Nurses need to stick together

[Tcarvan1]

I am a RN and I have been a RN for 3 years now and previously a LPN. I worked Psych for 2 years, home health and now have recently been working on med surge floor for 8 months. I currently work for a HCA facility and Im just wondering why are they constantly adding more patients, No techs, more jobs for the nurse to do and no lunch breaks. I literally hate my job and dread going to work every single day. Why do nurses just keep letting these organizations work nurses to death in order for them to save money. If nurses would stick together and say enough is enough, this would finally stop.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am a RN and I have been a RN for 3 years now and previously a LPN.

Welcome to Allnurses.com! Our backgrounds are similar. I have been an RN for seven years, and prior to that, worked as an LVN for four years.

I currently work for a HCA facility and Im just wondering why are they constantly adding more patients, No techs, more jobs for the nurse to do and no lunch breaks.

HCA-owned facilities are very profit-driven. It is all about the almighty dollar.

Why do nurses just keep letting these organizations work nurses to death in order for them to save money.

Many (but not all) nurses in our ranks are beholden to these corporations due to massive student loan debt, mortgages, rent, car payments, credit card debt, and other financial obligations.

If nurses would stick together and say enough is enough, this would finally stop.

I agree...however, many employment markets have a surplus of nurses. These local nursing gluts were partially created by corporations and politicians who funneled massive amounts of money into ending the so-called 'nursing shortage.'

Nursing programs were expanded, new nursing programs were established, accelerated BSN programs started sprouting up like dandelions, and direct entry MSN programs also emerged.

With the masses of new nurses that have been churned into local employment markets in recent years, employers now have the upper hand. After all, the accelerated BSN grad who has $35k in student loan debt from her non-nursing BA in creative writing plus another $45k in debt from nursing school is less likely to create waves at the workplace.

[Jules A, MSN]

Many (but not all) nurses in our ranks are beholden to these corporations due to massive student loan debt, mortgages, rent, car payments, credit card debt, and other financial obligations.

It is problematic and widespread. I have worked hard and lived very simply in an effort to never be beholden to an employer or a romantic partner for that matter. I have always had enough money stashed to show my displeasure with my feet prn and that is one big way in which we can collectively gain power.