Ever since the economic nose dive spiral...

martymoose, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

Are you having to work more strenuous shifts? YES!!! we are now all expected to work all 3 shift- in the same week. and we still are short. nothing like being exhaused working a 12 night, then a couple eves, then a day shift. in the same week. and still working short, cause someone called out cause they are getting ILL from all this shift work.

Are your patient loads more taxing?Absolutely. Pts that used to be icu material are now floor material- and they have to be circling the drain before they are moved back to ICU. but still expected to carry a load of 6-7 on nights.

Are you hit with austerity measures? ie, sent home early, called off, told to take a pay cut?NEVER sent home- if they dont need us we have to fill holes in the hospital, we are not allowed to leave early.

Are you less likely to receive that bonus or pay raise?have seen pay raises, not bonuses

Do you feel that you should be grateful to be employed and are reluctant to complain, no matter how constructive you could put it? Yep yep and yep, but i feel its that way for ALL jobs now

Is your feeling of worth lessened, since your employer at the drop of a hat could have reason to fire you and get a replacement tomorrow? ABSOBLEEPINLUTELY. and worth?? what as a glorified waitress and customer service agent?

Do you feel more stress at work in general?YES.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

Are you having to work more strenuous shifts?
Is your feeling of worth lessened, since your employer at the drop of a hat could have reason to fire you and get a replacement tomorrow? ABSOBLEEPINLUTELY. and worth?? what as a glorified waitress and customer service agent?

I suppose the GW/CSA title reflects the ignorance of the general public to understand the role we play. Education is a must in these circumstances. A fine post! :yeah:

kelll · Sep 27, 2011

I have to say yes! to all of these. I cant believe the changes. I mean from time to time staffing is an issue and always has been but this seems to be so much worse. Staff are fed the line a job is hard to find and there are students just waiting to graduate and take your place. This is true but who will train these people? this is a short term solution maybe. We have preceptors who graduated a year ago and we have resident nurses staffing our floors with minimal supervision. We have run our charge nurses with full loads and wonder why informed decisions about staffing are not made or simple fixes not completed on a daily basis. Yes we staff the whole hospital rather than go home sometimes...its nice to help out but not all the time everyday sometimes two at a time...while our unit drowns and there is no arguing these issues! it comes down to budget and productivity hours...I feel I should never have to hear these words.

Bonuses..what I have not been bonused in 4 years! Float pool staff whats that???? that is what we have become. Dangerous is the word that crosses my mind daily...hourly...sometimes more.

What can we do to help this situation? if anyone has that answer I would love to hear it. We have had civilized meetings and discussions. We have reported the situation. Our patient satisfaction scores have fallen, our falls have increased, our morale is in the toilet! SOS!

NewTexasRN · Sep 27, 2011

Since we had this recession 2008 and onward...

Are you having to work more strenuous shifts?

To some extent, I think nursing is just a physically taxing job. I find that at my facility there is less staff, for example, the hospital doesn't really go out of their way to get us a secretary or aide. So sometimes you are a nurse, secretary and aide.

Are your patient loads more taxing?

Yes, the pt loads are taxing. Healthcare has changed and the pt's expectation have also changed. I think pt's are more aware of Press Gainey and hospitals have to now bend over backwards to please the "customer." So there are higher expectations. It's hard to compare because I haven't been a nurse that long. I guess the more experienced nurses can see that change more over the years.

Are you hit with austerity measures? ie, sent home early, called off, told to take a pay cut?

I have noticed that hospitals are willing to hire more new grads at a lower rate. Since the recession many new grads are desperate for a job are willing take a lower pay rate. The older nurses suffer sometimes because they are the first to be called off because they are too expensive to pay. On night shift, I was sent home at 3am many times. I was even told to go home and I would have to come back if there was an admission.

Are you less likely to receive that bonus or pay raise?

Yes. I heard it's less money for a bonus than a pay raise.

Do you feel that you should be grateful to be employed and are reluctant to complain, no matter how constructive you could put it?

Some days when I am reflective, I feel thankful and blessed. After all, I did have to relocate to find a job. Some days when I'm just drained and feel that it is exhausting. If I have bad day, sometimes I complain, but I'm human and most people do that.

Is your feeling of worth lessened, since your employer at the drop of a hat could have reason to fire you and get a replacement tomorrow?

My worth can NEVER be lessened by anyone. I know my worth and always use the experience to better myself. Just don't put all your eggs in one basket. That is just my motto for life. I try to push myself by getting ACLS and going back for my bsn.

Do you feel more stress at work in general?

I really don't know to be honest. I think it depends on where you work. I think in general, especially floor nursing, it can be very stressful. It's just the nature of the job.

Has the hospital where you work become more customer service driven rather than patient outcomes driven?

Oh definitely. I mean I can't hate the hospital for focusing on customer service. That's how they get paid right? My issue is sometimes they are so focused on customer service that they miss the point. Pt safety and job satisfaction goes out the window. I believe that nurses make a good salary but some days I've wondered if all the stress is even worth it.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Sep 27, 2011

are you having to work more strenuous shifts? no.

are your patient loads more taxing? no.

are you hit with austerity measures? ie, sent home early, called off, told to take a pay cut? i refused to take call; i'm either working or not, so they never called me off. no, no pay cut.

are you less likely to receive that bonus or pay raise? last raise was in 2007, i think.

do you feel that you should be grateful to be employed and are reluctant to complain, no matter how constructive you could put it? no. i didn't have much to complain about though.

is your feeling of worth lessened, since your employer at the drop of a hat could have reason to fire you and get a replacement tomorrow? no.

do you feel more stress at work in general? no.

has the hospital where you work become more customer service driven rather than patient outcomes driven? yes.

DeLana_RN, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

I would work for free (for a limited time) to get a chance at the job I want.... (I volunteer there now) - never thought I would have to consider that as a nurse.

It's brutal out there. Those of you who have a job - you are very lucky, no matter how crappy the job is. Very sad times.

DeLana

martymoose, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

are you having to work more strenuous shifts? no.
are your patient loads more taxing? no.
are you hit with austerity measures? ie, sent home early, called off, told to take a pay cut? i refused to take call; i'm either working or not, so they never called me off. no, no pay cut.
are you less likely to receive that bonus or pay raise? last raise was in 2007, i think.
do you feel that you should be grateful to be employed and are reluctant to complain, no matter how constructive you could put it? no. i didn't have much to complain about though.
is your feeling of worth lessened, since your employer at the drop of a hat could have reason to fire you and get a replacement tomorrow? no.
do you feel more stress at work in general? no.[/col
has the hospital where you work become more customer service driven rather than patient outcomes driven? yes.

ok, what is your secret?:)

StrwbryblndRN · Sep 27, 2011

I would so no to every answer but the last.

The hospital has admitted that patient perception is key . Hence customer service oriented. Make the patient feel like they are getting care even if they are not. Most patients feel like they are getting care by the speediness of delivery of ice water and how big your smile is when asking "if there is anything else i can do for you". Very reminiscent of customer service jobs.

Bluee · Sep 27, 2011

Sad times indeed. People know that they can be fired and replaced at the drop of a hat, at the emotional whim of a manager. Staff morale is at all time lows, and its toxic. Brow beating at staff meetings because of low Press Gainey scores does not help either.

kelll · Nov 25, 2011

I understand that jobs are hard and nursing was never promised as an easy job. I think that hospital nursing is changing and always has been a constant changing environment. The hospital I work for it even varies unit to unit, satisfaction of the patient and the staff all have to do with perception. This is very evident when you consider the same unit different shifts even, sometimes night shift has no idea what is eating the dayshift and vise versa.