Layoffs tomorrow!

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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".

i realize that all hospitals are legally bound to serve the indigent population.

the 2 hospitals i am thinking of, are reputed to serve aids/homeless and low income families. one is actually run by the state.

there was an article this year on one of these hospitals, and how they're actually making profits.

anyway i just don't understand that if one needs to cut (labor) costs, why not start at the top? it is totally non-sensical. no one is going to convince me that the bigwigs are instrumental in running these facilities.

that's why their jobs are known to be cushy. i wish i could just shake off all the resentment i feel towards those that don't understand/appreciate/recognize the value of nurses.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
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.

Depends on the reimbursement process. Many citys and counties make a committment to a local hospital and include it in their budget. My county doesn't, so my hospital sometimes struggles, or so they say. I do think sometimes it is an excuse. But we're also talking tens of millions here.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Oh yes, I know the figures we are discussing..... Those same Tens of millions we need to carry on a war or occupation else where in the world, no doubt. Yep, I have been accused correctly: I am stuck on that issue..... It galls me. It really just galls me anyone should have to BE an "indigent" for healthcare. EVERYone should have access w/o putting NURSES (the primary caregivers in said hospitals for heaven's sake) out on their collective ear. Our priorities are really, really screwed up!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
Oh yes, I know the figures we are discussing..... Those same Tens of millions we need to carry on a war or occupation else where in the world, no doubt. Yep, I have been accused correctly: I am stuck on that issue..... It galls me. It really just galls me anyone should have to BE an "indigent" for healthcare. EVERYone should have access w/o putting NURSES (the primary caregivers in said hospitals for heaven's sake) out on their collective ear. Our priorities are really, really screwed up!

Agree 100%. That's a whole other topic and please don't get me started. :rotfl: :angryfire :rolleyes: :p :o

(that was tens and millions of dollars at my hospital alone.)

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1. Always keep your bags packed...ready to move at a moment's notice.

2. Never depend on your place of employment for your retirement funds...have a backup. And have 6 months of backup funds.

3. Most hospital CEO's are paid according to what's customary for their geographical area for their job...deal with it. You're paid the same way. Will you cut your salary in order to help the hospital's financial status...probably not.

4. Every...well most..jobs suck. It's your attitude that matters.

5. The healthcare system is about to fall down. If I had millions, a hospital would be the last business I'd start...due to reimbursement.

6. Welcome to reality...and it's not a TV show!

Great points! Very, very true!

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I work(ed) in one of the few remaining independent small town hospitals in my area. It's almost bankrupt and just recently "affiliated" with some larger hospitals in the region. They are trying to stay independent as long as they can. Consequently, they've just done a 2nd round of layoffs for this year, across the board. (With exception of upper management, of course). The census has also been very low this summer, they've been calling nurses off every shift lately.

Recently, I was unfortunate enough to have a car wreck resulting in a thumb injury (dominant hand). My hand is in a cast for a month and along with that is a work restriction. Well, the hospital said they couldn't accomodate "light duty". Of course,this situation made me an easy target for lay off.

What a deal, have a hit and run driver total your car on your way home from work; incur injury to your dominant hand; have to buy another car and on the day you buy a car hear that you're laid off. No more health insurance. Cobra is $433/month. Can't get another job bedside nursing with your hand in a cast. (I can type on a keyboard but not much else.)

Short term disability is my saving grace, and besides.....I should be thankful it isn't a serious injury right? Just be sure to opt for disability bennies.....

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".
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You should just try to get indigent care here....fed regs state a certain amount of indigent pts should be cared for but most of time the pts are stabalized and then sent to charity hospital...the catholic hospital gave periodic raises to all employees but when a cna with 25 yrs was making as much as a new rn grad they did everything they could to ease her out....they asked the nurses to write that she was "slowing down" with her work...she was two years away from finishing w/house note and she said she would retire when she got to 65 and maybe not then if she didn.t want to

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You should just try to get indigent care here....fed regs state a certain amount of indigent pts should be cared for but most of time the pts are stabalized and then sent to charity hospital...the catholic hospital gave periodic raises to all employees but when a cna with 25 yrs was making as much as a new rn grad they did everything they could to ease her out....they asked the nurses to write that she was "slowing down" with her work...she was two years away from finishing w/house note and she said she would retire when she got to 65 and maybe not then if she didn.t want to

and this is a catholic hospital?

what a christian act to this cna- NOT. :(

does the cna know what they want the nurses to do????

leslie

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When hospitals lay-off and start calling help off for more than an occasional shift, the help starts looking for other jobs. Then when things pick up, most of the best and brightest workers have made a change and are not willing to return to the place that did not "attempt" to keep them working. I agree that most administrators are just a waste. Once was working at a facility that had a Don, and 2 ADON's. had a lay-off, in the winter time, and then a big storm, well, these administrators were pressed to get on the floor, they refused and even tried to get some of the laid-off help to come in "due to the emergency." Can you guess who did? NO ONE. It would have messed up their unemployment and the facility was making it clear this was an emergency basis only. The patients suffered and this facility has never gotten over it's "nasty" reputation concerning employee issues. Turn-over is high, morale is low, and staffing is now a lot of travelers. Some of these travelers are former employees, making more money and not taking the company crap. I wish these employees well, I have been there more than once.

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Specializes in MDS coordinator, hospice, ortho/ neuro.
As a cost-saving measure, there were several nurse layoffs (among others) at a nursing home in my area a few months ago. The facility continues to be in operation, and closure is not anticipated.

Where are you at? In my area there just aren't enough nurses to come close to meeting demand............if we could just find another 10 to hire in the first place!!!!

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Where are you at? In my area there just aren't enough nurses to come close to meeting demand............if we could just find another 10 to hire in the first place!!!!

California

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I know how you feel. I got laid off at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi working in a clinic. I was hired there because of our troops being deployed. But they signed a new contract that took effect on August 1, 2004 and, after being told it should not effect my position, was laid off because the Dept of Defense decided that 13 positions were not needed. Which begs the question when are they going to quit paying $500 for a toilet seat?

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