Low Census - Is it Happening to You

[Miranda50]

Just wondering...have the number of deliveries decreased on your units over the past month. We usually do about 3500 deliveries per year at my hospital and our numbers have been way down, at least 30-40%. We're being cancelled all the time. I haven't worked a full week since the beginning of March. Our practices are projecting things to pick up mid-May. Just wanted to know if this was happening all over or is just specific to South Carolina.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

No our census isn't down at all. We are so full all the time. Our neuro ICU patients are always being overflowed to SICU or MICU.

[heron, ASN, RN]

So Trenia, you are suggesting that 80% of US citizens are unemployed.

Read the post again.

[Meg, RN]

Yes, our hospital has closed some of the units (not mine, a med-surg), but our problem is that they're calling off some of our full-time people to put float people in their place, which sucks. So essentially we'll have two nurses working from my unit, and then two float nurses filling in from other units. I understand that the nurses on the closed units have to earn a living too, so it's hard to complain. I feel like if they would just reopen some of the units, they would actually fill up. It's probably a way for our hospital to cut budgets. I've already been called off twice and it's only halfway through April.

[amy14]

I'm in southeast Missouri and our census has actually been over 90% for the last several weeks.

[rn4babies63]

Our L&D unit does about 1,000 births/year. We are unusually slow right now. It's almost scary. However, we know its just the calm before the storm.......it always is. We have been giving low census alot the past few weeks. I don't get mandated because of my senority. It is nice to get that 5 AM phone call offering low census, though. :)

[helicoptergal, BSN, RN]

Our NICU census is low. And we attribute it to many things. But interestingly enough a lot is attributed to the farm labor force having to go elsewhere for jobs, and the whole family goes.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

In the last two weeks, I got put on call twice...but called in both nights (one at almost 4 AM!) and two of the nights I worked I got floated to ER, then Tele, then the next shift ER.

[mochamonster]

Yes, just that. People cannot afford it. Much less infertility cash. I have heard this census down stuff from friends as well.

Just heard on the radio this morning that only 46% of US citizens are employed currently.

That is way off. It's more than 80%. These links will say 9% unemployment rate, but it is more like 18%. Don't believe anything you hear on the radio.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/u-s-unemployment-rate-tumbled-to-9-in-january-payrolls-increased-36-000.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/26/cbo-unemployment-rate-above-9-2016_n_814275.html

Trenia, you are comparing apples to oranges. Onaclearday said that 46% of the population (including elderly, children and disabled folks) are employed. You are quoting how much of the workforce is employed (meaning those who are seeking employment-a much smaller portion of the population). I could see both statements being accurate.

[obnurse/educator]

Our census has been very low. Since we are are now following AWHONN's staffing guidelines for Critical Access hospitals, we no longer get put on call. We do, however, have to float to med-surg.

[Otessa, BSN, RN]

So Trenia, you are suggesting that 80% of US citizens are unemployed.

I think she was saying 80% WERE employed.

[southernbelle08]

It is feast or famine on our unit. Earlier in the week I was put on call because we only had a couple babies. A few weeks ago we were so full we were running low on cribs for the babies & PP rooms for the Moms! You just never know where I work!

[serenity1]

We have been low for at least a month now. I have been put on-call at least 4-5 times in the last 2 mos. We do not float to other departments and pool employees are canceled or put on-call first. Sucks right now!