How's the nursing shortage affecting ...

[askater11]

your hospital.

It's horrible where I work. The hospital has changed the patient:nurse ratio for the worst. (and to top that they can't even find staff to meet the matrix)

My hospital offers bonuses for overtime. But no one can handle it, when you working short the first 8 hours....everyone's too tired to work another 8 hours....or let alone any extra day's.

Units that were once staffed well are no longer. Our unit we could always find staff, that were interested in working on our unit. Great retention. No longer. We are working so short.

I spoke with my manager today regarding my frustration with the lack of staffing. The response I got was surprising. It was more or less find a new job. That's how it is everywhere.

I am looking for a new job. I'm hopeful to find a new job....with better staffing. I spoke with one lady that works at another unit(different hospital), that's much like the one I'm working on and their staffing matrix was good!! It's "known" to be a great hospital. I'm hoping there's a job out there for me!!!!!!!! Off I go looking!!!!!!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I left home health as the paperwork and travel time were killing me since we were so short RNs. I would work, no lie, 21 days straight, 10 to 12 hour days and no overtime since we were paid per visit. Don't go to home health thinking it is any better.

renerian

[sharann, BSN, RN]

RN-PA,

I have one word of advise,

Don't drink the water

(unless you desire to be fruitful):chuckle

[GailWHNP]

There IS *NO* nursing shortgage. There is, however, a shortage of nurses willing to put up with the crap a lot of us do . . . arrogant doctors, poor pay, little to no recognition (unless you include the occasional free pizza, which I don't), and administration making nursing decisions without consulting nurses.

If admin backed nurses (ie, quit catering to these obnoxious docs, quit screwing around with our hours/schedules/pay, consult *us* before ordering a million really lousy syringes,etc), there would more than enough nurses for every hospital to be able to staff safely and appropriately.

Sorry for the vent, but I am sick of hearing about The Nursing Shortgage when it is such a myth. Nurses are just going into insurance, real estate, etc, but they are there!

Gail

[GailWHNP]

Originally posted by Katch22

I have been in the nursing field long enough to see shortages come and go. I feel this one, too, will eventually blow over.

Yes, it will blow over TEMPORARILY because the governments and hospitals are putting efforts into enrolling students into nursing schools. And when these fresh nurses start to burn out as many once again have and go on to other careers, there will again be . . . a "nursing shortgage". Too bad someone can't be farsighted enough to see a more permanent solution.

Gail

[UKRNinUSA, RN]

I was thinking about going back into acute care , thinking that the nursing shortage would have improved things. I see that it hasn't. Thank you for your postings - another life saved (mine).

[RN-PA, RN]

Originally posted by sharann

RN-PA,

I have one word of advise,

Don't drink the water

(unless you desire to be fruitful)

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I bring water from home or stick to Diet Coke-- I don't even use the ice machine at work!

[mobyrn]

I agree with GailWHNP. There IS no nursing shortage. How is it that we are able to obtain registry nurses or travel nurses 99% of the time when needed? The nurses are out there but do not want to work as staff nurses under such awful conditions. If better incentives and working conditions were available, I believe more of these nurses would become staff and alleviate some of the problem. I also agree that there are nurses out there who have chosen other professions, but, nevertheless they are nurses. I am considering a change in profession myself if things don't get better at my facility.

[DelGR]

Gail and mobyrn, I agree with you both. No matter what the media and the hospitals try to tell the world, there is an artificial shortage due to working conditions. The hospitals don't want to improve the working conditions. I think they want to wait until the newbies come in. In the meantime, the hospitals will have restructured the pay for nurses at a lower starting salary with less chance for much money increases or advancement as they stay over the years. And, with less benefits.