Low Census-what's up?!

ellaballet · Nov 15, 2013

I work in a pulmonary LTACH and our census is so low...Normally it dips in the summertime and then picks up in the fall, usually around now is crazy with flu season approaching..I've been canceled 3 times in the past month.

MunoRN, RN · Nov 15, 2013

I'll bite, why do you think the ACA is dropping your census?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Nov 15, 2013

My hospital is busier than ever. We routinely have to turn away transfers cause we don't have a bed for them and we also board it's in the ER during the week cause we run out of beds in the hospital. I do not see a end to this trend anytime soon. In fact, I anticipate business picking up even more thanks to the ACA

slicksGIRL · Nov 15, 2013

I feel you! Our census is low as well.. They've been canceling nurses cus we are overstaffed. I heard that it usually gets like this during the holidays. It is for my unit at least.

mom35 · Nov 15, 2013

I don't know that it is the ACA. I just don't know why when we are usually packed this time of year, we are down in the teens as opposed to over 40. The other closest hospital is three hours away, I don't think we have much competition. I am not blaming ACA, I am just trying to figure out what might be going on. I guess I need to hurry and relocate back home to the big city, I will be leaving in February anyway!

gigglestarsRN · Nov 15, 2013

I have noticed the same thing in my floor. This time last year we were fully packed and extra shifts could be picked up with ease. None we have half our unit regularly closed and have staff floated to other units daily. None of us can figure it out. I, too, have wondered if the ACA has some folks acting cautiously for fear of not having good coverage for services.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Nov 15, 2013

The ACA wouldn't be an issue sine the remainder doesn't start until 1/1/14.

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Nov 15, 2013

We're packed. And not sure how low census is due to ACA.

DoeRN · Nov 15, 2013

If anything the ACA will increase the census because more people will have insurance. And it doesn't begin officially until next year. It could be a number of things as to why the census is low.

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HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 15, 2013

Low volumes are everywhere. This an unprecedented nation-wide phenomena throughout the US!!! It continues to be a major topic of discussion at national healthcare leadership meetings. The first response is to "flex" staff downward, but this is usually not sustainable over the long term. Organizations with persistent volume decreases are cutting staff at a very rapid rate. Over 42,000 healthcare jobs have been eliminated since January 2013. If this is happening at your organization, be prepared for layoffs.

There is a lot of speculation that this is tied to ACA, but no one knows for sure. It does seem likely. As ACA is being phased in, many employers have cut or eliminated company-sponsored insurance coverage, which would then decrease elective health care activity. But if this is the only reason, there would also be a concurrent increase in ED visits & this is not happening.... so no one has any definitive answers.

ACA will NOT increase acute care census. It will increase primary care access and affordability - which would decrease acute care census. Any increase in jobs will be in non-acute areas. Sad to say but in terms of job availability for RNs, these may soon be "the good old days".

allnurses Guide · Nov 15, 2013

I am in the DFW area as well and we are having VERY low census. It is interesting, as we just hired a ton of people. Not losing primary hours, but we have gone from "work all the overtime you want" to those who do work it being the first pushed back or dropped off the schedule. We have often, however, seen census drop during the holidays, only to pick up the first week of January and go strong through spring and summer.