Coronavirus and Pay

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Hello Everybody,

I expect the working conditions to deteriorate soon. I do not feel we are compensated enough for what this epidemic will bring. My childcare cost will go up providing anybody wants to watch my kids knowing I take care of very sick people.

Please share your thoughts on this topic. Thank you.

Specializes in ED, psych.
16 minutes ago, Orion81RN said:

OK...except many are NOT being protected. I'm not trying to be argumentative with you, but I am just so tired of hearing what HCWs signed up for. I will repeat myself, and I'm sure not for the last time. NOBODY knew we would be asked to wear flippin bandanas as protection from a virus we know very little about. This is a rich country, and I'm supposed to believe that it's acceptable to not have been prepared with the most basic supplies. I don't think higher pay from work should be expected. But something needs to be done for our colleagues putting themselves at such high risk.

I changed my response in a different thread, and my attitude; it was ignorant at the time. We DIDN’T sign up to be lectured by the federal government that we’re irresponsible with our masks, all the while using the same one the entire shift, or to use bandannas. God only knows what’s getting through. I agree with your statement.

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55 minutes ago, Orion81RN said:

I made a grave error and trusted my husband to get the taxes done in 2018...?‍♀️ Never did. We screwed ourselves so it looks like we won't be getting anything, understandably.

You still have to file for 2018. File now anyway. If you don't, penalties, interest, and fees will still accumulate. Perhaps if you move quickly enough, your share might be counted toward what you owe for the delinquency.

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All this ‘if you don’t feel safe and fear for your patient’s safety, etc.’ is all well and good, but... we all know the reality.

In a crisis situation your manager is not gonna wanna hear your concerns about whether you’re comfortable or not. You’re gonna have to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in or people are gonna die.

As for charting and CYA, you’re on your own.

There’s tons of travel assignments out there and more coming. I just saw one in NY for 8 weeks, 48hrs/week, $100/hr.

Nurses are to COVID what firefighters were to 9/11. Don’t take any ***

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Specializes in retired LTC.
14 hours ago, Anonymous666 said:


Nurses are to COVID what firefighters were to 9/11. Don’t take any ***

WOW!

Well-said!

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Specializes in RN-BC, CHPN, Hospice, Med/Surg.

Seems foolish to not offer financial incentives to your existing nurses...if they aren't there, you're gonna be spending a ton more on travel nurses. The hospital system at which I work says there will be no hazard pay because "caring for all patients, no matter their diagnosis, is part of our commitment." That's only fair if you're asking nurses to perform in roles that they were trained for. Everyone is scrambling and working outside their comfort zone, that deserves hazard pay, IMO.

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Specializes in ICU/CVICU/PACU.

I too feel that we should receive hazard/incentive pay. Last week a nurse in my unit showed me an ad for travel nurses at MY hospital for $2.5/week..it's not near as much as I've seen in other states, but it certainly caught my attention. Especially when 2 new travelers came up to me for their assignment last Friday at the triage drive thru screening area. Then it really hit me that I was working in a hot zone making my regular ICU pay, and they were making much more than I was; it made me start wondering what it was going to take for my hospital to finally give us some sort of hazard/incentive pay....not holding my breath though

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2.5K a week certainly sounds good to an overworked staff nurse in a national health crisis in all but the highest paid areas. Just for some counterpoint here: If a traveler gets sick, contract cancelled, zero benefits. No paid time off, and almost certainly far worse health insurance than you have. May well be on the hook for housing paid for and not used. Far away from home with no family support. I can promise you that for travelers so affected (even without the current crisis), they will wish they were you.

The grass always looks greener, and it is true that supply and demand does raise compensation for travelers in the short term, but there are significant downsides for travelers versus staff. The more rational travelers do it for the lifestyle, not the pay. When I started traveling, my first two assignments paid a big one dollar an hour more than my staff job ($16 versus $15 in 1995). I did get paid housing, but no health insurance. Things are better now 25 years later, but it is still hard for most staff nurses to pencil out any financial advantages from becoming a traveler (generally a wash in my opinion) despite hearing about "fantastic" pay. Not to mention weakened family and social ties and interactions.

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Seems foolish to not offer financial incentives to your existing nurses...if they aren't there, you're gonna be spending a ton more on travel nurses.

Hospital managers are not quite that clueless. There are a limited number of travel nurses for what may be a truly unlimited demand in the next few months. No hospital is going to be able to staff their hospitals fully with travelers. Paying staff more is not going to eliminate staff going out sick with Covid 19 and travelers will not be able to fill needs, no matter what pay rates are offered.

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Specializes in RN-BC, CHPN, Hospice, Med/Surg.
22 hours ago, NedRN said:

Hospital managers are not quite that clueless. There are a limited number of travel nurses for what may be a truly unlimited demand in the next few months. No hospital is going to be able to staff their hospitals fully with travelers. Paying staff more is not going to eliminate staff going out sick with Covid 19 and travelers will not be able to fill needs, no matter what pay rates are offered.

Except when your nurses are taking jobs elsewhere that do pay more. My facility has had a ton of nurses leave and take jobs that are offering much higher pay, far more than that have called out sick.

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A ton of nurses? Can you be more specific with a number versus total employed? Are they taking jobs with other local facilities? If so, isn't that normal in most places? When I travel to many cities, it turns out at least half the staff nurses I work with have worked at other local hospitals, with some switching regularly. This common practice doesn't change the number of nurses working in an area.

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Specializes in RN-BC, CHPN, Hospice, Med/Surg.
22 minutes ago, NedRN said:

A ton of nurses? Can you be more specific with a number versus total employed? Are they taking jobs with other local facilities? If so, isn't that normal in most places? When I travel to many cities, it turns out at least half the staff nurses I work with have worked at other local hospitals, with some switching regularly. This common practice doesn't change the number of nurses working in an area.

No idea of the total number, only know how it has affected the units I get information about. And sure, job shifting is totally normal, but when it's draining the nurses out of some hospitals and leaving them short staffed, it seems that if you paid those nurses a similar amount, they'd stay at their original place of employment.

I don't have all the answers though, and am super glad I'm not in management/leadership right now.

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My facility is offering pay increases to staff (except executives, residents and non-resident doctors) based on evaluations only if you have not reached the maximum hourly rate for your position.

This sounds great but I would personally prefer to have temporary health insurance since I am per diem. But hospital management is just ignoring my requests. I am tempted to just leave. Thoughts?

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