hell-holes.

Change agent, I have noticed that too, and do it myself. For me, it is because I don't need bennies, and therefore can work perdiem in a few places, choosing my own schedule. PLus the places I work are varied, so I get lots of different expereinces and just keep building that resume. I try a new position, and b/c I have done a good job at my other per diem place, they will take me for the one day a month I can only give, and if I don't like the new one, and don't schedule more time, the other job is more than happy to let me pick up more time w them again. It is NOT good when I need to take vacation, b/c then I have to work extra days before and after to afford to take the time between off, but still better than feeling "owned" by someone, I own my schedule on my terms.

[Brownms46]

If the situation was that bad, why would you sign up with them anyway? I agree that many of the hospitals are short staff, as this is a problem across the country, hence the reasoning for so many travelers out there now!

But there are facility that have been designated Critical access hospitals, they have very good conditions and the money to assist nurses with getting an education.

If you don't wish to continue to work at a certain hospital, for which you received money, you can always get a loan, and pay them back. This has been done quite a few times, to my knowledge! But either way if you didn't have the forsight, or ability to save for an education, you're going to be "beholding" to somebody!

And I have come across more than a few, who couldn't pay those loans back on time, and ended up taking on loan pay off, or forgiveness from a hosptal anyway!:)

[mattsmom81]

Originally posted by alansmith52

wooo yeah, a nation wide union. we could have this country begging for us in a day. like the teamsters did.

I would go for that.

do I sound vidictive. maybe even ludicrous

I am not even a bedside nurse anymore but still feel emebeded in the fight.

rock on

I am one who dreams of this as well. Still at the bedside, critical care, as part time as I can afford to be.

Would love to see nurses organize on a grand scale. Wouldn't we be a force to reckon with!!

But too many nurses don't see or don't want that kind of power.

[colleen10]

Ummmm excuse me, but are you "beholden" to the instution you owe the loan to?? And isn't that over your head??

Yes, that is somewhat over my head, however, my bank whom I borrowed my student loans from cannot make me work Mandatory over-time, put me on a floor with insufficient staffing, stick me on whatever shift suits them and give me insufficient Orientation to the floor, all of which can contribute to me doing harm to myself or a patient.

Taking out your own loans allows you to let your feet do the walking should you experience unfair employers.

Also, my CC is about $5,000.00 - 6,000.00 for two years where the local diploma programs were $17-20,000.00 for the same two years. I'd much rather have to pay back $6,000.00 compared to $17,000.00