staff turnover

[fedupnurse]

During the past 2 or 3 years, have you seen an increase turnover of staff in your unit/facility? If so, what is administration doing to adress this turnover problem? Are there any retention programs out there?

I work ICU and in the past 5 years we have had about 70 to 80%, yes folks, that high, in my unit alone. The rest of the hospital isn't much better. In addition, the suits eliminated positions thru alleged attrition. We used to have 30 to 35 staff nurses on each shift and we are now down to about 20 for each. Same number of beds, they didn't close any!

So what's it like where you work?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I've seen fastfood restaurants with better retention and continuity of staff than my unit (NO JOKE ). Must add, however, our staffing ratios are pretty nice compared to a lot of places (strict 2:1). We simply close beds if we don't have the nurses.

[fedupnurse]

It takes an Act of Congress, an Act of God and a phone call to the DOH in front of a suit to get beds closed where I work!

[whipping girl in 07, RN]

In the unit I work in, every one has either been there forever (anywhere from 5 years to almost 30) or has only worked there for a year or less. We've recently lost two relative newcomers (both in ICU about a year) who left to travel, and I wouldn't be surprised if we lose several more over the next six months to a year. I heard (thru the grapevine so it may not be true) that my manager got a call from human resources because they'd had NO applications for ICU from the new grads from the nursing programs around here. We really do not have enough people on nights (my phone rings almost every day I'm off to see if I'll come in unless census is low) and I don't know how we're going to staff weekend nights when the new people who have to work every other weekend their first year get past that first year. Two of them go to every third in July, two in September. It will be almost a year before I go to every third, but at the rate we're going, I won't get to because there won't be anyone to work! I have a feeling in a few months my phone will be ringing every Saturday and Sunday I am off, offering me time and a half to come in (which is stupid because it's overtime ANYWAY, it's already time and a half!!). That offer only works on the PRN people, but they try it on everyone!

Don't get me wrong, I love my job, and I don't mind SOME overtime, but not all the time, and not at the expense of my child's happiness, when Daddy's out of town and Mommy's working 4-12s in a row and he's beginning to think he lives at the neighbor's house!!

[Zee_RN, BSN, RN]

We went through a spate of in ICU but things have settled down. Matter of fact, we are at full staff. Our unit is pretty stable. Telemetry has it a lot of rougher.

[oramar]

Members of this boards have postulated again and again that the reduction in numbers of employees in positions that have benefits, especially full timers, has a beneficial effect on the bottom line. They also have postulated that the nursing shortage provides managment with a good excuse to explain the lack of staff to public and employees.

[fedupnurse]

But that's the funny thing, Oramar, our VP of nsg. refused to let anyone go per diem over the past 2 years thinking they would stay and also hates part timers. He wants FT and FT only. I don't know if he is just delusional or if he truly believes he is doing a bang up job! We have no rentention iniatives that are keeping people there. They also have lame recruitment efforts. Can't get experienced nurses to save their sorry lives! Perhaps it is a good thing that I don't understand their mentality....

[Stormy]

We have had only one vacancy come up within the last 2 years in our unit. It is very stable....except for the additional 5.2 positions that are posted right now to accommodate increasing needs.

We admit as many patients to the unit as the nurses can "safely" handle. That means that if there are 4 vents, we have 4 nurses. Non-vents are 2:1 usually so we can handle more patients. Staff don't burn out as easily when you don't cause them to go home exhausted at the end of the day.

[l-andrée]

I work in ICU and our nightshift staff changed up to 60% in the last two years. So much for having the reputation of being the best team in the hospital!!

So now, the headnurse refuses transfers if you have a post in another departement or another shift. I'm waiting for my full-time, day job in ICU (that I signed for in December!) and they told me not before next october!

We are (almost) out of ideas because we can't compete with full- time or day jobs popping everywhere in every areas. New nurses have so much opportunities (and good for them) that nightshift, part time, shortstaffed ICU is NOT a preferred choice...

Even if it's THE best place, IMO!