Seeing as it was hard enough to find a job made me see that there was no nursing shortage in my area...heck, I just went agency and still fighting to get 2-3 days a week.
So the other day, when I was feeling very low about not working...I went to the grocery store to get a few needed items (with just enough money to get those and nothing else!), when I talked to two check out people that are in nursing school. This seems to happen where ever I go! "Ohhhhhh your a nurse, I am in nursing school!".
Guess since we have three nursing schools in the metro area that can happen...but then my hubby came home from work...he is a paramedic. He said "holly cow, either all my patients were, or their mother/wife's were nurses!"...considering he had a busy day...uhggggggg!!!!
Is it that we have a shortage, or is it more like most Nurse's are fed up with some areas of nursing and avoid working there? I know my last workplace can't find a nurse to replace me to save their skins, yet any of the hosptials...despite running job ads...seem to be full of nurses so I had to go agency (which I love by the way...just won't be able to continue if I don't start getting at least 30+ hours a week!).
The same situation is happening in New York City! I'am a new grad and has been working as a med-surg nurse for almost six months. But, I'am very unhappy their and I work nights and the hospital refuses to switch me to anotheer unit; but would rather see me go than to go against hospital policy. Which is to be working there for 1 year before you could be switch to ANY other unit. I have been looking for jobs and nothing is available.
Our hospital is currently OVER HIRING. Our busy med surg floor for instance can have a total of 8 RN's on on day shift if we are at full capacity. Most days we have 9-10 RN's scheduled, this meaning at least 2 nurses are pulled to other units, or more likely than not, called off for the shift and having to use their GTB time. Many have used all they have and have no time left for vacations or sick days, or any more call off days. These are manditory call offs. To top this they are still hiring, we have several who haven't even gotten out of orientation yet, so they aren't counted in those numbers. Nurses from other floors say the same is happening on their units. Has anyone ever had experience with this? Our hospital is in the midst of construction of a new large patient care area, but that construction will not be completed for a few years. In the meantime, we are busier than ever, not taking lunches, getting out late etc, because our numbers call for a set number of nurses, and we have nurses called off. As you can imagine, this is not setting well with the staff who need their hours to pay their bills, and the management doesn't seem to listen. They say they are all for nurse retention and want to obtain "Magnet" status, but this isn't the way to to do it.
It doesn't sound like your admin knows much about getting "magnet status." Don't they know that the 'magnet people' do extensive interviewing of the RN's as to whether they are satisfied with their jobs or not.
The magnet hosp I worked at - one of the ways the obtained that status was by promising the RN's "no cancelled shifts." If the census was low, I remember times each RN only had 1 pt.
but would rather see me go than to go against hospital policy. Which is to be working there for 1 year before you could be switch to ANY other unit. I have been looking for jobs and nothing is available.
RazorbackRN, BSN, RN
394 Posts
Same way here in Arkansas. You can pretty much pick your schedule and area.