Benefits Manager with questions concerning working hours?

sunnyjohn · Dec 15, 2006

subscribing to thread.

benefitmanager · Dec 20, 2006

What does sunnyjohn's message mean?

"subscribing to thread."

I have registered etc with site, is there something else that needs to be done to ask questions or reasons why no one responded?

Thanks

sunnyjohn · Dec 20, 2006

No harm,

I thought your questions were very interesting. I wanted to see the responses.

I hope people respond soon.

outcomesfirst, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

I would appreciate if the board could help answer some questions surrounding nurses work schedules and if benefit related issues may or may not influence scheduling behavior pertaining to hours worked?
If full benefits were available for nurses working a minimum of 24 hours would that be an attraction for you, and if so, would you work only the minimum or would you remain working a typical 36 hours or 3-12's?
How many of you work for at least two hospitals? If so, what are the major reasons for working for another hospital verses the additional hours at one hospital?
If benefits/salary were enhanced for employees working at least 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next, would you be interested or is 48 hours in one week a total turn-off?
From the forums I have learned and gathered information that stems from operational issues affecting nurse turnover and overall job satisfaction, however I am not on the operational side of the spectrum and trying to understand the relationship of benefits, schedules, and job satisfaction as it relates to nurse retention and turnover.
Thanks in advance

Benefits for 24 hours - no, benefits are benefits, you either take them or you don't. I have not met many nurses who are only lookng for benefits, I am sure there are some, but my guess is it is rare.

I have worked at two and three hospitals in the past. Reasons include getting the hours I want, workload versus pay (for example FT at Med-Surg vs monitoring a desk overnight - higher pay/less work) and higher pay ie FT at one hospital with benes etc and per diem at another for $10-15/hr more.

For me, two jobs meant I needed money - school, Xmas, vacation. When staffing, it was always the money - double time etc was the greatest attraction. One facility was terrific - we were a team and relied on each other and enjoyed working together, if you were asked to work extra to cover a sick, no questions you did it, without the negotiations - and is was appreciated, not abused. One facility was a pit, double and even triple time was refused routinely, phone machine on.

When I was younger, no family, 48 - 60 hour work weeks - no problem. When I had young children, 36 hours, especially back to back was really tough and I think turned me off staff nursing. Now that I am a bit older, I do not want to work 12 hours and be exhausted on my day off, or too tired to have a meal, or catch a movie. Do I still want money, yes, as much as I can make, as easily as I can make it - and frankly, that is not available as a staff nurse unless you kill yourself.

wjf00 · Dec 20, 2006

I would appreciate if the board could help answer some questions surrounding nurses work schedules and if benefit related issues may or may not influence scheduling behavior pertaining to hours worked?
If full benefits were available for nurses working a minimum of 24 hours would that be an attraction for you, and if so, would you work only the minimum or would you remain working a typical 36 hours or 3-12’s?
How many of you work for at least two hospitals? If so, what are the major reasons for working for another hospital verses the additional hours at one hospital?
If benefits/salary were enhanced for employees working at least 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next, would you be interested or is 48 hours in one week a total turn-off?
From the forums I have learned and gathered information that stems from operational issues affecting nurse turnover and overall job satisfaction, however I am not on the operational side of the spectrum and trying to understand the relationship of benefits, schedules, and job satisfaction as it relates to nurse retention and turnover.
Thanks in advance

I am fully benefited at 20 hours a week. I found out early on that getting extra work is NEVER a problem, but getting a day off is ALWAYS a problem. I need the bennies, so I strive to have the shortest work week I can get with benefits.

I worked per diems at another hospital for a while, but once I realized I could get all the extra hours I want at the one hospital, I quit the per diem. Things I liked about the second job: 4 hour shift option. I love the 7PM-11PM shift, could work a 100 of those in a row, no problem. The other thing I loved, NO float. I would rather be cancelled than float. It is never about the money, I have NEVER asked about pay, all area hospitals pay within a certain range. Ratios are very very important. The first time I get dumped on, I start looking for something else. The bennies each hospital offers are very similar, so I rarely consider that.

Things that cost little that most RN's I work with like are CE classes, coffee maker on the unit, and committees that can actually change things.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 20, 2006

I wish, on a related note, that more employers would offer benes for nurses to start immediately. No one likes to be without insurance for a few months on starting a new job.

leslie :-D · Dec 20, 2006

thankfully benefits are not a concern for me.

my husband has superior benefits at his job and know they are so far, unmatched.

i like what someone else said, about a coffeemaker on the unit and nsg committees that execute positive change.

actually, i would also appreciate zero tolerance for toxic workplaces.

leslie

MIA-RN1, RN · Dec 21, 2006

* if full benefits were available for nurses working a minimum of 24 hours would that be an attraction for you, and if so, would you work only the minimum or would you remain working a typical 36 hours or 3-12's?

i need the money more than the benefits, so i would do 36h regardless

* how many of you work for at least two hospitals? if so, what are the major reasons for working for another hospital verses the additional hours at one hospital?one job for me

* if benefits/salary were enhanced for employees working at least 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next, would you be interested or is 48 hours in one week a total turn-off?i don't know...i can only handle about 40h/week...i think it would depend on the salary because than extra 8h would be overtime and that would be almost worth it if the salary was enhanced enough. but definitely not interested if one must be on call at all during that time.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

Benefits are a huge concern to me. I took a job that I was uncertain about and lost it, but thankfully I had been there long enough to be entitled to COBRA. I just took a job that will start at 3 days a week simply to pay for that since I will not be covered until I become f/t.

I always picked up extra shifts simply because we were chronically short-staffed and people only called out if they really had to. It was a consideration to my coworkers and my residents.

Overtime starting after 12 hours in one day rather than waiting to exceed 40 would be marvelous too, in the event that one was mandated to work a double. Sixteen straight hours deserve something a little extra.

My facility closed the cafeteria at 1 pm and was not open weekends or holidays. Huge signs were plastered all over the residents' pantry that staff were not to eat the food, and we were not permitted to leave the facility period, even on breaks and lunch/dinner hours. That was a real PITA. Can we say, Doritos and Diet Mountain Dew?

We were permitted to use the facilities gym. From 6 - 8 am and 5 - 6:30 pm. Yeah, that worked, given that it didn't even coincide with shift changes.

Altra, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2006

I would appreciate if the board could help answer some questions surrounding nurses work schedules and if benefit related issues may or may not influence scheduling behavior pertaining to hours worked?
If full benefits were available for nurses working a minimum of 24 hours would that be an attraction for you, and if so, would you work only the minimum or would you remain working a typical 36 hours or 3-12's?
How many of you work for at least two hospitals? If so, what are the major reasons for working for another hospital verses the additional hours at one hospital?
If benefits/salary were enhanced for employees working at least 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next, would you be interested or is 48 hours in one week a total turn-off?
From the forums I have learned and gathered information that stems from operational issues affecting nurse turnover and overall job satisfaction, however I am not on the operational side of the spectrum and trying to understand the relationship of benefits, schedules, and job satisfaction as it relates to nurse retention and turnover.
Thanks in advance

My personal situation: my husband has good benefits available, but I get even better choices from my hospital, at a lower cost. So we use my benefits. I currently work 40 hrs./week. I rarely work OT, as the extra time away from family is a bigger negative than the extra $$.

Right now, if I could keep the full benefits w/24 hours a week ... I'm not sure I'd want to give up 16 hours pay every week. 30 hours w/full benefits? Sign me up ... :)

I personally would not want to do the alternating 36 / 48 hours deal. The 36-hr. week isn't really that much shorter, and the 48-hr. week would be too tiring. Just me ...

saguaro13 · Dec 29, 2006

if full benefits were available for nurses working a minimum of 24 hours would that be an attraction for you, and if so, would you work only the minimum or would you remain working a typical 36 hours or 3-12's?

i don't take the benefits offered at my hospital. they are terrible to begin with and my husband's benefits are much better. if i did need the benefits, full benefits at 24 hours would be great. and i would only work 24 hours!

how many of you work for at least two hospitals? if so, what are the major reasons for working for another hospital verses the additional hours at one hospital?

one hospital for me. but that said, i am considering others. it all depends on the working conditions at your hospital. it is much more appealling to have a place with self scheduling, better and more vacation time. sick time that is for sick time and not sick time that is taken out of your vacation time (big big deal for me) ability to take days off if needed without retribution. also if the staffing is poor, management is unaccountable or doesn't support the staff, no amount of money or benefits will get me in there on my day off. i've been offered double to quadruple time for extra shifts....i look at my caller id when the phone rings, and if it is my hospital...it goes unanswered.

if benefits/salary were enhanced for employees working at least 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next, would you be interested or is 48 hours in one week a total turn-off?

again, working conditions. i would happlily work 36 then 48 the next if the conditions were right. and 9 times out of 10 no hospital can meet that criteria, they simply do not care about their nursing staff...who make the hospital run smoothly and make sure their patients are taken care of.