Interesting discussion on nursing retention...

[VickyRN]

An interesting discussion on nursing retention on a Human Resources BB:

http://www.workforce.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=22165&forum=58&9

[mattsmom81]

Hospital human resources depts (at least in my area) are on a HUGE power trip.

In my area (Dallas Fort Worth) hospitals own a 'dirt collecting' organization called Group One....they call themselves a 'consumer reporting service' and it is utilized by HR's within the hospital association in this area.

What they REALLY are is a legal way managers can blackball nurses. Vague and often misleading information can lead to a nurse having a 'black mark' on her/his record forever, and it will comes up every job application the nurse makes. God forbid we speak up about poor conditions: 'bad attitude' shows up on Group One. Family emergency requiring a nurse to quit with only 1 week notice? Another black mark on Group One. Mutual separation? The hospital's side of the story wins...the nurse was' terminated and is not rehirable'.

All this info reaches the facility (HR) ahead of any nurse interview process where a nurse might have an opportunity to present HER/HIS side of things. Most likely, unless someone within the organization knows this nurse and can put in a good word for him/her, the nurse will not be called for an interview at all. This is going on even in times of 'shortage'.

Human resources people value this system greatly and as we can see from the forum link, their 'solution' is to find the 'perfect worker nurse', NOT to listen to nurses who can tell them the problems we face on the job.

I was lucky and found out about a negative comment on my Group One record...I have taken the upper hand, and immediately offer my side on my job apps...thus I have been successful in fighting this. But I know many, many nurses who have simply given up... the stigma of having a negative Group One was too much for them to bear on top of all our other problems..... they just left the profession, tired of the endless struggles we face.

More and more nurses are indeed 'voting with their feet'...against the facilities and the profession itself.

Great link and SUPER responses RN Country and Kevin! :)

[fedupnurse]

Kevin and RNCountry, you guys ROCK!!!! You both stated the REAL issues so eloquently. Perhaps your comments shold be forwarded where they might do some good. Now, if we could only figure out where that would be....

Great job!!

[lindalee]

Kevin and RNcountry--wonderful responses. Of course I doubt that management will hear you, but you said it all. Maybe you should submit your responses to major newspaper editorial columns. It is high time for nurses to be heard. The silence of this profession is deafening. Speak up!

[grouchy]

Norbert,

I loved the idea of granting practice privileges! The idea is original and thought-provoking.

Grouchy

[OC_An Khe]

Interesting thread, both here and at the link. As usual a lot of non nurses and sadly nurses either don't understand or refuse to face the issues head on.

Our HR department was not very efficient with applications and follow up. We addressed this in negotiations and won the right for the Union to review all applications. Suddenly HR processing of applications improved. Much useful and interesting data was revealed by looking at the aplications. It forced the"suits" to realize that they were only recruiting from nurses new to the area, they weren't recruiting nurses away from their competitors and when combined with why and where people were leaving/going to it lead to further improvements.

[Sleepyeyes]

Originally posted by kmchugh

I posted my own response on the BB just now. I love stiking my nose into places where people who aren't nurses are discussing what's wrong with nurses. I'm sure the genuises on that board will ignore me as a crank.

Kevin McHugh

Very nice responses, all of you! The nurse Arlene seems to be the "suffering martyr" type.....

the "I-know-I-make-less-money-than-a-dental-hygenist-and-I'm-proud" syndrome.

*sigh*

when will we ever learn??

[CEN35]

just thought i would throw in a couple things.

i get calls all the time asking if i have seen an app? i call human resources, and they can't seem to find it.........imagine that?

as far as retention? our administration has given us a 3% raise. then they are giving us a bi anual lump sum, of 4% of our yearly income, as a retention plan. what it really is, is a raise that they can pull if the shortage ever ceases.

amazing huh?

me

[NCNocRN]

:) :) :) :)

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Kevin, Helen and Joy:

My hats off to you for eloquently speaking about the profession and educating these HR souls. Maybe they will finally HEAR what nurses have been telling them all along.

[Figaro's Mom]

Originally posted by lindalee

It is high time for nurses to be heard. The silence of this profession is deafening. Speak up! [/b]

Isn't there a book out now addressing this exact issue? I thought I saw it on Amazon.com but I can't find it....something about nurses finding their voice or speaking in numbers or something like that. It's a fairly recent book.