Do many openings = BAD FLOOR?

EricJRN, MSN, RN · May 1, 2007

May be a red flag, unless it's a new floor or one that is expanding. Might not hurt to apply and see what kind of feeling you get at the interview.

justjenny · May 1, 2007

It really could be a number of things. As mentioned, expanding the unit, etc. Recently, we had a lot of RNs leave due to changes in scheduling and that did not sit well with some nurses (I liked it!) so they left the unit.

As mentioned, ask in the interview.

Jenny

TazziRN, RN · May 1, 2007

Not unless there is a high turnover. Don't look only at how many openings there are, but how often they open up.

Jolie, BSN · May 1, 2007

I agree with the others that having a large number of openings does not necessarily equal a "bad" unit. It does warrant thorough investigation, though as to the reason for the vacancies, and the action plan to get back to full staffing.

If you are a new grad, or relatively inexperienced nurse, I would advise you to proceed with extreme caution, even if the nurse manager is able to explain the vacancies. Simply as a practical matter, it is very difficult to adequately staff a unit under such circimstances, and also provide quality orientation to new employees. If this unit really interests you, it might be better to wait until the staffing issues have been partially adressed before going to work there.

walk6miles · May 1, 2007

It could mean anything. Most common reason is personnel problems, including staffing, individual floor's rules, mistreatment of GN's are just a few.

An example: great floor - TEAM work - super Manager who, for whatever reason, placed a "assistant manager" in between herself and her staff. The AM is mean-spirited, lacking any management skills, vindictive (no cell phones on the floor - a GOOD thing except she has one glued to her ear)!

No negotiation of schedules: no challenges to silly little AM rules.

The floor went from "the place to work" from full staff (18 at night) to 6 - SIX nurses and 12 openings! You know what that means.

I left because of the bitterness and nasty remarks that I had to endure (not directed at me) - nasty spirit-crushing remarks made in the report room (doesn't this uneducated witch know how that opens the entire hospital to law suites!!) - if you defend someone, you get the crap too!

Just last week one of their new GN's left because of the maniacal ravings of this woman - another nurse lost. At last count, five left in one week!!! :scrying:

The super Manager is in complete denial.

I left and others left - wonder if she will ever see the light!

RNperdiem, RN · May 1, 2007

Do a little investigating about who is there now. It is not easy to find out, but what you need to know is: is there a strong core of seasoned nurses who work well together and with others.

A unit can have openings and turnover, but if a strong team oriented core remains, the floor can be a good place to work.

Where you do not want to work is a place patched together by an array of agency, floaters, new graduates, and one or two overburdened/burned out staff nurses.

hope3456, ASN, RN · May 1, 2007

Along these lines.....what do y'all think about sign on bonuses? In my experience, at least in my area, when you see ads in the paper for sign on bonuses (most commonly put there by LTC's) it is synonymous with the place being a he!!hole.

squeakykitty · May 1, 2007

Along these lines.....what do y'all think about sign on bonuses? In my experience, at least in my area, when you see ads in the paper for sign on bonuses (most commonly put there by LTC's) it is synonymous with the place being a he!!hole.

The LTC in my town has signup bonuses, and a big turnover.

bill4745, RN · May 2, 2007

Ask the nurse manager for permission to spend some time alone with the staff, especially on the shift you will be hired for. Ask a lot of questions, and trust your gut reaction - are these people I could work with?

Ruby Vee, BSN · May 2, 2007

big sign on bonuses are a bad sign -- the bigger the bonus the worse the sign. a great place to work doesn't need to recruit using the big bucks. you might find it's just not worth it.

many openings at the same time -- could be a good sign, but not always. as alluded to above, it could be a change in management (for the worse) or a change in policies that some nurses just couldn't live with. of course, maybe those changes in policies that other nurses couldn't live with appeal to you. perhaps going to straight 12s chased a lot of nurses away, but that's what you're looking for. or eliminating straight 12s . . . instituting a no floating policy but requiring everyone to do on call . . . going to salary from hourly wages.

on the other hand, it could be a good opportunity. for example, another hospital is opening a cardiothoracic unit, and the teritiary center in town is sending a surgeon to start the unit. a core group of experienced nurses from the tertiary center are moving to the new hospital to help start the unit, and they're going to train the rest of the staff of that new unit. this situation creates multiple openings in both units, and is a good opportunity to get some cardiothoracic experience.

best to find out exactly why there are lots of openings and make your decision accordingly.

anne74 · May 2, 2007

I would flat out ask them, "Why are there so many openings on this unit?" It's totally fair question. Also, good comment from someone else - if you're a new grad, I wouldn't work somewhere that was short-staffed, or had a ton of unfilled positions. They won't have the staff to spend time with you to learn. They'll be forced to throw you to the wolves.