Layoffs tomorrow!

WyomingRN · Aug 17, 2004

Wow reading these posts makes me so thankful that I don't work in hospitals anymore. WyomingRN, there is a way to solve all of these problems...it's very simple. NURSES NEED TO START STANDING UP FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR PEERS AND DEMAND DECENT TREATMENT, PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I don't mean to yell to often but things like this really burn me up.

Dear CeCiRn,

When it comes to nurses not standing up for themselves, yell all you want. I DO. Many of the problems that nurse face today is because many of them have not been will to do just what you have stated. I wish they would. The extent I've seen nurses go to please management goes to both the unethical and even beyond.

I personally don't think that unionizing is the way to go; but I will say that it is better than doing nothing and even worse, giving in to a management that has little to no concern for patients.

mrdoc2005 · Aug 17, 2004

Can you believe it? My hospital is to announce layoffs on Monday. Where in the world but the NW do hospitals ever lay off nurses? It's not for lack of need of nurses, but rather the hospital cites decreased reimbursements leading to financial troubles. Meanwhile, the VP's still get their country club memberships paid by the hospital as part of their "compensation package".

did u pass the cut

KacyLynnRN · Aug 17, 2004

last year, they laid off 250+ people at my hospital (500 beds) It has been horrible ever since. Our manager, educator, and practice facilitator (kindof like a 'head nurse') on our floor all got laid off...now we have another manager who manages 2 floors and we rarely ever see her. No education is done, because we have no educator. They didn't lay off any RN's or LPN's at the bedside, but they laid off all of our CNA's/Techs and now they are all gone. I used to have 4 patients with tech support, now I have 5-6 with no help whatsoever. I'd say about 60% of the nurses I work with have left, and I'm really not sure what's kept me hanging on.? All I know is...since the layoffs it has SUCKED...and with today's economy and healthcare system, I don't think anyone can be 100% safe from a layoff. I'm always prepared for the worst.

RNKitty · Aug 17, 2004

did u pass the cut

The hospital announced today who they were laying off. All of the 88 LPN's in the hospital are going, along with about 40 other people from across all departments, from the chaplains to the housekeeping to the dietary. They even fired a nun (we are a Catholic hospital). I didn't realize you could fire a nun. They are citing changes in the nurse practice act as the reason to eliminate the LPN's and go to an all RN/CNA model of care. (Hello, didn't we try this about 15 years ago?) The LPN's can bid for CNA jobs, and they are allowed to work until Halloween. The hospital is a union hospital, and they have offered a job fair and counseling for the "affected individuals".

So, yes, I made the cut as I am an RN who does L&D and we are opening a new birthing center in September. I can't see how it is more economical to cut an LPN with 20-30 years of experience and hire a new grad RN who oversees more patients with the assistance of an aide. I'm still grateful to have a job, but the anger in the hospital is palpable.

RNBSN1 · Aug 17, 2004

They are citing changes in the nurse practice act as the reason to eliminate the LPN's and go to an all RN/CNA model of care.

What changes???

mrdoc2005 · Aug 17, 2004

The hospital announced today who they were laying off. All of the 88 LPN's in the hospital are going, along with about 40 other people from across all departments, from the chaplains to the housekeeping to the dietary. They even fired a nun (we are a Catholic hospital). I didn't realize you could fire a nun. They are citing changes in the nurse practice act as the reason to eliminate the LPN's and go to an all RN/CNA model of care. (Hello, didn't we try this about 15 years ago?) The LPN's can bid for CNA jobs, and they are allowed to work until Halloween. The hospital is a union hospital, and they have offered a job fair and counseling for the "affected individuals".
So, yes, I made the cut as I am an RN who does L&D and we are opening a new birthing center in September. I can't see how it is more economical to cut an LPN with 20-30 years of experience and hire a new grad RN who oversees more patients with the assistance of an aide. I'm still grateful to have a job, but the anger in the hospital is palpable.

I would be wondering what the work load will be like after the layoffs and do i still want to work there

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 17, 2004

I would be wondering what the work load will be like after the layoffs and do i still want to work there

me too...sign of the times? Also, check w/the BON to see what "changes in the Nurse Practice Act to which they claim to refer"......just to satisfy your curiosity. I realize it does not affect you, but something stinks here.

redshiloh · Aug 17, 2004

So what really IS the problem with these facilities? Is it ALL a result of the reimbursement process? I really wonder how much a role greed plays in all this mess.

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 17, 2004

Well, it seems a lot of people point the finger of blame toward indigent care causing hospitals to fall into and then stay in the red. It may very well be. I am not in a position where I see "the books" so I cannot speak with authority. But, I do suspect greed has a role, as well. It has to.

Euskadi1946 · Aug 17, 2004

Dear CeCiRn,
When it comes to nurses not standing up for themselves, yell all you want. I DO. Many of the problems that nurse face today is because many of them have not been will to do just what you have stated. I wish they would. The extent I've seen nurses go to please management goes to both the unethical and even beyond.

I personally don't think that unionizing is the way to go; but I will say that it is better than doing nothing and even worse, giving in to a management that has little to no concern for patients.

Wyoming, I love nursing!! I mean, Gadzooks!! I've wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid, finally after 25 yrs I did it and I loved hospital nursing even the med/surg unit where I got my baptism of fire where on nights we got 8 pts and counting. I heard one RN say when there was a major upheaval coming and I quote: "Well I'm just going to keep my mouth shut and do my work!" I told her it was nurses like her who make it bad for all of us. I left the hospital because it was a very unsafe environment and I worked too hard to get my nursing license to lose it so I went for a desk job. I miss the pt contact but not the stress of constantly going home and wondering if I missed anything. Nurses need to stand up for themselves and for each other. We need to do what the nurses in California did and DEMAND better patient/nurse ratios, better working conditions, and better job security and bennies. If all nurses did this, we wouldn't need the unions....

leslie :-D · Aug 17, 2004

we only have a couple of known hospitals that serve the indigents.

and actually, those 2 hospitals that i think of, are doing quite well.

i personally think much of it is greed; as well as other factors, including the reimbursement rates being cut. ? too many specialties?

who knows? what i do know is cutting nurses is not a wise decision at all.

Q. · Aug 17, 2004

we only have a couple of known hospitals that serve the indigents.
and actually, those 2 hospitals that i think of, are doing quite well.
i personally think much of it is greed; as well as other factors, including the reimbursement rates being cut. ? too many specialties?
who knows? what i do know is cutting nurses is not a wise decision at all.

Looks can be deceiving.

Just last year, our hospital was doing well also, despite serving indigents. ALL hospital serve indigents - some more than others. We built two new additions to the existing hospital - one was completed (and I'm working in it) the other is under construction, though we laid off a bunch of workers just this past June (my department was cut in half). The building being constructed is going to be roughed in to protect the infrastructure that already exists but its going to go unfinished and unused - no money to pay for it.

But, if you look at us from the outside, we seem to be "doing well" building all these buildings. But in reality, we're barely alive month to month. The biggest expense for any hospital is labor costs.