How hard is it really, to hire new nurses?

[Goodyear]

I work in a 20 room OR as a circulator. When I got hired, I had to wait almost a month for the position I would fill to be approved, etc, by management. Ok. I can live with that. NOW, though, we have had 2 nurses quit, one got let go, one transferred to another area, and one is moving into a supervisory position (open due to one of those that quit) and will not be circulating regularly, unless a need unable to be filled, arises. Soon, another nurse will be leaving for planned reasons. We went from 9-10 actively circulating nurses to 4 plus two new nurses (hired within the last couple months and not fully trained.) My question is, how hard is it for a department manager to justify filling and/or opening positions in such a situation? Call hours----are OVER the top right now, and burn-out is knocking on the door. Management seems to think we'll be ok since we have two new nurses (leaving us in a deficit of 3, then 4 once the last one leaves.) What does it take to open and advertise positions to get nurses to fill the vacancies that we have and really need to fill? Thanks!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

finding a body is one thing. Finding a qualified OR nurse is quite another. If you know of someone why not refer that person to HR?

[Goodyear]

Thanks for all the input! Our OR census is unusually high for this time of year, and we are having a hard time keeping up. We have an average of 25-30 cases a day. Wow, right? Supervisors who are only supposed to circulate in a dire need are stepping in, leaving things like board running and scheduling hangin'. Surgeons get REALLY mad when they have to wait on a team or can't schedule flip-flops because of low staff. To make up for it, they are scheduling weekends, which are supposedly for emergencies only. Two surgeons have stated they are taking more cases to neighboring hospitals and trying to run between the two to get things in. We cannot "be more productive" if you will, because there HAS to be a circulating nurse for EVERY case (I know most of ya'll probably already know this, but for those who don't I'm explaining some details) and the amount of time we spend on a case depends almost entirely on the surgeon. People are burning out at an alarming rate and rooms are not stocked, supplies not ordered, collateral duties not done, etc. It feels like things are hanging together by strings. We REALLY, REALLY need help, but there is nothing but numbers in their eyes when the subject comes up to mgmt. Sorry for the long-winded post, but I love my job, the people, and the work, but GEEESH---this is gettin' to me!