nurse shortage

mage · Jan 19, 2005

Maybe there is just a shortage of nurses for full-time, nights and weekends . these appear to be the only jobs open

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2005

I worked Baylor during the 80's when my kids were small. We worked 24 hours and nights were paid 40 hours while days were paid 36. You accrued benefits for the hours you actually worked. It was great! I did it for 10 years at a large teaching hospital in ICU. We had 10 different ICU's and the most experienced staff was on week ends. There was virtually no turnover and no problems with call ins. I thought it was perfect and did it about 10 years. It gave me time to be room mother, cookie chairman etc. We could work Friday 7p-7a, Sat or Sun either shift and were able to swap with other Baylor shifters to get time off if your child had ballgames or other events. You could even fit in time for church if you wanted. The Mon-Fri staff loved it and so did we. When they bagan to phase it out, the nursing shortage started there. So now they pay travelers instead. Seems like a waste to me.

CHESSIE · Jan 21, 2005

The Baylor Plan is a start and a good one. However, respect is essential, and often there is little respect shown to nurses, not just by doctors but by hospital administration. It is ludicrous when a nurse does move into management he or she forgets what it is like to work clinically.

We also need respect for one another. Too often nurses will literally "eat their young alive." I have not only read about this but seen it in action. We need to be better mentors to the new RNs who come to the hospital setting from colleges and universities. We need to have better mentoring for the nurse who reenters the profession after taking a hiatus for raising a young family. So often these nurses are virtually "thrown to the wolves." It is no wonder that they leave when they feel that they are in a "no win situation."

Hospitals have to realize that only by valuing and treating their nurses with the degree of respect that they deserve will they retain them in their work force. This does include salary increases. Hospitals often fight with the MNA (Massacusetts Nurses Association) or other group representing nursing for months even years before agreeing, reluctantly, to a new contract.

Furthermore, staffing standards must be set. The MNA Massachusetts Nurses Association is fighting for these standards. Nurses cannot be expected to care for critically ill patients with insufficient staff. It is unsafe for the patient and unsafe for the nurse's license. We live in a litigeous society. Most nurses want to do their best for the patients in their care but too many patients and too little time to do what is necessary is driving many excellent nurses out of the hospital setting and out of the profession.

Sincerely,

Chessie