Poor retention=more travelers/agency?

[Graduatenurse14]

I've only been an RN 1 year so I really don't understand how this works. I only know what happens at my hospital.

I work in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic in a unionized Level 1 Trauma hospital which has poor overall working conditions thus poor retention. We were going over ratio all of the time, ORs were slammed and it was really bad for a few months until the hospital hired travelers/per diem agency nurses. It is more manageable now but it's a temporary fix.

There is NO nursing shortage here as this region still has about 6 Diploma schools/at least 6 Community College campuses graduating ADNs/at least 8 Universities graduating BSNs so it is really my hospital that has issues not lack of nurses. We are tripping over nurses here.

Question: As travelers, do you find that a lot of places that employ you have the kinds of issues mine does? If you see a hospital looking to hire you in a city where you know there are plenty of RN's, do you know that something is amiss with that facility?

Thanks for responding advance!!

[NedRN]

Poor management is the very definition of a vicious circle. The resulting positive feedback loops continue or worsen the situation. A ready labor supply makes no difference. These management cultures are almost impossible to change and the local nurses know it. I'd bet if you ask, this hospital has been in the same shape or getting worse for years if not decades.

Hospitals hire travelers as a last resort (other than California with mandated ratios, or hospitals with strong unions). We know that, and of course we know we are going into a very poorly staffed situation a good bit of the time. Even well run hospitals need travelers from time to time, and there are seasonal swings, regional shortages, and EMR conversions that provide "good" assignments.

Personally, I consider the reason I go to hospitals is to support the overworked staff, not the management.

[Argo]

To add to what neb said, you say something about tons of nurses available. Just because someone has an RN next to their name doesn't mean they are even a half decent RN. When a hospital hires a traveler they know they are getting someone with the experience they need for a contracted amount of time. They aren't getting someone else to train and hope stays around.

Alot of places use travel nursing as a recruiting tool. My current hospital is no exception. It is a decent place to work but the area is not ideal to live for a lot of people. They hire new grads, train them and they leave after 2 years or sooner because they can't handle the "stressful job". They have a constant need for travelers here because of this revolving door.

[Graduatenurse14]

Poor management is the very definition of a vicious circle. The resulting positive feedback loops continue or worsen the situation. A ready labor supply makes no difference. These management cultures are almost impossible to change and the local nurses know it. I'd bet if you ask, this hospital has been in the same shape or getting worse for years if not decades.

Thank you for replying NedRN- There have been issues for years on every level of the organization from C-Suite people making bad investments, wanting to grow too quickly, to outright fraud/theft which lead to bankruptcy and I think this is the third CNO in 5 years.

Just because someone has an RN next to their name doesn't mean they are even a half decent RN. When a hospital hires a traveler they know they are getting someone with the experience they need for a contracted amount of time.

Thanks for replying Argo- I can see why a hospital would do this for the experience aspect rather than training someone new. It would be nice if some of the experienced ones liked it enough to stay.