Nursing shortage? One local hospital in GA has NOT received the memo!!!

[Caringsharing]

i could just see it in the headlines now:

nursing shortage? local hospital in georgia apparently has not received the memo!!!

and why, you ask is a registered nurse of 10 years saying this? well, let me fill you in on the latest local hospital news on how registered nurses are being treated.

after a new dress code being implemented the first of january 2006, of rn's having to wear all navy uniforms and white jackets. therefore nixing any form of personalization for your type of work or colors that look well on you... the hospital is now discussing a shoe dress code to go along with the lint catching navy. (some of the nurses feel that they look like prisoners in their solid garbs.)

no form of appreciation was shown to hospital staff for the holidays. oh, i forgot that an invitation was sent for folks (who were working on the day they were offering it) a free holiday lunch in the cafeteria, yum!

now, to get to the real nitty gritty of the subject... prn well what does that really mean? websters dictionary states: main entry: prn function: abbreviation etymology: latin pro re nata for the emergency, as needed. one hospital worker said she felt prn meant as the hospital needed you not as you needed the hospital... well, i always thought that it worked both ways... this local hospital is requiring all prn rn's to sign a contract effective february 19, 2006. in this contract it states the experience and orientation requirements, the compensation ($25.00/hr which does not change and has not changed for the past... hmmm...maybe 5 years or more). a flat rate and no incentives are being given) and benefits (there are none for prn employees). furthermore, you are not eligible for annual merit increases.

now, the above had been bearable for most prn's due to the flexibility of the hours they could work. next in the contract discussed hours/scheduling requirements. the hospital is going to internet lottery scheduling in april (with no pay incentives). they will post hours that full-time employees didn't want to work. i was told you have to go on line and request your hours as soon as they come available and then it is at the discretion of the service manager based on service need whether you will get those hours or not. some feel that if you are not well liked by your manager you will get shafted. prn nursing employees are responsible for contacting the manager of assigned unit or pre-designated staffing coordinator for hospital assignment in regard to scheduling the number of hours necessary to maintain prn status employment and if a prn status employee does not work the designated shifts after a 30 day period of time, they will receive a letter informing them that they must work within the next 30 days in order to maintain prn status. if they do not work within this designated time period (a total of 60 days - initial 30 days and then 30 days after receiving letter), employment status will be changed to inactive (terminated). then if pre-scheduled prn hours are not needed on the home unit (primary unit prn then the prn may be reassigned within the service - hospital based on critical staffing needs or prn hours may be cancelled. well this sounds like a big liability to me. an untrained nurse, warm body?

in the past some units would shortened a shift from 12 hrs. to 8 hrs. (young mothers really benefited from this. try going without seeing your newborn baby that you are breast feeding for over 12 hrs. with as little as one break for pumping your breast and getting a drink of water). this has been alleviated... only 12 hour shifts will be available. most nurses have young children, finding child care for this length of time and shift work (meaning all nights or days) is hard.

must work 24 hours per month, at the discretion of service manager based on service need. you also have to work at least 1 winter holiday (i.e., thanksgiving day, christmas eve, christmas day, new year's eve, new year's day) and 1 major summer holiday (i.e., memorial day, independence day, labor day) each calendar year. i know there will be a fight for this.... most prn's don't do holidays!!!! they give up their benefits to be able to skip this burden and spend this time with their precious families. must work one weekend or equivalent every 30 days. some nurses can't find child care on the weekends... others only want to work weekends...

management appears to be trying to scare prn'ers by saying that this policy is suppose to be county wide and all the local hospitals are going to adopt it... i think they really are scared they are going to loose those valuable rn's. only time will tell... am i going to sign this contract? i don't know... thinking about it... especially since i already worked my winter holiday of new years day. being approached by at least 6 of my prn coworkers (that have a total of over 70 years experience between them) that are really struggling with these demands... i think it deserves some attention.

i do believe, being caring nurses that love to help others, we are shocked that our community hospital (that serves the most indigent population in our town) is short changing the sick by placing such harsh, rigid demands on prn'ers that just want to help where they can. nurses call to action.... what to do?

[Donnetterr]

I am sorry you are going through this. I wondered what that new dress code would do for employee morale. I know where you are talking about, I work there, too. I am not a nurse, but until recently I was in nursing school. I left in my 4th semester and it was partly b/c of the writing I could read on the wall due to stuff like you described. I hope you Feel Better soon.

[Donnetterr]

As far as what to do, it may be time for PRNers to join together and have NO ONE bid on those shifts. They need the PRN nurses, and I think it's absolutely terrifying how poorly nurses are being treated right now.

[Caringsharing]

Thanks.... what to do, is the question now... I hope my family dosen't get sick and need to go to the hospital soon... they are going to be really hurting for nurses.

[Caringsharing]

Sounds like a good idea... thanks for your input.