Hello everyone! I just joined the forum and wanted to pose some questions.
Here's my situation. I live in southeastern North Carolina, and I've been working at a local hospital, a usually busy one located near an interstate, for the past 2 and a half years. In that time up until this May or so, I have been enjoying 40 to 48 hours with lots of overtime and a REALLY nice paycheck. Then around May, our census started plummeting. We get our shifts canceled all the time. My vacation time, along with everyone else's has reduced to not much of anything...some people have none left due to this canceling. I have been canceled for the second time this week.
I thought there was a nursing shortage! Where are the patients? Along with that, I feel our floor has hired too many RNs and now I only get 36 hours a week, IF I'm NOT canceled, which is rare now.
I'm really starting to worry. I have never seen such a thing. I was considering becoming a travel nurse, but I'm not sure if even THEY can find as much work as they would like during this time.
How are things in your neck of the woods? I work on a medical floor, but this has affected our entire hospital. I thought I'd NEVER have to worry about a job being a nurse. I've been an RN for 15 years.
I know the economy is bad, but people STILL get sick. Tell me how things are in your area? Should I be worried?
