Are you feeling effects of the economy on nursing?

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Any nurses out there starting to feel the economic squeeze at their job? For the first time in many years, I'm concerned about my hours. Just 2 months ago I read an article that said nursing was recession proof. Yet our census drooped and everyone has lost on average 1 day a week for the last month now. 1-3 nurses a day on our small unit have been cancelled. We're wondering about taking on 2nd jobs. But, I've noticed there are not as many nursing jobs advertised anymore.

If your curious about what is going on in our profession around the US then input data below and share. Speculative E-articles are just that...speculative. We need information straight from valid sources. I think we could get a better picture of what's going on.

Your information would be appreciated.

I'll start first.

Title: RN

status: Full time, staff (non-traveler)

Category: acute care hospital

Specialty: oncology

# of beds in the unit:20

Geographics: Orange County, California

How has your facility or department been affected?: low census for tele and medical. Unsure about surgical and ICU. I've been called off 3-4 days last month. Looking for extra job. I heard it was slow at all hospitals in this area. Registry very slow. In the last year, I've only been called off once I think. Now I've ben called off 3-4 days this month alone. Doesn't look like it's going to turn around fast either.

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Specializes in Home Health.

Title: RN

status: 32 hours/week, staff (non-traveler)

Category: Long-Term Care Facility

Specialty: Nursing Home

# of beds in the unit: 202

Geographics: Southeast Wisconsin

How has your facility or department been affected?: Low census in the facility, lowest that it has been in many years. There is talk of decreasing staff, but nothing has been done yet. No hours decreased yet either.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, home care.

RN pediatrics, Seattle, WA- 28 beds Census up for resp season. No change in staffing. Hosp cont to recruit new RNs.

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Specializes in Critical care.

My hospital's census has been lower than normal for this time of year. The surgery schedule has also been lighter than usual. Less elective cases like knee replacements.

The staffing coordinator told me she has to cancel 15-20 RNs and assistants every shift because of low census. People get a little upset with her on the phone, but she's just adhering to guidelines administration has set. However, when you go on the floor these nurses seem really overloaded with the number of patients in their assignment. They seem to have an extra patient now and with less ancillary help.

In the PACU, people on the early shifts tend to get sent home early. The late people don't seem to be affected as much. The NM doesn't want them to leave too early in case of add-ons so call people don't have to come in.

I think we'll pick back up as it gets colder. There are several nursing homes around my hospital. Maybe people will get their elective surgeries done before the end of the year for insurance and deductible reasons.

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Specializes in med-surg-tele-peds.

The census has been lower than norm on my surg floor also. I can remember it being a little slower last year at this time but for onlt about a week. Census has been low now for 2-3 weeks...

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Get use to it as the economy tanks and people loose their health insurance less people will be coming to the hospital.

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Title: RN

status: 44 hours/week, staff

Category: Inpatient

Specialty: Hospice

# of beds in the unit: 25

Geographics: Ohio

How has your facility or department been affected?: Extra days picked up canceled, contingents canceled, part-timers still fill in, full timers still OK for time being. Census @ 60% of norm. Think some of this has to do with hospice medicare changes. Been slow since last month (longest stretch I remember ever) and then going to close down 6 beds @ a time for remodeling, so won't be filled to capacity in Dec either. Sounds as though they anticipated this recession down time - or anticipated some down time to regroup and figure out what we have to do to be 100% compliant. Oh, yeah - no waiting list either. Usually have people a mile long waiting for a bed. Guess people are putting off dying while in a recession. :icon_roll

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Specializes in MICU, neuro, orthotrauma.

Title: RN

status: Full time, staff (non-traveler)

Category: acute care hospital

Specialty: MICU

# of beds in the unit:14

Geographics: Erie, PA

How has your facility or department been affected?: I don't know about census because I am new to this area and hospital, but I do know that when tallied for the year, administration decided to cut alot of departments. Case Management is drastically cut. Whereas before we had one case manager assigned to our unit, we now have one case manager to share with three other units. They cut the case management staff by 12. Our hospital is 350 beds approx.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Title: RN

status: Full time, staff Nights

Category: acute care hospital

Specialty: Mixed ICU

# of beds in the unit:17

Geographics: Springfield, MA

How has your facility or department been affected?: New COO 15 non RN layoffs last month. We just found out that Days on ICU is overstaffed so they are trying some "creative" staffing solutions to avoid RN Layoffs. Fear that Day RN's will opt to come to nights and as one of the low men on totem pole I'm afraid of being laid off. Not many jobs posted at my facility and in my area.

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Specializes in NICU stepdown (PCA).

Im a new grad and I havent been able to find a job in central Ohio. Hospitals in my area are simply not hiring and my student loans are coming in. I will have to get a job unrelated to nursing just to make ends meet. Im disappointed, but people everywhere are having trouble landing jobs so I feel bad for complaining! The only thing is- the only jobs in my area seem to be for truck drivers and fast food. I feel really bad because I graduated college with honors (a BSN degree) and I cant find a job that requires even having a degree! Im worried, scared, and frustrated! My dad went on and on about how nurses will always have a job- but will we?

Ill be taking the Nclex as soon as I can afford it- thats pretty sad huh?!?

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Title: RN

status: Full time, staff (non-traveler)

Category: acute care hospital

Specialty: LDRP

# of beds in the unit:38

Geographics: Arizona

How has your facility or department been affected?: we don't seem to be feeling the recession at all, I usually have to say no to extra shifts every schedule. I guess as long as sex is still free we will always be full. But I will say that I'm looking for another job and there doesn't seem to be as many job postings out there as there was one or two months ago.

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

Title: RN

status: Full time, staff (non-traveler)

Category: acute care hospital

Specialty: ICU

# of beds in the unit: 16

Geographics: Texas

How has your facility or department been affected? As of now I see no effect. We are constantly holding ICU patients in the ER, I worked 5 shifts last week...so far so good, but who knows what next month, or heck next week will bring.

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