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?
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.
Can you use the LMA shuttle?
I know of a laryngeal mask airway , but it is not a shuttle.
What is the LMA shuttle?? Please fill me in experienced traveler:)
I did get a pleasant surprise this am when my concord coach stopped at park street instead of south station. That literally cut a half hour off the commute!
The way it was explained to me once was the God's ( doctors) make money for the hospitals. The nurses are a COST to the hospitals. Hence the parking situation, along with other things like FREE MEALS FOR DRS AND NO WAIT TIME IN FOOD LINE
I know of nurses who decide against the monolith Univ hospital in our town soley due to the parking Problem you describe. Excrpt now , hospital#2 ( only other game in town unless you get in to the VA), is doing similar things.
My parking fees are 2,400,year for the 13 shifts on the schedule.I must arrive before 6am in order to get into the lot and park myself,if I am later than 6 I am relegated to worse spot,have to tip valet,or not get in at all.
There is a free lot in a open area,basically unguarded,many there lost tires and wheels,then you shuttle in an old stenchy van,then walk up three sets of stairs and a corridor the length of several blocks.
The docs get free or if a moonlighter $5./day.
Street spots are 10 blocks away,many are traps for tow a way and ,huge fines.You have to arrive by 5:30 am and waitin your car til it is light enough to walk the blocks.
The meters are 12 hour in some spots, you pay in quarters about $8.00 or CC but never works well when it rains,but by the time you get off work the meter is expired cause you have to pay by 6;30 to make it inside on time ,and then it will be expired by 6:30p.And the ticketing officer will be there.
I know of a laryngeal mask airway , but it is not a shuttle.
What is the LMA shuttle?? Please fill me in experienced traveler:)
I did get a pleasant surprise this am when my concord coach stopped at park street instead of south station. That literally cut a half hour off the commute!
About the hospital not giving nurses free parking??? Seriously?
Again, I'd love to hear what other non-revenue generating hospital labor is getting free parking while nursing is not.
I didn't say anyone was getting free parking except doctors.
I guess it depends on where you work, maybe even what town you're in. Where I work, everyone, including doctors, parks in the same place. Only handicapped are close to the door. Even the Administrator and Managers hike from the lower 40. Even that walk is pretty short. Some park farthest away for the exercise.
As an NP, I suppose you consider yourself a revenue generator, so you aren't a lowly nurse.
How, though, would you like to have to do what some of the people on this post have to do in terms of time expenditure to travel just from where they park to get to their worksite? You wouldn't. Want to pay extra for parking for being late getting off? Want to traverse unsafe neighborhoods at night?
Maybe all non generators should strike for a couple of weeks. Can you handle housekeeping? You sound, frankly, snooty. And maybe you could work as a cook, baker, supply chain person, Security, or other low on the totem pole person. Shame on you. You are forgetting from whence you came, methinks. Sorry if I am wrong.
And yes, this is a genuinely painful issue, fought daily by plenty of workers. So they need to speak up about it if they are unhappy.
I didn't say anyone was getting free parking except doctors.
Why do you think the doctors get the free parking and no one else does? They aren't unionized so it isn't the union picketing for them to get free parking and I haven't seen them on the corner holding signs demanding it. So what then? As I see it there are two reasons: they directly make money for the hospital and there are far fewer of them.
As an NP, I suppose you consider yourself a revenue generator, so you aren't a lowly nurse. Maybe all non generators should strike for a couple of weeks. Can you handle housekeeping? You sound, frankly, snooty. And maybe you could work as a cook, baker, supply chain person, Security, or other low on the totem pole person. Shame on you. You are forgetting from whence you came, methinks
I am a nurse. I also do directly bill/generate revenue. I don't "consider" myself that because I'm snooty it is a pure fact. Bedside RNs get screwed because they don't bill for services. Its not that nurses are "lowly": its that they are treated like hourly labor. Nurses need to change that and with that will come more specialized treatment.
How, though, would you like to have to do what some of the people on this post have to do in terms of time expenditure to travel just from where they park to get to their worksite? You wouldn't. Want to pay extra for parking for being late getting off? Want to traverse unsafe neighborhoods at night?
I've been there too, I understand. If nurses were given free on-site parking with the doctors but the housekeeping and sanitation employees weren't would we be as up in arms about it?
I work at a community hospital and actually get to park right outside the employee entrance. Right inside the door are the two regular units I'm assigned to. We have assigned staff parking right next to the MDs. Just one more reason why I really like my current job.
Before that I've had to walk several blocks in "downtown" neighborhoods. I also worked at a place where the parking garage was run by a different company at night ...so like you said, if you left late they'd try to charge you.
try to charge?
Yes, try ...because I left without paying it each of the few times it happened. They took down my name and ID number and I never heard anything about it again.
The parking garage lady telling me, "You're not supposed to leave work late." makes me a bit irritable.
I get free parking in the garage and the garage is across the main entrance INSIDE the hospital campus. They even built a new employee garage just for us because we used to have to take the shuttle.
BosLeyDog1
15 Posts
Sweat socks and despair! Great turn of phrase!