House Votes More Flexible Hours For Va Nurses!

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Sep 30, 2004

Original article on MSNBC.COM
Nurses at veteran's hospitals could opt for more flexible schedules under a bill the House passed Thursday to address a shortage of nurses.
The bill is H.R. 4231
The bill passed on a 411-1 vote. Rep. Nick Smith, R-Michigan was the lone member to vote against it.
"Offering more family-friendly schedules is critical to keeping experienced nurses employed in the VA" ---Rep. Robert Simmons, R-Conneticut; chairman of the House Veteran's Affairs Committee's health subcommittee.

I have recently left the VA and one of the biggest reasons is because of the rotation requirements, mandatory OT and the poor staffing. There were to many times that I was mandated to stay for an additional 8 hours. Not my choice. I made a decision that my life is my choice and I make my own decisions as to whether I want to work extra or not.

I am glad to see that the VA has taken this position. If it were not for the mandatory OT, I would have stayed with the VA as I really loved working with the veterans and my peer nurses, which were some of the BEST!

night owl · Oct 18, 2004

I have recently left the VA

I'm sorry to hear that Pat. You will be greatly missed. :sniff:

Look at it this way, at least you won't have to deal with that darn BCMA! :chuckle

Good luck and best wishes to you. :)

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Oct 18, 2004

I'm sorry to hear that Pat. You will be greatly missed.
Look at it this way, at least you won't have to deal with that darn BCMA! :chuckle
Good luck and best wishes to you. :)

Yea, BCMA could be a real problem .... but, if the truth be told, I liked it better than the old paper MARS .... just wish they could combine BCMA with a PYXIS type medication administration. I miss the VA and my friends, but I do not miss the crazy staffing, mandatory OT and the night shift rotation. I also miss CPRS. I think in many ways, the VA is probably way ahead of the times with its computerized systems, in other ways they are behind the times.

BadBird, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2004

I hope they make 3-12hr. shifts full time !