No PRN work in Florida?????

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jan 21, 2005

From my experience with seasonal contracts, if census is low and there is enough FT nd PT nurses, the PRN and seasonal contracts are the first to be canceled. Next time around, I would encourage you to mkae sure that your agreement with the hospital provides you will some commitment on the part of the hospital with at least 2 shifts per week.

Of course, I think it is really unusual, especially in Fort Myers and with Lee Memorial for nurses not to be working. You might want to sit down with the float pool nurse manager and see if there is something wrong. Good luck.

gwlillith · Jan 21, 2005

From my experience with seasonal contracts, if census is low and there is enough FT nd PT nurses, the PRN and seasonal contracts are the first to be canceled. Next time around, I would encourage you to mkae sure that your agreement with the hospital provides you will some commitment on the part of the hospital with at least 2 shifts per week.
Of course, I think it is really unusual, especially in Fort Myers and with Lee Memorial for nurses not to be working. You might want to sit down with the float pool nurse manager and see if there is something wrong. Good luck.

Thanks for the response. I am certainly puzzled by the low census...I guess that was my real question. I did speak with my director and the staffing office, they said they cancelled people these last three days. However, I am off to work right now. Still going to research some other jobs in the area.

Thanks again

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Jan 22, 2005

We are having a real light flu season down here. This might be contributing to the unusually low census. I have seen more empty beds now than I saw over the summer. Of course we had the hurricanes over the summer. There is talk that our tourist season has suffered as a result. The west coast was particularly hard hit. Sanibel Island, a big tourist destination, was dessimated.

It's very unusual. We usually have them in ER holding for days at this time of year.

Just a thought.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jan 22, 2005

Also - I have always found that during an election year, the tourist season generally gets off to a real slow start and the "snow birds" don't get to Florida early. In addition, we have had an unseasonably warm winter up north so far and the motivation to get to Florida might not be as strong as it has been in other years. But rest assusred, the snow birds are coming and when they get there you will be working.

Another piece of advice for you is to check out SouthWest Regional Medical Center. It is an HCA hospital, but it is a great place to work. I worked there through HCA staffing agency several years ago and really loved it! They always have a lot of work. Good Luck.

HarryPotter · Jan 22, 2005

hi...my Daughter, Krista, lives in Ft. Meyers and her husband, Keith, has a very successful Chiropractic business in Cape Coral, which is soon expending to Ft. Meyers. Give them a call...@ SouthWest Spine and Sport in Cape Coral...they know the area well, and say hi from Krista's Mom. On another note, at one time I was thinking of moving there and would have gone into Home Health, as there are a lot of older folks living there. You could probably even put an ad in a paper for private work in the high end communities. Again, ask my Daughter...she is a Realtor and knows the area well.

Home Health Nursing is really great. Not only do you care for the "patient", but also get to do a lot of teaching and support for the family. Good Luck. Let me know how your doing...Harry.

Kimily · Jan 25, 2005

I moved to Ft. Myers in August. After an extensive job search I accepted a non-benefitted prn position with Lee Memorial. My choice was at least 2 areas of specialty to float to. Since I have 10 years ICU/trauma experience, I chose ICU and stepdown.
I suffered thru the orientations, and the limited exposure to the areas I would be sent to, I was to float prn 7p-7a to all three campus's here. All had 2 or more ICU's and stepdown units.
My dilemma is I have been cancelled twice now! They offered me their seasonal contract which I accepted and signed. I realize there's no guarantee of hours, and I surely don't get paid when if I don't work. But, geez!
Does anyone know what the deal is here? I thought the season here was busy and I wouldn't be out of work. The staffing office told me if I did telemetry/med surg I would always have work, but I am not comfortable with their nurse/pt ratios...sometimes up to 8-9 on nights shifts!
Just wondered if anyone has an comments/suggestions! I am now currently looking for other work, and hate to go thru another orientation with another hospital...takes too much time.
Thanks!
elizabeth:crying2:

Unfortunately the patient ratio is on the rise in almost overy hospital in Fl. THe hospital I work in recently went from 6 at night to 8. 7 max if you work days.

It is alot, for some reason they think it makes more sense to cut nurses , increase the pt. load and lower the standards of care for the patient.

Oh did I say, makes more sense?? I should have said it makes more money!!!

Good Luck with finding what you are looking for. Im afraid it may take some time. Im sure there are a few places left that actually put pt. care first and take care of their nurses. I hope you find one!!

I work 12 hour nights and usually do have a 8 pt. load. Its not easy, but it is doable. It takes tremendous organization and patience, and boy do I look forward to those days off! We all keep hoping and praying that one day they will wake up to see that working nurses harder without paying them more means higher turn over and stressed out nurses who either quit or just stop caring..Its a sad thing but the bottom line has become more important to administration than the patient.

Kimily · Jan 25, 2005

I moved to Ft. Myers in August. After an extensive job search I accepted a non-benefitted prn position with Lee Memorial. My choice was at least 2 areas of specialty to float to. Since I have 10 years ICU/trauma experience, I chose ICU and stepdown.
I suffered thru the orientations, and the limited exposure to the areas I would be sent to, I was to float prn 7p-7a to all three campus's here. All had 2 or more ICU's and stepdown units.
My dilemma is I have been cancelled twice now! They offered me their seasonal contract which I accepted and signed. I realize there's no guarantee of hours, and I surely don't get paid when if I don't work. But, geez!
Does anyone know what the deal is here? I thought the season here was busy and I wouldn't be out of work. The staffing office told me if I did telemetry/med surg I would always have work, but I am not comfortable with their nurse/pt ratios...sometimes up to 8-9 on nights shifts!
Just wondered if anyone has an comments/suggestions! I am now currently looking for other work, and hate to go thru another orientation with another hospital...takes too much time.
Thanks!
elizabeth:crying2:

Unfortunately the patient ratio is on the rise in almost overy hospital in Fl. THe hospital I work in recently went from 6 at night to 8. 7 max if you work days.

It is alot, for some reason they think it makes more sense to cut nurses , increase the pt. load and lower the standards of care for the patient.

Oh did I say, makes more sense?? I should have said it makes more money!!!

Good Luck with finding what you are looking for. Im afraid it may take some time. Im sure there are a few places left that actually put pt. care first and take care of their nurses. I hope you find one!!

I work 12 hour nights and usually do have a 8 pt. load. Its not easy, but it is doable. It takes tremendous organization and patience, and boy do I look forward to those days off! We all keep hoping and praying that one day they will wake up to see that working nurses harder without paying them more means higher turn over and stressed out nurses who either quit or just stop caring..Its a sad thing but the bottom line has become more important to administration than the patient.

LindaMarie76 · Jan 30, 2005

It breaks my heart about Sanibel. Almost can't bear to hear about it.

Elizzy - the horrific hurricane season we endured might be a huge impact on the light season you are experiencing.

We are having a real light flu season down here. This might be contributing to the unusually low census. I have seen more empty beds now than I saw over the summer. Of course we had the hurricanes over the summer. There is talk that our tourist season has suffered as a result. The west coast was particularly hard hit. Sanibel Island, a big tourist destination, was dessimated.
It's very unusual. We usually have them in ER holding for days at this time of year.
Just a thought.

SarasotaRN2b · Jan 30, 2005

I'm also on the West Coast of Florida and one of the specialties that always has a high census is cardiology. If you want to come up just a little bit from Fort Myers, check out Sarasota, and in particularly, Sarasota Memorial Hospital. They need help!

Kris

BETSRN · Jan 30, 2005

I moved to Ft. Myers in August. After an extensive job search I accepted a non-benefitted prn position with Lee Memorial. My choice was at least 2 areas of specialty to float to. Since I have 10 years ICU/trauma experience, I chose ICU and stepdown.
I suffered thru the orientations, and the limited exposure to the areas I would be sent to, I was to float prn 7p-7a to all three campus's here. All had 2 or more ICU's and stepdown units.
My dilemma is I have been cancelled twice now! They offered me their seasonal contract which I accepted and signed. I realize there's no guarantee of hours, and I surely don't get paid when if I don't work. But, geez!
Does anyone know what the deal is here? I thought the season here was busy and I wouldn't be out of work. The staffing office told me if I did telemetry/med surg I would always have work, but I am not comfortable with their nurse/pt ratios...sometimes up to 8-9 on nights shifts!
Just wondered if anyone has an comments/suggestions! I am now currently looking for other work, and hate to go thru another orientation with another hospital...takes too much time.
Thanks!
elizabeth:crying2:

AS I am sure you know, PRN's are always the first to be cancelled: that's the nature of the job. You also mention that you now you would be guaranteed hours if you went to a med-surg floor. I think you have said it all. You have to make the choice.

By the way, I have always heard great things about Lee Memorial. I hope things work out for you.

gwlillith · Jan 30, 2005

AS I am sure you know, PRN's are always the first to be cancelled: that's the nature of the job. You also mention that you now you would be guaranteed hours if you went to a med-surg floor. I think you have said it all. You have to make the choice.
By the way, I have always heard great things about Lee Memorial. I hope things work out for you.

I'm aware of the risk of prn work. I was just wondering if anyone out there was having the same experience, since it's mid season here.

As for the med-surg floor, I'm not sure I want to risk my license caring for that many patients as I've been an ICU nurse for 10 years.

I was a new grad on a med surg floor with 10-11 patients on nights. I sure don't want that kind of responsibility again. That's a whole new ballgame right there.

Thanks for everyone's input and advice.