My hospital, just like most of yours, has engaged in some interesting cost cutting techniques during the recession. Its effects on care and the general employee moral can't be measured.
"Keeping your M/S unit fully staffed for the night shift by not taking away the CNA, $80."
"Keeping the housekeeping staff on duty instead of sending them home, $64"
"Having all wound dressing supplies stocked so you pt's can have personalized, proper wound care, $150"
"Improved emplyee moral, priceless"
Somehow, hospital admin., in their endless wisdom:jester: (sarcasm, its my weakness), doesn't get this. Somehow, it makes sense to them to cut staffing, save $100 today, but risk million dollar lawsuits tomorrow. Guess ma dar nursen scheewl done taught me da rong kinda math, cause dat dar don't add up fer me.
They continuously cut staffing everywhere, here and there, and turn the duties into nursing duties. Its really all they know how to do really. They are supposed to be entrepreneurs and all, but when it comes down to it, this is really all they know how to do. Also, with nursing staff cut, critical care units are unable to accept as many pt's as they once did. So, what we have here is a dangerous situation:
1. Acuity on General M/S units and the like is going up at an alarming rate.
2. Staff on said units are spending less and less time with pt's as they continuously have duties away from the pt. added to their list of chores.
Pt's that need more care + nurses being elsewhere, busy doing other things = LAWSUIT
But, I can't do anything about it. As my manager has pointed out to a great many people on the unit, there are many nurses who would love an opportunity at my position if I would like to..........move on.
Well, if you can't beat'em, join'em.
I have an idea. Lets all pick up new, non-nursing related skills, so they we can fill this new Wild Card style Nursing job description as it should be filled. People like me can learn new skills to save the hospital money. Schools can add trades to their curriculum (plumbing, accounting, computer hardware, cooking, w/e) so new nurses will have this and be able to find jobs.
Me, I think I am going to go with plumbing. Yes, plumbing. Once I am done cleaning out my pt's pipes with an enema, I can fix their clogged pipes in the BR too. I will be a true F. Nightingale.
They took one of our dept managers away and are expecting the manager of the remaining department to also manage the department with a vacant manager.
They took our tech away and now RNs have to do all tech work including stocking and ordering.
They took the techs away from M/S and now make the aids do both jobs.
We got a letter from a patient stating how wonderful the nurses were but complained that we do not have enough techs so the nurses spend too much time answering the phone. When the patients notice that the hospital is not staffed appropriately you know you are not just imagining things because you are expected to do a million more things.
Its come to that here also. Lots of the PG surveys they get back complain about the lack of staffing and "little things that used to be the norm now I have to beg for". Luckily, very little of it is nursing related. A few have been complaining about how workers used to help with the transfer to the car during D/C and now............once you are off the unit, you are on your own. Their answer............put in pay for valvet parking. lol
That 1-900 number service sounds good. What kinda 900 number is gonna be? I might be a customer. I'll call from my hospital so, it wont cost me a thing.
Come on guys. We gotta come up with more ideas. If we don't, admin. might have settle for 500K bonuses instead of 1M. We can't have that:cool:
:idea:I know. We can set aside unoccupied room and run a message parlor outta them. Lots of patients ask for back rubs these days, may as well make a buck off it. Hey...........and there might be tips involved too. I'll volunteer to be a masseuse.
Specializes in PACU, CARDIAC ICU, TRAUMA, SICU, LTC.
Think of all the plastic that is disposed of by health care facilities. I never see recycling bins for those empty bottles of NS, sterile water, etc. Anyone available/willing to take on yet another task to be the "Recycling Engineer?"
Think of all the $$; it could go to the employees "overtime fund!"
Specializes in Infusion, Med/Surg/Tele, Outpatient.
One nurse I used to work with (she'd been a nurse for like, 100 years) said to the manager one day,"why don't you just stick a broom up my ...... and I'll sweep the floor while I run down the hall", in response to a demand for yet another task.
That's great! TY! I needed the laugh.
Why don't we go back to carrying lamps? It'll save that expensive electricity for important things, like the TV in the MD-call room.
Like all hospitals mine is all attempting to cut costs by cutting staffing. I can't say too much because I don't want to be recongnized but they are doing some things that I seriously think will come back to bite them in the butt. The owners financial worth is public knowledge and it is in the "millions", the executives get bonuses in excess of 1 million dollars a year. Why can't they cut their salaries a bit? Give up their yearly bonuses? How much money does one really need? Why do they always try to pull all of the cuts out of their loyal employees who take such pride in taking care of the patients? I just don't get it, I really dont.
If the USA took the profit out of healthcare, this would stop the bonuses and $$$$$$$ executives.
Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.
We are expected to empty all trash cans, pick up and distribute all meal trays, clean all equipment when you have a discharge, our secretary is also our pca. We now have a "job jar" these are little jobs that we pick in addition to everything else. Empty hipaa bins, stock med room etc. I think we should install bunk beds on the peds unit. We could advertise a camp like setting and make double the money.
It occurred to me recently that what I have just witnessed is "Wal-mart Staffing". That's where they lay off the really experienced people and hire a bunch of casuals. In the weeks following a lay-off of more than a dozen people, there has been an influx of hiring such as I've never seen before of casual staff. I can't imagine how this is profitable, but then again, they aren't orienting these folks either.
It occurred to me recently that what I have just witnessed is "Wal-mart Staffing". That's where they lay off the really experienced people and hire a bunch of casuals. In the weeks following a lay-off of more than a dozen people, there has been an influx of hiring such as I've never seen before of casual staff. I can't imagine how this is profitable, but then again, they aren't orienting these folks either.
I'm no expert on finances, but my first reaction when I started reading your post was "oh, they are bringing in casual workers so they don't have to pay benefits". Having benefits is often overlooked when people talk about what they make.
My hospital, just like most of yours, has engaged in some interesting cost cutting techniques during the recession. Its effects on care and the general employee moral can't be measured.
"Keeping your M/S unit fully staffed for the night shift by not taking away the CNA, $80."
"Keeping the housekeeping staff on duty instead of sending them home, $64"
"Having all wound dressing supplies stocked so you pt's can have personalized, proper wound care, $150"
"Improved emplyee moral, priceless"
Somehow, hospital admin., in their endless wisdom:jester: (sarcasm, its my weakness), doesn't get this. Somehow, it makes sense to them to cut staffing, save $100 today, but risk million dollar lawsuits tomorrow. Guess ma dar nursen scheewl done taught me da rong kinda math, cause dat dar don't add up fer me.
They continuously cut staffing everywhere, here and there, and turn the duties into nursing duties. Its really all they know how to do really. They are supposed to be entrepreneurs and all, but when it comes down to it, this is really all they know how to do. Also, with nursing staff cut, critical care units are unable to accept as many pt's as they once did. So, what we have here is a dangerous situation:
1. Acuity on General M/S units and the like is going up at an alarming rate.
2. Staff on said units are spending less and less time with pt's as they continuously have duties away from the pt. added to their list of chores.
Pt's that need more care + nurses being elsewhere, busy doing other things = LAWSUIT
But, I can't do anything about it. As my manager has pointed out to a great many people on the unit, there are many nurses who would love an opportunity at my position if I would like to..........move on.
Well, if you can't beat'em, join'em.
I have an idea. Lets all pick up new, non-nursing related skills, so they we can fill this new Wild Card style Nursing job description as it should be filled. People like me can learn new skills to save the hospital money. Schools can add trades to their curriculum (plumbing, accounting, computer hardware, cooking, w/e) so new nurses will have this and be able to find jobs.
Me, I think I am going to go with plumbing. Yes, plumbing. Once I am done cleaning out my pt's pipes with an enema, I can fix their clogged pipes in the BR too. I will be a true F. Nightingale.
What do you think you will do to help?
Better yet, vote to join a union. Without backing, you will get nowhere, which is exactly where your bosses want you, without a voice, and without power. How long do you think your bosses can run the hospital without you?
The people that run your hospital couldnt give a damn about your pts. If they did, they would not be cutting back on CNA's that could make the difference in pt's not getting bedsores while in the hospital, thereby improving thier precious scores. They just want you to feel guilty and do EVERYTHING, and clock out before you are done working
because you would like to avoid the grilling they will give you for working overtime to try to fufill all of their demands. You cannot win without backup. please join your brothers and sisters in Ca. and vote in United Nurses National in YOUR state. CNA is doing a wonderful job for us in Ca., we want you to have the same rights! I have been an Rn for 30 years, and I would never work for a non union hospital if I had the choice!
I'm no expert on finances, but my first reaction when I started reading your post was "oh, they are bringing in casual workers so they don't have to pay benefits". Having benefits is often overlooked when people talk about what they make.
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What kinda 900 number is gonna be? I might be a customer. I'll call from my hospital so, it wont cost me a thing.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
That broom up the....run down the hall one?
:yeah:
:yeah: