what's wrong with HCA hospitals?

[NurseNature]

I noticed some others mentioning they would not work in an HCA hospital and I just applied through HCA yesterday. What do I need to look out for or consider when deciding whether or not to work for them?

[dlatimer]

I expressed my concerns regarding short staffing, patient safety and lack of accessible resources for nurses. For example; I couldn't go to lunch because there was no one to watch the ventilated patients or answer the phones, the only education offerings were at shift change - not a good time if I haven't assessed my patients, charge nurses unavailable when you need them right now, working with nurses who are afraid to speak up for the patients or do the right thing because they are afraid of losing their jobs. Questions? What do you think?

[caliotter3]

Thanks for posting so that the rest of us find out what kind of employer HCA is without having to go through this ourselves. Another one to avoid.

[Sean 91]

Take it to The Joint Commission. Or better yet, the U.S. Dept of HHS.

[CVICUismydream]

ok-not sure about the rest of the story but i wanted to clarify one thing. i work for hca currently and while i may be happy or unhappy with the company i think it is important to let people make their own decisions about the company versus hearsay. negativity only leads to more negativity.

it is absolutely against hca policy to skip lunch. they have instated a policy ensuring everyone is has the lunch they are federally obligated to. if you are to not take at least 30 minutes (we have 7 minute give or take windows with time clocks but you have to take at least 30 minutes) you will get what we refer to as a “ding”. 3 “dings” = 1 write up. 4 write ups (verbal and 3 written) within a 6 month period equal termination.

if the person who wrote in this post truly did not get lunches not only would mandatory write ups be involved but your direct supervisor would be called into ethics and compliance to explain what the issue was and why you were not taking meal breaks.

i know this rule in and out b/c i am horrible about taking my lunches-i get so busy that before i know it it's time to leave. just my thoughts.

[dlatimer]

CV... I resent your implication that I am lying. What would be my motive? I am not the only one who has gone through this at this HCA hospital. All the supervisors knew I was eating lunch at the computer or just skipping, and I was not the only one. I never received a 'ding' for skipping lunch. I was told I needed to get more organized. I complain I don't have enough resources or help in caring for the complex ventilator dependent heart failing renal failure patients that I was assigned. There were nurses who would skip care to take lunch, but I don't feel comfortable taking that attitude. I take my job seriously. I like to think if my loved one was in that bed, then the nurse assigned would do what was necessary to provide the care that was needed.

I think this may point out that there different attitudes toward personal responsiblity of care.

[CVICUismydream]

Oh goodness. I did not say you were lying. I said that I did not know about the rest of the story but that I was clarifying one point. Of course you have no motive to lie.

I had a whole spill written but I refuse to argue or be negative over a post board.

[Sean 91]

Sometimes with 10 patients overnight where I worked for 2 years it was tough to take the lunch break and still get done by 9 a.m. on the 7p-7a shift. They started having us sign at the front desk for a while. But never heard of mandatory with write-ups. Must be something new. Or it might be just the nursing supervisor for that unit or that hospital.

[dlatimer]

Google HCA Lawsuits.

Here is a sample of the 31000 hits.

Nashville Newspaper:

HCA facing class-action lawsuit over nurse staffing

Company paid $2.7 million to settle prior case at same hospital, also claiming harm caused by understaffing

Stanley Feld MD.FACP,MACE

Neither HCA nor United Healthcare is looking out for the patients’ interest. They are looking out for their bottom line. 850,000 patient lost coverage in HCA hospitals in the Denver area. Patients fled to other Denver area hospitals. Their physicians also fled from HCA. Their physicians applied for rapid admitting and surgical privileges in other hospitals to HCA’s surprise. HCA also increased the fees in Florida and Las Vegas.

http://stanleyfeldmdmace.typepad.com/repairing_the_healthcare_/2006/09/i_might_have_i_.html

HCA settles shareholder lawsuits

The for-profit hospital chain HCA says it has paid $20 million to settle lawsuits that alleged that executives issued misleading statements about the company to boost its stock price.

The shareholder lawsuits accused Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA of talking up the company's prospects from January to July of 2005. During that time, shareholders said, HCA executives sold stock, then revealed in July 2005 that the company would experience worse-than-expected financial results.

The company did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney General investigations into the matter resulted in no charges.

http://unionreview.com/union-nurses-launch-hca-watchdog-website

http://www.hcawatch.com/ -This site has lots of news. It may surprise you.

[Mr.Bar-be-SubQ]

check the unit out before you apply...some units are night and day even on the same floor.

but I agree it is taking a turn for the better. whats being lost is that HCA-midwest in this metro area is and has been attemping to get not-for-profit status. and will likely achieve it soon in the coming years.

[tolerantgirl]

I work at HCA-same thing going on. No one to watch your patient when you go to lunch, never seeing or speaking to charge nurse all shift because there is only 1, doing your own orders, answering phones,etc...

[babiesRmylife]

It's all "hospital politics." I've worked at both an HCA & NON-HCA facility. I've seen bad staffing & high turn over rates in both of these facilities. Some hospitals in general are better than others just as some UNITS are better than others.

High stress & more "emotionally" draining units are obviously going to have higher turn over rates. Pay is about the same here in Kansas, can also vary depending on experience level.

Staffing depends on the unit. An ICU (2-4 patients occiasionally more) is often better staffed than a general floor would be & the floor often carries a heavier patient load (6-10+). This is not always true, but this is what I have usually seen & have known to be true while working in such cases.

Best of luck!

[Sam63]

My sister worked 33 years with HCA Bayonet Point, lost her job due to the fact that they eliminated her job while she fights with Adenocarcinoma in the 4th stage and is fighting for her life.....FOR SHAME HCA!...All I can say is I pray that Karma comes back 10 fold on the one who decided that action!