Low Census

[zlatamoya]

My unit has only been at half capacity since I started there in July. I work in the SICU and originally thought it was due to summer time and surgeons going on vaca but it has continued until now! I think there has only maybe been a week TOTAL that we have had a full census (20 beds). I'm wondering if this is just specific to my hospital? Or if maybe the recession has anything to do with it and other area's are experiencing similar situations? Thanks!

[RNperdiem, RN]

I work in SICU too. Our beds always stay full.

Trauma doesn't take a vacation around here.

I work at a level 1 trauma center, and most of our patients are trauma patients followed by transplant(liver) with a few complex plastic surgery and general surgery patients.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Could have something to do with the economy in general. If your facility has contracts with insurance companies representing industries that are laying off, etc. then there may be fewer people seeking medical assistance. Or maybe they are losing contracts to larger hospitals who can undercut prices. Have you considered prn elsewhere?