Mandatory Overtime???

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 10, 2001

I don't understand why people are putting up with this, especially the woman who had approved vacation time. I assume this approval was in writing, and the hospital would never have had a leg to stand on if they tried to penalize her.

Just say NO to mandatory overtime. It is the responsibility of the hospital and supervisors to provide adequate staff, and if anyone should have to stay over, or come in extra it legally should be them. It's in THEIR job description, not yours. They are threatening you because nurses cave easily, and ***** about their peers that don't stay and help. Get over blaming the victim, and stand together.

CALL THEIR BLUFF. There is no way you will be fired from a facility that is already short staffed. I suggest that those of you finding a new position make it clear that you will NOT be obeying a mandated overtime demand, and stick to it. They will still hire you.

It only takes a few courageous nurses to turn the tide for everyone. Why not leak some of these conditions to your local media. The public will certainly not be going to a hospital that will staff with nurses that have worked 16h out of the last 24, and then get mandated again.

Please, send us some addresses, and we will put the word out on hospitals that have this policy, and write to the administrators.

Q. · Apr 10, 2001

Originally posted by canoehead:
Please, send us some addresses, and we will put the word out on hospitals that have this policy, and write to the administrators.

Address? SURE!

St. Luke's Medical Center - Aurora Healthcare, Inc

2900 W Oklahoma Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53209

Interestingly enough - this facility just got awarded the Magnet Designation by the ANCC - go figure!!!

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 10, 2001

Your letter will go out today, along with one to the ANCC. What was in their heads-aren't they a nursing organization? How can nurses support a MOT policy? Any comments?

Anyone else into letter writing? Come on, let's get our opinions out there, not just complain on the boards.

Q. · Apr 10, 2001

Canoehead-

Here is the sad and disturbing truth.

When our facility announced it's plan to go after the Magnet Designation - I was happy because I thought, good, now they will learn what needs to be changed in order to get this.

Until I heard a rumor that staff nurses were forced to LIE to the ANCC reps. They said that they never had to work MOT, etc etc. ANCC reps were also allowed to talk to "certain" staff nurses. I can't confirm this, but this is what is floating around the hospital.

We're supposed to be getting a little "reward" for this - we also got little pins to wear - and my facility is using it to recruit - never mind retention!

I lost respect for some of our staff as well as the ANCC when we got this designation - it makes me feel hopeless.

Here is the link to the ANCC and what Magnet is SUPPOSED to represent - note Aurora is listed as a proud recepient. It makes me so sad....

http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet/magnet2.htm

-jt · Apr 10, 2001

Originally posted by Susy K:
Canoehead-
Here is the sad and disturbing truth.

I heard a rumor that staff nurses were forced to LIE to the ANCC reps. They said that they never had to work MOT, etc etc. ANCC reps were also allowed to talk to "certain" staff nurses. I can't confirm this, but this is what is floating around the hospital.

We're supposed to be getting a little "reward" for this - we also got little pins to wear - and my facility is using it to recruit - never mind retention!
I lost respect for some of our staff as well as the ANCC when we got this designation - it makes me feel hopeless.>

Are you saying that the hospital forced the nurses to lie to the ANCC & the designation was made based on those lies? Then how does that translate into a loss of repsect for the ANCC who was lied to, instead of a loss of respect to the hospital that did the lying? The nurses voice plays a big part in this award & if the nurses were lying the ANCC should be informed. If it is given inaccurate info, how can it be blamed? Did any other nurses let the ANCC know it was being lied to & not everything was as it seemed? I too would have a loss of repsect for any nurses who participated in this or perpetuated it by keeping silent.

Q. · Apr 10, 2001

I guess I lost respect for the ANCC as well because part of getting this designation was also about continued educational offerings. Yet, it is a fact, that all educational offerings other than critical care related classes were CUT 2 years ago. ANCC apparently did not care.

Our raises the last 2 years were 1.5%. The ANCC apparently did not care.

The Annual Employee Picnic was CUT last year.

Our unit has a leaky roof in several places, is a health hazard that one of our physicians threatened to call OSHA on..the ANCC did not care.

The fact that the ANCC reps did not find it "odd" that they could only speak to certain staff members, and not speak to them at will, like JCAHO does. Not to mention, more than 50% of the ANCC's time was spent looking at our organization on paper, and talking with our nurse administrators and VP of nursing, rather than the staff nurses.

When I heard that the ANCC was coming to research Aurora, I was confident that they would have much stricter guidelines - and would whip Aurora into shape. I also thought that there is NO WAY we'd get this designation with all the MOT - but for the ANCC to not even research this? What kind of designation is this then? How valuable is it when they don't even try to get proof of a hospital's claims? Otherwise, any facility can get the designation and then it means nothing.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 10, 2001

http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet/fees.htm

Magnet Recognition Program Fee Schedule

(Effective November 1, 2000, for all applications received after that date)

The following fee schedule is applicable to in-patient settings in the United States of America. Applicant health care organizations outside the United States are encouraged to call the Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program Office to inquire about fees applicable to their setting.

Application Fee.............................................. $1,000

Appraisal Fee Acute Care In-Patient Settings Long Term Care In Patient Settings

Bed Size Appraisal Fee Bed Size Appraisal Fee

100 or less $9,300 50 or less $3,700

101-299 $11,500 51-100 $4,800

300-399 $20,000 101-150 $6,000

400-499 $29,000 151-200 $7,000

500-749 $37,500 201-350 $8,000

750-949 $45,000 351-500 $10,000

950+ $45,000 + $50

per bed over 949 501+ $10,000 + $20

per bed over 500

Appraiser Honorarium.............. $500 per appraiser

(Paid by applicant organization to ANCC after appraisers are appointed. Usually there are two appraisers per application. However, circumstances could require additional appraisers.)

Site Visit Fee.............................. $1,500 per day per appraiser

(Paid by applicant to ANCC when site visit dates are identified. Site visits usually require two appraisers for two full days. However, large health care organizations, health care systems, and health care organizations with multiple sites could require more appraisers and/or more visit days. In addition there are travel/lodging related expenses for the site visit.)

mustangsheba · Apr 11, 2001

So, how much does it cost the facility to get this MAGNET award? Is it cheaper than accreditation by JCAHO?

RNPD · Apr 12, 2001

Magnet designation-as much of a crock as JCAHO accreditation! It seems that healthcare is willing to pay for just about anything these days-EXCEPT NURSES!

[This message has been edited by RNPD (edited April 11, 2001).]

Q. · Apr 12, 2001

Our "prizes" for being awarded the Magnet Designation is a choice between: 2 baseball game tickets, 2 tickets to Milwaukee's lakefront music festival Summerfest, a T-shirt with the Magnet Emblem on it, or the opporunity to go to dinner with all the nursing executives. (Ewww)

For one, all the prizes stink - I would rather a raise and OB classes brought back. I would rather not have to do MOT.

Secondly, there is an upheaval in the hospital as the support staff such as unit secretaries, OB techs, etc are all upset that they don't get one of the prizes. We try to explain it is because it is a nursing recognition for certain nursing functions like professional development or WHATEVER it is trying to represent, and then arguments start. This whole thing just SUCKS.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 12, 2001

No wonder the majority of us just say "screw it."

Stargazer · Apr 12, 2001

Originally posted by Susy K:
Our "prizes" for being awarded the Magnet Designation is a choice between: 2 baseball game tickets, 2 tickets to Milwaukee's lakefront music festival Summerfest, a T-shirt with the Magnet Emblem on it, or the opporunity to go to dinner with all the nursing executives. (Ewww)

I'm sorry, Susy, but...HAHAHAHAAAAHAHAAAAA!

"Dinner with the nurse executives"? What a prize! Maybe if you could have an obscenely expensive meal, get all liquored up, and then tell them exactly what you thought of them without fear of reprisal. Now THAT would be a prize.

I used to be very proud of the fact that my hospital was a magnet hospital, too. That was back when they actually deserved the designation and had all sorts of programs for professional enhancement. After they started laying everyone off, combining units, and trying to make us work manadatory ovetime, somehow the magnet designation didn't mean much to any of us. It's important to get the word out to all nurses and the public that it is an "honor" that hospitals buy, not earn, and does not indicate you will receive any better care or treatment either as a nurse or as a patient.