So, here in the northeast we are starting to feel the beginings of layoffs in both hospitals and LTC facilities. Everyone keeps saying the same things "medicare funding is being cut" "hospitals are are inefficient" yadda yadda yadda. But as a second carrer nurse, who worked in administration, personnel management to be specific, of a large not for profit, I was wondering, has the nursing "business" simply outgrown itself?
I mean there seem to be many nurses who are in roles other then direct nurse positions, case managers, discharge planners and on it goes. YES I know its all part of the nursing "process" and please believe me when I say that I am not advocating anybody loose their jobs. But similar to teachers who move up in the Education bureaucracy and do "consultant" work but never teach, why pay them as teachers? And it is at least worth thinking about that as the level of education for nurses has risen, and more and more highly educated nurses try and enter the field, I wonder if the powers that be will simply decide that all the acquired education is not worth paying for.
In speaking with some of my co workers in these types of positions, they see themselves as nurses, fulfilling an essential nurses role. So do I. Problem is I don't think management does. Yet with mandates from medicare, JACHO, DOH and on it goes what else can be done. As the title says I'm not trying to start anything, except perhaps a discussion.
So, here in the northeast we are starting to feel the beginings of layoffs in both hospitals and LTC facilities. Everyone keeps saying the same things "medicare funding is being cut" "hospitals are are inefficient" yadda yadda yadda. But as a second carrer nurse, who worked in administration, personnel management to be specific, of a large not for profit, I was wondering, has the nursing "business" simply outgrown itself?
I mean there seem to be many nurses who are in roles other then direct nurse positions, case managers, discharge planners and on it goes. YES I know its all part of the nursing "process" and please believe me when I say that I am not advocating anybody loose their jobs. But similar to teachers who move up in the Education bureaucracy and do "consultant" work but never teach, why pay them as teachers? And it is at least worth thinking about that as the level of education for nurses has risen, and more and more highly educated nurses try and enter the field, I wonder if the powers that be will simply decide that all the acquired education is not worth paying for.
In speaking with some of my co workers in these types of positions, they see themselves as nurses, fulfilling an essential nurses role. So do I. Problem is I don't think management does. Yet with mandates from medicare, JACHO, DOH and on it goes what else can be done. As the title says I'm not trying to start anything, except perhaps a discussion.