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Discussion

Manager Bonuses

I was wondering if the Nursing Supervisor gets a bonus for coming in under budget? It seems like that would be the only reason to run short staffed or increase patient/nurse ratios. With reimbursement being partially based on patient satisfaction, from what I heard, l can't figure out what other motivation there is to decrease staffing. Do you think it would be better to give the bonus to the staff if the Unit is under budget but short- staffed say 25% of the time or more?

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    • Experts

    IMO, possibly. A lot of organizations--even the non-/not-for profit ones--are to some degree motivated by productivity and money. Since staffing is one of the major expenditures in a healthcare organization...let's just say I would not be surprised.

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    I remember when I was in middle management and trying to track budgets, I constantly got the "You only are doing this because you get a bonus!!!" accusation.

    There were no bonuses for coming in under budget - aka "Doing your freaking job."

    I got out of middle management because I didn't like it, but I don't make incessant complaints and paranoid accusations of those who are silly enough to do that ridiculous job.

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    Well SOME managers do get bonuses for certain things like coming in under budget, finding ways to cut back on staffing, etc. Yes it was still expected of them to acomplish these things, but they were compensated accordingly.

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    Yes, it does occur, in my opinion and experience, both in for profit and not for profit.

    The manager gets a nice bonus for coming in under budget and does it on the backs of the staff.

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    I've heard that they do at my current facility. I don't know firsthand. That is part of the job to not be over budget/ have productivity at a certain level. It's unfortunate that staffing suffers the most because of this.

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    • Experts

    As a manager and a supervisor I can tell you that in 35 years I personally have NEVER received a bonus for coming under budget and cutting staff. The CEO however does. It is made clear you WILL lose your position if you continue to not increase productivity and run over budget. If you can't do it they WILL find someone who will.

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    As a manager and a supervisor I can tell you that in 35 years I personally have NEVER received a bonus for coming under budget and cutting staff. The CEO however does. It is made clear you WILL lose your position if you continue to not increase productivity and run over budget. If you can't do it they WILL find someone who will.

    So I guess in your case the bonus was keeping your job.

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    • Experts

    I'm a salaried nursing supervisor at a hospital that is part of a large, corporate-owned chain with facilities across the US. I have never received a bonus for understaffing and probably never will. On the other hand, the administrators possibly receive bonus payments for staying under budget...

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    • Experts
    So I guess in your case the bonus was keeping your job.

    Actually no...I did as my conscious dictated...I quit.

    I ALSO left "upper" management altogether...I know amongst many of my close management folks have left for education jobs and left acute care altogether because of recent changes by upper administration.

    I did base level night supervision and the buck didn't stop at me and I staffed as I felt appropriate...I also worked at a MNA Union facility that had staffing minimums in the contract....that is when I realized that collective bargaining is the way nursing needs to move towards for our patients safety.

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    I did base level night supervision and the buck didn't stop at me and I staffed as I felt appropriate...I also worked at a MNA Union facility that had staffing minimums in the contract....that is when I realized that collective bargaining is the way nursing needs to move towards for our patients safety.

    I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets this. Without collective bargining care will continue to worsen and our patient's will suffer (not to mention us).

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    • Author

    Thank you for your input. So it could be that there is just pressure on the manager, and not compensation. I was looking at quarterly earnings online and a lot of hospitals are running at profit and bringing in percentages of profit around 2 to 8 percent above operating budget. I quit too, bedside nursing should be adequately staffed.

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    It is made clear you WILL lose your position if you continue to not increase productivity and run over budget. If you can't do it they WILL find someone who will.

    ^^^^^^THIS!^^^^^^^

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