budget crisis-how is it effecting you and your residents?

Vito Andolini · Apr 12, 2009

We ran out of sugar last week.Ran out of foley drainage bags a few weeks ago.Every dept. is tightening up their par stock but HELLO-you can't run out of foley drainage bags! Can't take the elevator-it costs a few dollars each trip. Must turn off lights/tv etc which does make sense-that no different then your own home.I have a recurring dream that we must start turning off the lights at 10 am and can not turn them on again until sundown .I guess they'll issue miner's helmets on rainy days.I know they won't switch over to the AC until Independence day-we'll roast...I know the economy is in trouble but let's cut down a few mangerial positions.Why should the resident suffer? (is that the proper use of "effect? I never get that affect/effect thing right.......)

It should actually be the "a". Thank you for asking. The E means to cause, to bring about, as "to effect change".

The A is like, someone's demeanor (in psych, for instance, how is the person's affect).

I don't see any bedside changes yet but I know we have a hiring freeze on and I think they might offer early retirement to some staff.

I agree about getting rid of some staff whose function you can hardly figure out.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Apr 12, 2009

As a manager, I take offense to your statements. Not all managers sit around and do nothing. I spend hours every week on the budget...trying to make sure we don't go over budget and still have what we need for the residents. Get over yourselves.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

We've not seen these types of directives yet.

texastaz · Apr 13, 2009

If I only knew then what I know now - I would be an administrator with a new flat screen instead of scrambling for the basics.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

I agree about getting rid of some staff whose function you can hardly figure out.

Just because staff can't figure out someones job function does not mean it is not very important.

In my years as MDS coordinator position, it was rare for a staff to really understand what I did and how it may affect the residents or them. To them, I appeared to have a cushy job with a flat screen monitor. What they never "figured out" was I was scrambling my brains trying to get the highest reimbursement rate... and without that reimbursement, the facility would not get paid and neither would the staff! Looks cushy until YOUR paycheck bounces.

achot chavi · Apr 13, 2009

I wouldn't be complaining, after all as you wrote, even in your own home you have to take fiscal responsibility seriously or you can go bankrupt.

I would try to be a good team membr and see where you can trim the fat before someone else decides for you.

CCM is right, just because you just dont see what other team members are doing doesn't make their positions less important than yours.

We are all tightening our belts and there is nothing wrong with that, when you are melting away awaiting the air conditioners, make sure your patients and staff are well hydrated and kept in the shade etc.

Last year our Med Director ran the A/c early and got fined for it.

ktwlpn, LPN · Apr 13, 2009

As a manager, I take offense to your statements. Not all managers sit around and do nothing. I spend hours every week on the budget...trying to make sure we don't go over budget and still have what we need for the residents. Get over yourselves.

Don't take offense-we have 2 full time day shift supervisors-and A don and an adon a -WE HAVE 200 BEDS.. We now have 2 QA people-because they both have been there for years and get so much time off that they can't get the job done...

That's what I'm talking about-2 supervisors? If we are running out of supplies then IMHO some hours need to be cut- and NOT at the bedside...you can't run out of supplies...

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2009

Hmmm.....I was told that the pm snacks are budgeted at 24 cents per resident. Soooo, that is why they have watered down juice, crackers and just 4 or 5 sandwiches for a facility of 50 pts???

How about always being short on supplies? Doesn't make sense either, because when we need to order them stat from pharmacy, the $$$$ goes up.

I think the biggest budget killer has to be agency staff. Wow...If we could just try to increase retention/ decrease turnover, I'm willing to bet we would have tons of money in the nursing budget.

Nascar nurse, ASN, RN · Apr 14, 2009

We haven't been allowed to use agency in YEARS. Probably at least 10 years, if not more. You are exactly right. If you can reduce or cut out the agency, you would have lots more room in the budget.

achot chavi · Apr 19, 2009

We too have cut out agency nurses, when I cant fill a call-in , I explain sweetly to the staff that we will have to close the unit and then they will all be out of jobs, or we will have to combine units and have one nurse cover two units- real quick the call in gets covered.While I am not above covering a call-in myself once in a blue moon, (my DON hates it if it happens too often)

We have also done away with emergency meds, the doctors know to order what is in house until the next morning (we may borrow from other patients as long as we return within 24 business hours)

Missing supplies is more a sign of poor management, a good manager would have started with cutting out the agency staff.

I would start looking for a more solid place to work. Be on the lookout of cutbacks on your salaries and hours.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Apr 19, 2009

Unfortunately, agency staff is necessary for most of us. I have a very small facility AND a union. With one nurse out with an injury and one on vacation (and don't tell me not to grant them) I have no 'extra' staff. We budget every year for agency staff and hope we don't have to use it, but at least it's a realistic expectation.

The supply vendors are in the same boat as we are. We've told them that if they want to keep our business, they will have to do better on some of the prices. It's amazing how much we've saved.