I've worked at the same hospital for the last 20 years. I've never been as unhappy with my job as I have been for the last year or two. Our hospital has developed a staffing matrix that a lot of the staff nurses think is not only unfair, but unsafe. We have been told flat out..."If you don't like it, then leave". We're talking about nurses that have given their entire life's career to this hospital, that now have no voice or ability to air their frustrations, for fear of being labeled as a "negative" person that's only trying to stir up trouble. Things have come up as simple as referring to our unit clerk as a "clerk", as in asking a co-worker to check with the "clerk" about ordering something....instead of referring to the clerk only by her first name because we've been told the unit clerk sees this as being disrespectful to her for her to be referred to as "the clerk"
Staff nurses are continually taking turns getting called off for no work, then getting put "on call" for the entirety of their 12 hour shifts due to low census, with no on-call pay. We've worked under these conditions for at least 2 years, and everyone has been very patient with low census conditions, but now with the tightening of staffing even further, and the threat being put to us to either like it or go elsewhere to work, and not able to speak a word about our "not" liking things the way they're going...has increased the stress level through the nursing staff.
Any thoughts about this...or suggestions on how to handle the increased stress this has brought to our jobs and our lives would be greatly appreciated. We just feel that we're totally unappreciated as licensed professionals at this point. Many of us long-time employees either have left already, or are seriously considering it when our only thoughts used to be retiring from a hospital and career that we were proud of.
Thank you for a venue to vent that doesn't threaten my job...
I'm traveling now, and it's interesting, I'm learning new things, seeing new places. But I miss my old job (well, what I mentioned above, anyway). I had 17 + years invested there. I am still furious that I had no choice but to leave. It's not that I necessarily regret the decision to quit, but that administration treats us like so much expendable crap, and WE are the ones who have to either put up with it or uproot our entire lives to get away. God forgive me, but I believe there's a special place in hell for those people.
Linda, it is most definitely their plan. I have a good friend who was railroaded out of that hospital because administration got word that she wanted to meet with other nurses outside of her job to discuss a union. She'd even gone as far as talking to a local union for advice on how to get it started. To this day, we have no idea how they found out what she was doing; but in any case she was history. Damn good nurse, smart as hell, and excellent with the patients and staff. What a damn shame.
Did your friend talk to a lawyer? It is a legal right to form/join a union if you want to. I believe that someone recently won a lawsuit against a hospital for the same reason. Encourge your friend to retain a lawyer. Most of the time they take cases on contingency, and it will only cost for expenses for the case, which aren't usually that much.
If they have problem finding an employment attorney, call the State Bar Association, or look on Findlaw, and they have lists of employment lawyers all over the country. Or PM me and I can send it to you.
I'm traveling now, and it's interesting, I'm learning new things, seeing new places. But I miss my old job (well, what I mentioned above, anyway). I had 17 + years invested there. I am still furious that I had no choice but to leave. It's not that I necessarily regret the decision to quit, but that administration treats us like so much expendable crap, and WE are the ones who have to either put up with it or uproot our entire lives to get away. God forgive me, but I believe there's a special place in hell for those people.
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It is unfortunate but I do think until all nurses are willing to leave, they won't get the message. As long as nurses will stay and tolerate abuse, they will continue to be abused. I missed home for a long time, but when I look back I think that leaving was the best decision I've ever made. My friends who are still there are still living with the same stresses they were when I left over 5 years ago! Everytime I hear them start complaining I think what a waste of their energy. They could have been in a satisfying job all this time and instead they are miserable. I am so glad I dodged that bullet.
It is unfortunate but I do think until all nurses are willing to leave, they won't get the message. As long as nurses will stay and tolerate abuse, they will continue to be abused. I missed home for a long time, but when I look back I think that leaving was the best decision I've ever made. My friends who are still there are still living with the same stresses they were when I left over 5 years ago! Everytime I hear them start complaining I think what a waste of their energy. They could have been in a satisfying job all this time and instead they are miserable. I am so glad I dodged that bullet.
I know what you mean; although it was so bad that I hardly know anyone working my floor now. Almost everyone with any kind of seniority at all has left. I had a loooong talk with an HR rep. I told them to look at who all was leaving and the decades of nursing experience walking out the door.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
is this a new management team that has come into power? it occurred to me that one of the management team strategies here is to encourage the exodus of long-term employees. there is a lot of advantages to that happening. old employees cost more money in wages and benefits. new employees make lower wages. brainstorm the being on call business when being called off work. if there's a way you can't receive a phone call to come in, oh well. if your phone is busy when they try to call you in, oops. if a kid picks up the phone when it rings and keeps hanging up on them, oh well. if you have no way to get to work because you car pool with someone who did have to work that day, oh well. one of the things we had to do, rarely, when i was a supervisor was to call people off due to overstaffing. sounds like your hospital administration may see your nursing department as being overstaffed which might account for some of their arrogance. they might want to trim the fat. sadly, because medicare and the insurance companies are tightening up on what they are willing to pay out and hospitals have no choice but to accept it, they have to make budget cuts. one of the places that feels this is the nursing staff.
however, people being upset about being called by their title instead of their name is a different issue. that's more of "the animals running the zoo" kind of problem. it sounds to me like something drastic has happened in the administration of your facility. question is, how long can you personally tolerate it?
Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.
I don't know about older nurses costing more in salary. For my first 10 years in nursing, the only raises I got were when I left for greener pastures or threatened to.
The benefits of older staff might cost more. Does anyone have insight here? Do employer costs go up for health insurance if their employees are using their medical coverage more? Does the employer cost for health insurance vary with the ages of their staff (eg older staff = higher premiums?) Also, if the hospital has any sort of pension or the like it's cheaper for them if long time employees quit before being fully vested.
Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..
Why are we so afraid of change? Does your hospital offer a centralized staffing office? Try if for 6 months. You will only benefit from it. You will learn to adapt to new situations; grow in your nursing skills, and, your horizon will not seem so limited.
Also, it will send the signal that you aren't going to sit comfortably on your butt and let others dictate your schedule and/or work environment.
I understand small town/limited number of jobs and I see this one trial situation as a way to change your environment and working conditions...
Specializes in Med/surg,Tele,PACU,ER,ICU,LTAC,HH,Neuro.
Staff nurses are continually taking turns getting called off for no work, then getting put "on call" for the entirety of their 12 hour shifts due to low census, with no on-call pay.
You should check your particular state labor laws. This may or may not be legal. I would not like it. Some sort of compensation would be nice.
That is the policy of a one-sided elitist with a plantation owner mentality.
lindarn
1,982 Posts
Did your friend talk to a lawyer? It is a legal right to form/join a union if you want to. I believe that someone recently won a lawsuit against a hospital for the same reason. Encourge your friend to retain a lawyer. Most of the time they take cases on contingency, and it will only cost for expenses for the case, which aren't usually that much.
If they have problem finding an employment attorney, call the State Bar Association, or look on Findlaw, and they have lists of employment lawyers all over the country. Or PM me and I can send it to you.
Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN
Spokane, Washington