Low Census Mandatory days off

[MichelRN]

I work in a small hospital in Indiana. Management is requiring each floor to staff with the bare minimum to cover the floor, such as 4 nurses for up to 27 patients ( Medical floor), we would not be able to have a 5 th nurse until there were 27 + patients. Because of the cut on staffing many of us are being required to use vacation time or take days without pay. We are being told that the economy is slow nationwide and hospitals everywhere are slower than usual. I find this really hard to believe with all the ads for travel nurses, the use of agency nurses in other hospitals and the ongoing nursing shortage. If anyone can give me some input as to the current situation in your hospital I would really appreciate it. Thanks