Coronavirus and Pay

[Marianna5]

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.

[NedRN]

While penalties have been removed, you do know there is a legal personal requirement to have health insurance, right? But why not go staff? There is a reason why per diem pays better than full time, it's the benefits.

[DannyBoy8, RN]

3 hours ago, otgd8 said:

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?

Leave. Take a f/t job that offers a signing bonus.

[Nurse1288]

I think this is a time when unions may come in handy, especially in terms of a prearranged wages in hazard/crisis. This differs from the past endemics in that they are expecting nurses to be on the front lines with less than ideal protective equipment, higher ratios and lack of ancillary help. Unions may of coorifice have a hard time making a difference in terms of PPE (if supplies aren't available they are not available), but at least there would be additional compensation available to take care of our needs with daycare, paying bills, ect. The hospital systems need to know that we are not indispensable. If nurses are not treated/paid better, the shortage and morale will just worsen over time. And supplementing with travel/agency nurses is not ideal (although necessary at times). These nurses taking these assignments will get overloaded with the heavier assignments many times with barely any orientation. The increased wages for these agency RNs leave the established staff RN feel frustrated. Once this crisis passes, nurses need to band together more to ensure we are protected and fairly compensated for our work. We owe it ourselves and our profession. Otherwise nobody will want to be running to the front lines, risking their lives.

[Katie82, RN]

On 3/17/2020 at 11:22 PM, NedRN said:

No pay increases for staff. Kind of sucks that travel nursing is booming right now as hospitals try to muscle up, and supply and demand means pay is going up. I'd like to take advantage of that (I'm already a traveler), but the pandemic means elective surgeries are going to drop off a cliff and the OR is my specialty. But most specialties are in big demand.

I would think any hospital would be happy to have you. You are a master at sterile technique.