Can I please get a Parking Spot!

[ArrowRN]

I haven't written anything in a while, but keeping it short and venting...I am just so frustrated with all these employers who are treating nurses are second grade employees when it comes to parking. Doctors get priviliges such as their own lots closest to the facility. Some even get reserved spots with their name even if they there maybe once or twice per week.

I work at two hospitals and both of them treat nurses parking as a threat to their patients. One of them charges rediculous fees to the day shift and require them to purchase annual parking decals. Thanks goodness I work nights, but if I don't leave on time I will be cited and possibly ticketed.

The other facility, makes nurses park off campus and "shuttle" them to the hospital. Which means instead of reaching to work 15 mins early you got to be 30-45mins early to beat the shuttle rush catch your shuttle, more time unpaid and being wasted. All this is being done in the name of "patient first"...so what the rest of it? Patient's first...Nurses Last?

That brings to bear the question, are nurses truly essential personel at hospitals? and if so why are we always treated this way? What made me write this is a facility now threating crazy citation fees if the parking rules are not followed...I mean..if the parking rules are not followed BY NURSES.

This extends into other areas in society as well. For example, on Family Feud, there was a question on asking 100 people to name an occupation that save lives. The top answer was Firefighter, deservidly so but I dont think nurses even made the list. In my state there is a discount program for mortgages called "Good neighbor next door" but it only applies to firefighters, EMT/paramedics and police officers. you would think a nurse would be a good neighbor to have but the State does not think so.

When will the status of nursing be respected to where I can at least get a decent parking spot?

[Wuzzie]

This is what happens when you dont organize and unionize. The employer has ALL the power.

Just like the "company" store and living in the "company" house back in the early 20th century, where employees would end up owing their employer more money by the end of the month, than they made that month.

We ARE unionized!

[DowntheRiver]

I am fortunate that I do not pay for parking as I work at an outpatient center a mile away from our main campus. Some of the day shifters are forced to park in our garage and take a shuttle over. Same issues as mentioned: must arrive 45 minutes early, not paid, shuttle smells damp and the roof leaks. There is parking at the main campus but you do have to pay for it. There is a wait list for day shift. Fortunately, it is calculated by salary so the doctors and researchers pay the most with nurses paying less. Night shifters and weekends you can just park in the on-campus garage. Unfortunately, we are anchored to a college and they own one of the two garages and they charge the hospital for the garage so of course that is passed on to us. The campus is land locked; however, I believe the plan is to build a whole new hospital at a different location in the next 10 years and a huge parking garage is planned on land the hospital will own.

As for the person who said unionize, if my hospital gets a whiff of that you're gone. I don't know anybody in my area who is unionized as a nurse so I really think it depends on where you are.

[broughden]

We ARE unionized!

Then Id have a long talk with your union reps about why this isnt being resolved?

[Wuzzie]

Then Id have a long talk with your union reps about why this isnt being resolved?

It's on their radar but there is only so much they can do as the hospital does not own the parking facilities. And realistically what can they do? There's only so much parking and the patients can't be forced to park remotely.

[LibraNurse27, BSN, RN]

Feeling really spoiled right now... We have a big parking lot that always has spaces available for day and night shifters. Parking is harder for PM shift BUT we have valet parking for patients that staff can use as well. Even though we are the county hospital! Parking is free and valet is free... nice to have someone go get your car for you after a long shift. However the hospital I did my student rotations at in San Francisco charged $28 a day for parking! Still making up for those losses haha

[MiHopeFull, MSN, RN, NP]

I pay 57 dollars a month for parking

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I haven't written anything in a while, but keeping it short and venting...I am just so frustrated with all these employers who are treating nurses are second grade employees when it comes to parking. Doctors get priviliges such as their own lots closest to the facility. Some even get reserved spots with their name even if they there maybe once or twice per week.

I work at two hospitals and both of them treat nurses parking as a threat to their patients. One of them charges rediculous fees to the day shift and require them to purchase annual parking decals. Thanks goodness I work nights, but if I don't leave on time I will be cited and possibly ticketed.

The other facility, makes nurses park off campus and "shuttle" them to the hospital. Which means instead of reaching to work 15 mins early you got to be 30-45mins early to beat the shuttle rush catch your shuttle, more time unpaid and being wasted. All this is being done in the name of "patient first"...so what the rest of it? Patient's first...Nurses Last?

That brings to bear the question, are nurses truly essential personel at hospitals? and if so why are we always treated this way? What made me write this is a facility now threating crazy citation fees if the parking rules are not followed...I mean..if the parking rules are not followed BY NURSES.

This extends into other areas in society as well. For example, on Family Feud, there was a question on asking 100 people to name an occupation that save lives. The top answer was Firefighter, deservidly so but I dont think nurses even made the list. In my state there is a discount program for mortgages called "Good neighbor next door" but it only applies to firefighters, EMT/paramedics and police officers. you would think a nurse would be a good neighbor to have but the State does not think so.

When will the status of nursing be respected to where I can at least get a decent parking spot?

When you lead the charge to make this happen. Speak up!!!!!

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Hello,

I am totally spoiled at my current hospital the garage we park in is literally right next to the hospital, and it's free. I am about to try a new venture and work in a city hospital so things will be changing. No more free parking and if I work the day shift it will be offsite parking and a shuttle ride, on top of paying for it. I will say the 22.00 an hour pay raise will make up for it though, and I am excited to work in a city!

I do wish they would update the subway system in my area, as it's been the same for decades and only caters to the 9-5 folks. I couldn't take the rail in because my shift starts at 7 am and I would not be able to get there on time! The area has spent billions updating the highway, but they continue to neglect the commuter rail and have failed to increase the trains in the morning and make them earlier. There are 7 major hospital in the city where I will be working in, that would be a lot of people that could use the train instead of driving if they would just fix it!!

Annie

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

I work at a rural high school, free parking (I do pay property taxes, so there is that!). My beef is that I drive through where the kids park and they are driving WAY nicer cars than my old beater!!!

[Amethya]

I work at a school, with minimal parking. My school used to be a WIC office and a Bank, so there's enough parking for us and for some parents. But always in the morning, there's parents parking on our spots to drop off kids or to wait for the first bell. It's very annoying, especially if you come late one day and there's no parking. So you have to park to the parking spots super far from the main building, where our clock in scanner is and you are basically late. It's like, drop off your kid and leave, they will be okay.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

Preach it, Friend! Our lot is so tiny that if you don't get here before 7:00 a.m, you have the privilege of parking a block away for free. The only problem with that is the neighborhood, the weather and the lot owner who will charge you 15.00 dollar parking fee if you are there after 3:30 p.m., in the event that there is something going on downtown at the Xcel Center. (A concert or what have you.)

I drive a very long way to get to work, fight traffic and then dash to find a space. I am allowed to come later if I want, but then the lot is full and I might end up paying a fee. I can't afford that on a regular basis. Believe me, I hear you!

[fulitarn, BSN, RN]

The hospital with an ED closest to me does this to patients too. There is a parking garage across from the ED, and the first 2 levels are Dr parking only. You have to go up to level 3 to get to patient parking. There are 2, only 2, ED patient parking spots on the ground level. It's really kind of pathetic.