Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Advice

Hello all,

I have a question for the more experienced nurses or maybe for someone who went through this.

I started working at my hospital last August as a new grad. I went through their Versant program and I've been on my own since December. I work on a busy telemetry floor. The acuity level of our patients is very high and I'm learning a lot. Although, at times, I feel very overwhelmed, I like my floor and my co-workers.

So everything is going well but a couple of days ago all the RN's in the hospital received a letter from HR with an offer for voluntary leave. The letter went on to say that due to cuts in Medicare reimbursements and fluctuating census, the hospital has financial troubles and that adjustments in staffing are inevitable.

No other words from management, honestly I feel like we are being left in the dark. No explanation on what they plan to do, when and if they plan to lay off nurse, how many, etc.

I spoke to several people, including one of my mangers, and they told me that we should be ok (we are union but the contract is up for re-negotiations in April), especially considering our floor just lost several nurses. But I'm scared anyway because there are a lot of nurses with many years of seniority at this hospital and I'm scared they're gonna move them around and bumped the new ones.

Have any of you ever experienced a situation like this? What does that letter mean exactly? Are they really going to lay off people? HR doesn't really want to answer these questions, saying there's no definitive plans.

It was so hard for me to find this job as a new grad here in Southern California. And I feel that if I have to look for another job, it would be very hard since I only have 7 months experience now.

Sorry for the long rant, I'm just concerned and want to see if this happened to anyone.

p.s. I already started sending out my resume......

Thank you for reading this far :)

Daniela

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    Sorry to hear about your situation. I think you are wise to start sending out your resume. If you are in the union, you can ask your rep if they have heard anything or if they know how lay offs are handled. In my experience, in a union shop, it goes by seniority, which means that the last hired are the first to go. Just hang in there, because you may be okay, but I'd definitely be looking for a new job also.

  • Quote

    I agree with the above poster. Begin sending out your resumes. Do not take voluntary leave. Wait until they "lay" you off. That way you will be eligible for "unemployment" benefits. If another position comes available take that, but wait until they lay you off.

  • Quote
    • Experts

    What a coincidence (not) that this letter came out so soon before contract negotiations. The cynic in me thinks this is just a move to rattle the nurses' cages. I would brush up your resume just in case, but I wouldn't make a move until I had to. You're in a job that has union protection, not something that's easily had. Don't make a decision in haste. Let them tell you they're going to lay you off.

  • Quote

    Everyone is probably going to find themselves in the same boat as the new reimbursement rates take effect.

    Many facilities in my organization have been functioning on "flex staffing" for quite a while now. Basically, staffing levels are derived from patient census.... For ALL departments, not just clinical ones. When census drops, everyone has to decrease worked hours. In most departments, the managers have worked with staff to decide the best way to accomplish this. Most nursing areas keep a "request" call-off list. Staff sign up for days that they are willing to be called off. Non-clinical departments are coping by decreasing work hours across the board for everyone at the same time.

    It's a pretty grim outlook overall. And it could become much worse for hospitals with bad HCAHPS scores - they will be losing reimbursement to the organizations with the best scores.

    As nurses, we need to become more aware of the economic drivers - and participate in activities to influence legislation that affects us so directly.

  • Quote
    • Experts

    I'd be "thinking" about the possibilities of a new job ... and updating my resume ... but I wouldn't be making a move just yet. It may well be just a negotiating tactic. They'll be asking the union for concessions and they want the rank and file to be in favor of making them.

    There is a good chance that by the time this plays out, you will have enough seniority to survive a layoff. Certainly there are some people with less experience than you would go first. So don't make yourself more vulnerable by not being a good employee. Stay emotionally invested in your current job and make the best of it unless you happen to notice something wonderful becoming available. Stay engaged so that management WANTS to keep you around.

    Also ... and very important ... If you are laid off, you are entitled to certain financial and legal benefits. If you quit -- you don't get those benefits.

  • Quote
    • Author

    Thank you everyone for your replies! Yes I'm afraid these kind of situations are gonna happen more often with the cuts in reimbersuments. Hospitals are really suffering from it. As a consequence they cut staffing but because we are at a bare minimum we can't really provide good quality care and patient's satisfaction scores keep going down.

    I will stay at my job, as some of you mentioned if they lay me off, at least I can get unemployment (something I didn't even think about). I am looking around, but everywhere I look they're asking for 1 to 2 years experience. I have now 7 months, so hopefully they won't lay off people for a few more months and I'll be able to get my 1 year.

  • Quote

    good attitude. it wouldn't hurt to be as cheerful and eager to learn as you have been all along, either. you never know where that line will be drawn.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.