So is this economy hurting anyone else??????

[mcknis]

So I have a friend who has been an RN for about 2yrs now and is working at a small rural hospital. She was telling me last night that about 10 managers throughout the hsopital were let go the other day d/t financial reasons. All of their nurses are worried about their jobs and futures with this soecific hospital. I know at my facility they are changing some things around d/t the economic crisis as well. So is anyone else changing things around because of financial woes? Also, are there any facilities not hiring BSN nurses right now d/t this? I have been looking to go back to get my BSN, but with our economy, is it reasonably sound? Do you think that employers will be more likely to hire ADN instead of BSN to help pad their wallet a little more?

Thanks to all and keep up the work in this hard time!!!

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

No it's not hurting me or the area I live at much as far as employment in hospitals go. Still plenty of RN jobs, new units opening, etc.

I recently got a new RN job with no problem and with more pay.

Go for your BSN!! I'm glad I did :)

[travel50]

I work in a nursing home. I don't have enough nurses, so am using an agency for a few weeks. In general, nurses here are having no trouble finding a job (Tennessee). We primarily use LPNs, but we do have RNs around the clock in our home. All my RNs have an ADN. It makes no difference in pay whether a degree is ADN, BSN or diploma. It all pays the same. I prefer to hire the ADN because they seem to have been trained better in patient care skills. It isn't a matter of money. I had an ADN, then a BSN, now working on a MSN so I can teach. The BSN did nothing for my pay or job opportunities. Where the economy is hurting us is spouses. So many are laid off. I have given many of my aides gas money, grocery money, paid electric bills, etc.

[gentlegiver, ASN, LPN, RN]

I've been out of work since November, I've applied to every job posted in the newspaper & on-line that I qualify for. I've gotten 3 interviews, and no job. Was told today, by a place I applied to, that they've gotten tons of nurses applying so they can take thier pick.(Mostly Agency Nurses) Unfortunately, as I have 3 1/2 yrs experience, they are taking the more qualified people. Guess I'll keep looking. Have even thought of returning to school for a different line of work, just can't figure out which one would be hiring when I get out.

[time4meRN]

Don't worry too much yet. Most hospitals are over staffed with management. In our 28 bed ER we have 2 nurse managers, 7 assistant nm's . Way over done. They still can't get schedules out or get things done on time. When they start cut backs I'm sure they will start there. Hope they also stop with the silly things like mailing everyone in the system 3 month " health" calenders. The calenders are useless, I'm sure they are expensive to mail to so many people and most everyone just throws them a way, son't even look at them. ( but we have to watch every dressing and IV we do ) Oh, don't forget the Panera Bread katered meetings they have. While we are lucky to get lunch. If they cut nurses I think there will be a major uprising from the nurses.

[eriksoln, BSN, RN]

Funny topic to post......timing wise I mean. Another traveler and I disagree on how bad the work shortage is right now.

Personally, I'm not affected one bit. I'm at the nicest facility I've ever been at, highest hourly wage I've ever made and love the location.

I think that is because I'm flexible. This floor wanted 8 hour nights and I guess a few travelers had told her either "no nights" or "only 12 hour shifts". I had no problem with 8 hr. shifts and landed the position. I wonder if the other RNs who tried to lobby for something other than what the manager wanted are kicking themselves in the teeth now.

On one level though, yes, the economy has effected me. With all this talk about the travel field not being the gravy train it used to be, I've been considering becoming staff more now than ever. And I might, got a call from the hospital I prefer to work for today. They are offering me a position outside of the med/surge field too, which I want sooo badly.:loveya:

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm an LVN in Texas with a full-time weekend doubles gig and several PRN jobs. My full-time workplace frequently calls me to see if I can fill shifts during the week. My PRN workplaces call me constantly, hoping that I am able to fill their empty shifts. So far, the economy has not affected my job prospects yet.

However, I started attending an RN-ADN program earlier this month because I feel the RN licensure will lead to more opportunities, better earning potential, and better marketability. The more education, the merrier.

[not now, RN]

Go for the extra education, more education is never a loss.

No problems here. My facility just took away the special pay they were giving nurses for extra shifts worked. This pay was much more than time and a half, it was supposed to last six to eight months and ended up lasting over six years. Many people took advantage of this and would work two or three extra shifts a week. The problem is that they were relying on that money for mortgages, car payments, putting in swimming pools and now it's gone. Those people were living outside their means and admit that bought bigger houses, ect because of that extra pay. Those people are suffering but that's their problem because they were counting on something that was never guaranteed to last. I never did any extra shifts because I didn't want to fall into that trap. They are blaming the economy (which is partially correct) for their poor money management. Some are threatening not to work any overtime since the pay will be normal time and a half after the first four hours of the shift.

My unit also got a NM that has managed to staff appropriately. There aren't tons of open shifts like there used to be, we no longer use 3+ float pool nurses every shift, every day. People are complaining that we are now overstaffed because there was a low census a couple months back for a few days so people were docked. I was docked once and sent home early once (all my patients were downgraded to med/surg status and no ICCU admits), now the hospital is filled to the brim and were practically shoving people out the door to make room.

[shodobe]

We will only hire a BSN unless it is a staff member who goes to nursing school. Bedside nurses here have no worries but anyone else who could be expendable has to worry

Pretty narrow minded on your hospital to think that the only good nurses out there have a BSN tag. I am kind of curious why this mentality? This is why hospitals are only looking at experienced nurses and not at new grads because too many nursing students think that they will only get hired if they have their BSNs. Wrong! Better to get your ADN and let your employer pay for everything else. Also, what part of the country do you hail from?

Also, of course some travelers do well because the hospital doesn't have to pay for long term benes like they would for full-time hires. It isn't because they are any better qualified to do the job, in fact most of them just skate through their jobs because they don't really have any loyalty to the facility. Never really had any good memories of travelers over the years.

[rngolfer53]

Don't worry too much yet. Most hospitals are over staffed with management. In our 28 bed ER we have 2 nurse managers, 7 assistant nm's . Way over done. They still can't get schedules out or get things done on time. When they start cut backs I'm sure they will start there. Hope they also stop with the silly things like mailing everyone in the system 3 month " health" calenders. The calenders are useless, I'm sure they are expensive to mail to so many people and most everyone just throws them a way, son't even look at them. ( but we have to watch every dressing and IV we do ) Oh, don't forget the Panera Bread katered meetings they have. While we are lucky to get lunch. If they cut nurses I think there will be a major uprising from the nurses.

With that many managers and assistants, it's all but assured that no management functions will actually be accomplished.

But don't be surprised if the managers make "the cut" and staff nurses get axed. Bureaucracy is all about perpetuating itself, first, last, and always. Everything else, including patient care, is low priority.

[kemper1974]

All managers in our huge hospital system were asked to take a 'small paycut".The floor nurses are getting called off at least once a payperiod. The only ones who seem to be getting all their hours are the secretaries and the techs, it would be nice to see them share in call offs. we staff by a grid, If census is low I think it would be safer to have the RN's on the floor..

[BroadwayRN, ASN, RN]

It's hurting me in respect to my 401K, no raise this year, no shift diff this year. I see my family members having a hard time. I feel very fortunate to be a nurse. The likelyhood of me being laid off is very very small.